3 Ways to Naturally Reduce Life-Crushing Stress

Not only is stress arguably more prevalent than ever before given the current circumstances of the modern world, but the detrimental effects of stress on your body are certainly now more understood than ever. With research indicating that high stress levels can actually increase your risk of premature death by a staggering 50%, it is apparent that stress is perhaps a leading killer in the general public and it is now more necessary than ever to de-stress. Here are 3 ways to naturally combat stress — without the use of harmful pharmaceuticals or other medical interventions.

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to enhance cognitive function and fend off depression naturally. In addition to general omega-3 supplements like high quality krill and fish oil, food sources high in omega-3’s include flax seeds, walnuts, sardines, salmon, and soybeans. Flax seeds are a popular choice due to containing highest omega-3 content (119% established daily value), plus they are easy to throw into a protein shake or a delicious raw salad.

Try consuming foods loaded with omega-3 each morning to start off your day, or pickup an inexpensive omega-3 supplement. Make sure it is purified and free of all contaminants and fillers (particularly mercury), as many low quality fish oil products can actually be damaging to your health.

2. Drink Tea

It’s extremely simple, and it is equally effective. Tea is a tasty way of melting stress and entering a deep state of relaxation. Chamomile tea in particular is a great nerve tonic that can also act as a beneficial sleep aid. Stress can oftentimes heavily impact your sleep schedule, which oftentimes amplifies the negative effects associated with high stress levels.

To add a nutritional boost to your tea, add some raw honey and stir it into the hot tea. Raw honey is used by many professional athletes as their ‘secret weapon’ and is also loaded with essential nutrients to help optimize your health and ward off unwanted stress.

3. Movement

It seems counterintuitive, exerting yourself physically in order to reap the benefits of relaxation. The truth of the matter, however, is that proper exercise is a fantastic method of ‘working off’ stress and leading to a higher state of relaxation. Exercise also comes with life promoting and extending benefits. Just 15 minutes of exercise per day can add 3 years to your lifespan — directly combating the life-shortening effects of stress.

Start including something known as high-intensity interval training (HIIT for short) into your fitness routine. HIIT is a great option if you are seeking an exercise routine that is the most effective and least time consuming. The idea behind HIIT is to utilize a short period of high-intensity training, and then allow your body to rest for a short period of time. This exercise trumps traditional cardio, as it has been found to burn fat for roughly 24 hours after completion.

Try the following beginner’s HIIT cardio workout and see how it works for you:

• Walk at a slow and steady pace for 1 minute
• Run for 1 minute
• Walk at a slow and steady pace for 2 minutes
• Run for 1 minute
• Repeat

Fighting stress can be done naturally and effectively, without the use of antidepressants or other sedatives. When given the proper tools, your body can easily repair itself and begin to recover from ailment — this includes stress. In conjunction with eliminating harmful ingredients from your diet and focusing on your goals with the amazing power of your mind, your stress will soon be eliminated.