Life can be stressful and at time, difficult to handle. From moving to different states to changes in your job and unexpected deadlines, stressors occur often and at random. With a little understanding about managing stress and how it affects your body, your stressors will be easier to manage and, oftentimes, preventable!

Your body goes through a series of hormonal changes during times of stress. The insulin in your body becomes off balance, as well as the levels of cortisol and adrenaline, which in turn can cause a rapid heart rate as well as an increase in your blood pressure. Some other side effects of stress are bloating, hair loss, and difficulty losing weight. The general key is to practice self-care. A lot of stressors in our life can be eliminated or decreased by following a simple routine that puts our health and wellness first. Read on for a few tips to help you manage the stress in your life!

1. Change your diet! Eating clean, raw, and nutritious food is one of the most important things you can do not only to ease stress but to balance the hormones in your body and ensure your body is receiving the adequate amount of nutrients, daily. Eliminate refined sugars, caffeine, and processed foods. Food fuels your body. Eating an unhealthy diet will run down your organs and the way they function.

2. Find time every day to do something for you. Relaxation is a great way to decompress after a tough day. Turn off the television and head outside for an evening walk. If the weather is unappealing, try meditation indoors. A hobby such as painting is a great way to voice your stressors through art and release the tension in your body.

3. Oftentimes, our bodies are missing key nutrients that cause minor hormone imbalances. However, after combining a few vitamin deficiencies with added stressors in your life, your body breaks down and your stress becomes a far greater problem. Raw vitamins and probiotics are an excellent way to combat the effects of stress, and go hand-in-hand with a clean-eating diet!

4. Sleep deprivation is a leading cause of excessive stress in your day-to-day life. The average adult should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. If you are barely getting by with enough shut-eye, your body is working twice as hard, and you’re stressors are far more amplified. Take a midday nap, drink some banana tea before bed, and aim to be in bed with enough time to get at least 7 hours of rest!

Stress doesn’t have to limit your daily life. By making these simple yet effective changes to your lifestyle, the way your body processes and handles stress will be far less challenging and less damaging to your overall health and wellness.