7 Healthy Habits to Relieve Stress

There are many different causes of stress, and there are just as many ways to relieve it. Stress can grossly affect your heart health and can increase your chance of chronic disease. To help you reduce your stress levels, Good Days has 7 healthy living tips.

Stretch

Throughout the day, your muscles can become stiff and tired. When muscles cramp like that, they can reduce your body’s blood flow causing your blood pressure to skyrocket. You should stretch at least twice a day – when you wake up and when you go to bed. You can also try these stretches for limited mobility.

Spend Time Outside

Whether it’s taking a walk around the block or just eating lunch outside, spending time outside is important to healthy living. Not only can spending time outdoors relieve stress, but it can also ease depression and strengthen your immune system.

Get a Good Night’s Rest

Not getting enough sleep is one of the most consistent indicators of poor health. A good night’s sleep is directly related to stress level, but sleep affects a lot more things than just stress levels. It also affects your heart health.

Do Something You Enjoy

It’s always a good day when you can smile. Studies have shown that when you do something that puts you in a good mood, it creates an upward spiral that positively affects the rest of your day. In other words, doing something you enjoy every day (no matter how small) helps you overcome stress and keep a smile on your face.

Avoid Process Foods

Foods that are rich in refined sugars and white flour dangerously increases insulin levels and release the stress hormone. Junk food, fried foods, artificial sweeteners and foods with lots of preservatives also causes your body to involuntarily release the stress hormone.

Drink Tea

Who doesn’t love a warming cup of tea now and then? It helps to calm the nerves and relax. Drinking tea also means you’re consuming herbs that are known for their relaxation and calming effects. The different types of tea also have their own unique benefits.

Eat More Ginger

This is an excellent and simple way to relieve stress. Ginger has been used as a homeopathic stress reliever for a long time, and recently studies have proven that ginger does indeed help to reduce stress levels. Sure, lots of things can happen that may stress us out, but it’s important to remember the ways that can help calm us back down. With healthy living, you can naturally and easily relieve stress, increase heart health and decreases your chances of chronic disease.