Stress. Sucks.
Do you ever get heart palpitations? Feel like you're zoning out? Have difficulty making decisions? Worry about things beyond your control? Get a second wind before bed? Turn to food or drinks for relief? Experience irregular menstrual cycles? Struggle to lose weight? Suffer migraines? Do you sleep poorly? Feel absolutely drained?
Uhhhhhhhm............. YAASSS! The "Stress. Sucks." statement can be interpreted as both: 1. It's just not cool! and 2. It is literally life sucking!
Did you know that unmanaged stress is linked with many diseases including obesity, depression, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke?
Stress sets off the inflammatory response which raises hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline raises your heart rate to increase blood flow throughout your body, and cortisol raises your blood sugars to provide you with fuel. These mechanisms are meant to keep you energized, strong and alert to get you through a crisis; or put simply, to help you survive. The goal of the body's inflammatory response is to regain stability, and ideally, help us thrive.
< < < Are you thriving? > > >
The inflammatory response is 100% normal and helpful to our overall well-being. However, left unchecked, it does lead to the exact opposite of stability and well-being. In addition to raised blood sugars, cortisol also shuts down systems that are not needed during stressful periods including the immune, digestive, and reproductive systems. One main takeaway is that frequent stress leads to an increased risk of getting sick, poorer sleep, a poorly functioning gut, dysfunctional metabolism (either too low or too high), and/or irregular menstrual cycles.
The second main takeaway is this: over the long-term, poorly managed stress is often at the heart of most preventable, chronic diseases. A factor to consider here: your body doesn't discriminate between different stresses, whether it's that your sanity had slipped away from being in long-term lock-down, you're worried about when or where your next paycheck will come from, what the hell you're eating for dinner, or if you're trying to dodge anyone not observing social distancing. Your brain and body respond the same way, and left unchecked, it will wreck you.
Fortunately, there are solutions. Let's get you feeling fabulous more often...
Caring for our gut can support a healthier stress response. We can care for our gut by consuming vegetables, fruits, foods containing gut-friendly bacteria such as plain yogurt and kombucha, and other foods (grains, and animal-based foods) that are closer-to-nature often each day. Minimizing our intake of processed foods will further secure a healthy gut environment, a healthier brain, and yes: reduced stress!
Heed this advice: It's more beneficial to you to practice healthy eating daily, rather than using certain foods as a one-time defense mechanism. Don't stress it if you're not yet a pro at making healthy choices daily. Your opportunity to get back on track is never lost! Focus on the choices you've been proud of rather than the ones you're not.
Arm yourself with stress-reduction tools. When you need to slice a tomato, you use a knife. It gets the job done. And sharpening the knife gets the job done more easily! Similarly, when your schedule is overwhelming, adding more things to it doesn't lessen the overwhelm. Instead, giving yourself 5-10 minutes of quiet time and a few relaxing breaths will likely help more. Using this stress-reduction tool daily - even when you're NOT stressed! - may lead you to a manageable schedule, or better communication, or effective time management...
Change and growth require daily < < < p r a c t i c e > > >
Other stress reduction tools include preparing for your day, exercising, singing, writing, reading or listening to something inspiring, or taking a moment to appreciate a few specific things.
Good sleep promotes a better stress response. And well managed stress promotes better sleep. Synergy! It's without a doubt we'd all love a life that is low in stress and to have fantastic sleep each night. You might hate me for saying this but, to gain that gorgeous benefit, it's really quite simple...
WE MUST PUT STRESS REDUCTION TOOLS TO USE.
WE MUST NOURISH OUR BODY WITH THE NUTRIENTS IT NEEDS.
Read that one more time!
< < < WE MUST MAKE THESE THINGS A PRIORITY! > > >
It's common for us to adapt: to think we'll be fine on five hours of sleep, to drive ourselves to exhaustion, to always expect more of ourselves, to give more than we can to others... NO!
Enough is enough.
You deserve better. No... the best!
You ARE fabulous: treat yourself that way and allow nothing and no one to treat you less than that!
And sometimes, we need a little boost to help us achieve fabulous health and wellness. Let there be no shame in that! On that note, there are options.
Option 1.
Schedule a free wellness consult with Alyssa Cometto, MS, RDN, CDN. Gain a crystal clear vision of what you want to achieve with your health, including insight to the hidden obstacles and challenges that have kept you from being successful. Leave this consultation feeling inspired and motivated for the next steps necessary to move you closer to the healthy life you deserve! ***NEW*** Alyssa now provides written recommendations with her wellness consults. Consider this option as your starting roadmap toward fabulous health and wellness.
Option 2. Ensure your body is obtaining the nutrients it needs. And not just obtaining, but ABSORBING those nutrients. When you need to restore your health and wellness, supplements are often an essential component. However, the market is flooded with low-quality, ineffective vitamin and mineral supplements, and diet fads that do not support overall health. Fortunately, Fabulous Nutrition is committed to guiding you toward the healthiest choices, and that's why we've partnered with NutraMetrix.
The entire nutraMetrix product line of advanced nutraceuticals is formulated using the latest research, cutting-edge ingredients, and industry-leading best practices. Many nutraMetrix nutraceuticals are available using the Isotonix delivery system, designed to maximize your body’s ability to operate at its highest capacity. Isotonix products have been carefully formulated to offer enhanced bioavailability. These isotonic formulations are more effective than standard formulas because they offer maximum delivery of actives into the bloodstream since they are formulated as a replica of your body’s own fluids, such as tears, sweat and plasma.
You can shop all nutraMetrix's fabulous products at www.fabulous-nutrition.com/nutrametrix
Option 3.
Whether you're on the go, struggling with a low appetite, or are starving and need to eat NOW, closer-to-nature snacks are a convenient and delicious way to stay nourished and calm. Two of Fabulous Nutrition's favorite, recommended brands include 88 Acres and Thunderbird. 88 Acres are nut-free and come in a variety of tasty flavors, including the most popular Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, and Mocha. You can grab a variety pack right here!
Thunderbird Real Food Bars are made simply with fruits, nuts, seeds and spices - THAT'S IT! Check the ingredient labels of some common snack bars sold in the grocery store and discover how significantly they differ!
May you have fabulous health today and always.
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