Healthy Eating for Healthy Living

Stress cannot be completely eliminated nor do we want it to be. There are some positive aspects of stress that we want to keep so that they can energize, motivate and excite us, and there are some negative aspects of stress which we want controlled and managed.

Everyone copes with stress differently whether emotional, physical or behavioral; however, when you are constantly reacting to stressful situations without making adjustments to counter the effects, you will feel stress which can threaten your health and well-being. Too much stress can cause insomnia, backaches or headaches, and can contribute to potentially life-threatening diseases like high blood pressure and heart disease.

Here are a few tips to reducing stress:

1. Be realistic – If you feel overwhelmed by some activities -learn to say NO!

2. Be assertive instead of aggressive

3. Learn to relax: listen to soft music, take deep breaths, meditate

4. Exercise regularly. Twenty to thirty minutes of physical activity benefits both the mind and the body.

5. Eat well-balanced meals: Include foods from the basic groups in your meals, snack healthy, and eat breakfast, “Breakfast not only starts your day off right, it also lays the foundation for lifelong health benefits,” says Jennifer K. Nelson, director of clinical dietetics at Mayo Clinic, Minn.

6. Rest and Sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful events.

7. Share your feelings. Stay in touch with friends and family for love, support and guidance.

8. Do not rely on alcohol and/or drugs to reduce stress.

And of course, there is always a great solution - Enjoying a vacation…

Good luck!

Elia Azzuolo, CanFitPro certified Nutrition and Wellness Specialist. She is also a certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor. Elia Azzuolo is Ellimay©'s cartoonist.