With sufficient physical activity and the right ingredients for a healthy diet, not only your physical health is positively influenced. Scientifically proven, yet largely underestimated, is the fact that a healthy diet and exercise are also great for mental health and keeping stress levels under control.
At Garden of Life we’re passionate about doing things in the most natural way possible, so below are our top diet and exercise tips to help you reduce stress and focus on extraordinary things.
The impact of stress on your body
Stress can negatively affect your body, especially when stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol are released. The effects include:
- Elevated blood sugar level
- Faster heart rate
- Elevated blood pressure
- Increased anxiety
Long-term stress affects health both mentally and physically. With the right foods and targeted exercises, you can lower your stress level and have enough energy again.
Stress-Reducing Foods
Because stress affects blood sugar levels, it’s important to eat meals at regular times. Protein releases sugars slowly and gradually into the blood, so we recommend eating high amounts of high-protein foods like chicken, tuna, and eggs in stressful situations.
If you also use vegan protein powder , the sugar will slowly enter the bloodstream and you will remain calmer in stressful situations. Foods high in omega 3 have a mood-enhancing effect because these fatty acids have positive effects on brain health. Walnuts are an excellent source of Omega 3, as are high-fat fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines.
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Vitamin D is also known for its mood-boosting benefits, making it another recommended component of a stress-relieving diet. Again, fatty fish are good sources of vitamin D, but cheese, egg yolks, and orange juice are also good sources.
If you feel like an extra dose of vitamin D would do you good, try our Organics Vitamin D3 Spray , made from 100% organic vegan ingredients for healthy bones and a healthy immune system.
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The best sports activities to reduce stress
Exercising causes your brain to release endorphins, providing positive energy throughout the body. This in turn lifts your mood, some feel downright high thanks to the endorphins after the workout. Here are our recommendations for stress-relieving exercises:
Aerobic Training
Aerobic and high-intensity exercise like circuit training or dancing can get your heart rate up quite a bit while releasing high levels of endorphins. Therefore, this type of exercise has a positive effect on both the body and the soul.
outdoor sports
Exercising outdoors in nature can doubly soothe your soul, as you not only benefit from the endorphins released after your run, but also from clearer, more relaxed thoughts thanks to the fresh air and peaceful sounds of nature around you. In addition, you constantly experience new conditions such as different wind speeds or new running routes, which you discover along the way and which challenge you even more. After you have reached your training goal, you will feel a pleasant, warm feeling thanks to the release of dopamine.
yoga
Yoga is known to be the sport with the greatest potential to relieve stress. The body is stretched intensively and you also concentrate your breathing so that you relax and train strength and resistance at the same time.
kickboxing
Sometimes you just have to take your stress out on something, and in our opinion, there’s no better way than with kickboxing, an ideal sport where you can vent all your frustrations.
Should I be taking stress-reducing supplements?
Eating a balanced diet high in our recommended stress-reducing foods and exercising regularly with high levels of endorphin should be enough to gradually lift your spirits.
However, if you want more control over your mood, you can try supplements that can affect your mood.
Our Microbiome Mood+ capsules promote emotional well-being and relaxation. They contain ashwagandha, a plant known to help the body adapt physically and mentally during periods of stress. Each individual capsule contains 16 different live strains of bacteria and supports intestinal health and the immune system.
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Our Wholesome Magnesium Powder in Raspberry & Lemon also helps manage stress as Magnesium is known for its ability to balance electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes play an important role in cellular energy production and this powder is designed to combat fatigue and support normal physiological function.
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Both products are part of our Healthy Soul Pack , which also includes our Organics Vitamin D3 Spray . Try incorporating all three products into your daily routine and see if you can feel a change in your mood. With Garden of Life, you don’t have to worry about what you’re putting into your body because we put every effort into using only the best ingredients and can seamlessly trace them so you know exactly what’s in our products.
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