10 Tips to Manage Stress

Stress is any reaction to a physical, mental, social or emotional stimulus that elicits a change in our behavior or thoughts. Stress both depletes nutrients and slows digestion. Chronic stress can lead to a number of health problems, including (but not limited to): weakening of the immune system, anxiety, skin and digestive problems, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, obsessive compulsive disorders and cancer. 

Here are 10 tips to help manage stress:

1. Get regular exercise. Any physical activity will help to clear your mind and keep stress under control. The key, however, is to make sure it is regular exercise - exercising once a month will not do much to relieve stress.
2. Eat a diet or 50 to 75% raw foods. Fresh vegetables and fruits will supply valuable nutrients, and also contain flavonoids, which scavenge damaging free-radicals.
3. Limit intake of caffeine, as it contributes to nervousness and can disrupt sleep.
4. Avoid processed foods and foods that can stress the system, such as: artificial sweeteners, carbonated soft drinks, chocolate, fried foods, junk foods, red meat, sugar, white flour products, alcohol and any foods that contain preservatives or heavy spices.
5. Get adequate sleep each night. The less sleep you get, the more stress will affect you and the more your immune system will weaken.
6. Pursue a hobby. Hobbies can have great stress-relief benefits. Never feel guilty about taking time to do something you enjoy. Your health is important. 
7. Practice deep breathing or meditation.
8. Avoid alcohol, tobacco and mood-altering drugs. While they may provide temporary stress relief, they are not going to help with the problem and will ultimately cause more stress on your system.
9. Learn to laugh. Don't take life to seriously. 
10. If you feel you cannot handle the stresses in your life, please consider seeking outside help. A qualified counselor or practitioner may be able to help you handle your problems and learn effective stress-reduction techniques.