Herbs for Stress

Cortisol, Stress, and How the Right Diet Helps

A guest post by Daniel Weber, Personal Training and Corporate Health Management.

Monday morning, the alarm rings, the first appointment reminders flash, and the busy week lies ahead. This or something similar is probably true for most people. Even appointment reminders regularly give us small bursts of stress.

Stress - what is quickly dismissed as an illness in common parlance is, on closer inspection, merely a normal, even vital, reaction within the body, at least in moderation. Stress hormones, such as cortisol, are released in the process. It makes us more efficient in the short term. However, a long-term excess can lead to significant, chronic health damage. 

Cortisol production runs at full speed primarily when we are exposed to significant strain and are under tension. The energy released during the secretion of the stress hormone acts as a shield for the body. In addition to stress, an unhealthy diet or lack of exercise, for example, influence cortisol levels.

A permanent excess of cortisol can lead to sleep disorders, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and difficulty concentrating. Therefore, it is important to find the right long-term strategies against cortisol and stress.

Exercise, relaxation, sleep, and a healthy diet are the most important anti-stress strategies to lower or keep cortisol levels low. A healthy diet primarily means utilizing a variety of foods and ensuring they are natural and unprocessed. The most well-known tip is to consume five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Two points should be considered here. Firstly, that it is as fresh as possible to get the maximum nutrients. Secondly, there are a number of foods that are particularly suitable. These include, for example: 

• Ginger
• Coriander
• Parsley
• Mushrooms
• Arugula
• Sage

The mentioned foods are, of course, just an excerpt. If you find it difficult to integrate the right foods into your daily routine, you should start with a few and gradually incorporate the right foods into your diet.

If you want to know more about nutrition, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle: Feel free to visit danielweber.fit .