Stress Series Part 3 of 3 – WORDS JESSICA SCOTT YOUNG | NUTRITIONIST
- Practice daily stress management techniques – incorporate relaxation techniques like deep belly breathing, box breathing, journalling, legs up the wall, meditation, or yoga into your daily routine to manage stress effectively
- Chew slowly and mindfully. Never eat at your desk or whilst on your phone! Be present. Take 5 deep breaths before eating to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls digestion
- 1 tsp of raw apple cider vinegar in warm water in the morning – improves the production of stomach acid, aiding the breakdown and absorption of food, and elimination of waste. Aim for 1-2 tsp of raw ACV (with the mother) in warm water upon rising
- Eat 2 kiwi fruit daily – kiwi fruit is rich in vitamin c to support your adrenals, stress hormones and immune system. They are also rich in fibre which stabilises blood sugar regulation and improves constipation and elimination
- Take a good quality magnesium supplement – our body chews through magnesium in times of stress as it acts as a cofactor for over 300 reactions in the body. I recommend a practitioner grade magnesium supplement with B vitamins and vitamin C to support the nervous system and adrenals
- Avoid alcohol – alcohol is high in sugar, calorie rich and nutrient poor. It dysregulates blood sugar, impairs essential fatty acid metabolism and promotes dehydration
- Investigate microbiome testing – function microbiome testing allows us a deeper understanding into the interplay between the microorganisms inhabiting our GI tract and their impact on our overall health.
If you are experiencing digestive symptoms and would like individualised support, please get in touch. I work with clients regularly to get to the bottom of their stress and digestive complaints using dietary modification, lifestyle techniques, nutraceutical supplementation and functional microbiome mapping to address underlying drivers and support you back to good health.