IS IT POSSIBLE TO LIVE STRESS-FREE?

The answer to this question is easy: No.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), stress is the physical and emotional response to harm caused by an imbalance between the perceived demands and the perceived resources and abilities of individuals to cope with those demands. Similarly, stress may be understood as an "overburdening" of the body at any given time. And it is normal that, at certain moments in your life, you feel overburdened by work, by financial problems, by illness or bereavement, or by something that is worrying you.

There are many factors that may cause us stress. Some common symptoms of stress are anxiety, difficulty getting to sleep, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, muscle tension, cramps and changes in heart rate. However, the key is what resources we can use to tackle this stress.

What resources are available to us to prevent stress?

Knowing what causes stress

A simple but fundamental step is identifying what makes us stressed.
For some people it may be arriving late, missing a train or attending a meeting. However, other people suffer with it when they feel they haven't planned enough for an important event, or they think something bad might happen. Different causes require different solutions. If missing a train stresses you, try to get to the station 15 minutes early. If you are stressed about a meeting, spend time preparing the content thoroughly. If you have negative thoughts, use "thought-stopping" techniques.

Healthy diet

A healthy, balanced diet which is low in fat and sugar is one of the pillars of our physical and mental health. We should avoid stimulant foods and drinks and reduce our alcohol intake. Light meals aid our digestion and make us feel less "bloated" and more energetic. We should learn to recognise when we have eaten enough and stop. Self-control at mealtimes is a pending issue which we need to address.

Some foods which are good for us during times of stress are:

Foods rich in magnesium: cocoa (in moderation), wholegrains, nuts, green vegetables and pulses.
Foods rich in omega 3: oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna), walnuts and flax seeds.
Fruit and vegetables which provide us with antioxidants and help "cushion" us from the effect of oxidative stress and prevent the premature ageing of our cells.

Dietary supplements

If we are not in the habit of eating all these foods that will help us to cope with stress, we could supplement our nutritional intake with dietary supplements.

Adaptogenic herbal supplements*: Maral (Rhaponticum carthamoides), Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) and Ashawagandha (Withania somnifera L).
Supplements/herbal infusions with plants and ingredients that promote relaxation and sleep: lemon balm, valerian, L- teanina and Ashawagandha (Withania somnifera L).
Supplements/herbal infusions/spices with antioxidant nutrients: green tea, turmeric and Polygonum cuspidatum (rich in resveratrol).

Physical exercise

There are many different ways of increasing the amount of physical exercise you do. Such as joining a gym, running several miles, going up and down stairs or cycling to work. Some of these are bound to fit in with our preferences and lifestyle.

Leisure activities

What activities relax you and help you to switch off? It may be reading, listening to music, going for a walk in the park or cooking. Each one of us has to find activities that make us feel good and, the hardest part, make time for them.

No matter what type of stress it is (chronic stress, work-related stress or post-traumatic stress) there are tools available to prevent and manage it. Identifying the causes of stress is one of the keys to combatting it.

We have allies at hand to fight stress, such as healthy food, specific dietary supplements, getting enough rest, restorative sleep or physical exercise. Of course, all of this should be reinforced with a positive attitude.

*Plants with substances that regulate bodily functions and strengthen organ systems that are compromised by stress. Definition by SEFIT (Spanish Society of Phytotherapy).