For many of us, stress has become a life companion that we have learnt to live with. Stress can have many symptoms from sleepless nights, weight loss or gain, acne and nervous nail biting to hair loss. While our daily lives are the primary cause of our stress, seasonal changes can also affect our moods and stress levels.
With spring now here, stress levels might naturally go down, thanks to more sunshine, but seasonal hair loss might occur, adding and possibly causing more stress. Protect your locks and overall health by reducing stress and strengthening your hair with two new, all-natural supplements by Natures Plus.
Olivia Hemingway, nutritionist at Natures Plus (www.naturesplus.co.uk) and Dr Alka Patel NHS GP, Coach and Lifestyle Medicine Physician (www.dralkapatel.com) shared some tips on ways to cope and reduce stress naturally.
Reduce Caffeine Intake
A cup of tea or coffee in the morning is, for most of us, a daily essential to kick start the day and make us feel more awake. Especially now that spring allergies can disrupt a night of blissful sleep. While caffeine is fine in moderation, some people might have an adverse reaction to it as it can increase anxiety and stress.
Olivia explains, “Reducing your caffeine intake can help with stress, as caffeine is a stimulant and can increase heart rate which can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Caffeine can also disrupt sleep, which is a very important factor in managing stress. Try not to drink any caffeine after 3 pm.”
To substitute your morning cup, try a ginger shot, a healthy alternative that will wake you up with its fiery taste.
Practice Box Breathing
The way we breathe directly affects the way we feel. When we are stressed, or our energy levels feel low, we should stop and take a break to breathe. Dr Alka likes to use Box Breathing as a technique to reset the body and mind. Imagine drawing a square box – either on your palm, on a piece of paper or in your mind. Each side of the square is going to take 4 seconds to draw and with each line drawn you’re going to do something different with your breathing:
• Draw your line across, breathe in for 4s
• Draw your line down, hold for 4s
• Draw your line across, breathe out for 4s
• Draw your line up, hold for 4s
Repeat as many times as you want to give you a surge of calm, slow down your heart rate and prepare you for the day or calm you for the night.
Keep Cortisol at Bay
Cortisol – also called the stress hormone – affects our sleep, energy levels and other essential body functionalities. Cortisol is an essential hormone as it helps us fight stress, but if we find ourselves under persistent pressure, it can be detrimental to our immune system. It is important to find ways to avoid stressful situations to avoid Cortisol spikes and save us from headaches and sleepless nights.
Olivia explains, “The hormone can be balanced naturally. Exercise is a great stress buster and effective at reducing the fight or flight hormone, adrenaline, as well as cortisol. Furthermore, studies have shown activities such as meditating, yoga, listening to music and breathing exercises are all effective at managing stress.”
Reduce Stress Try BioAdvanced Stress Support £23.95
High stress levels can have a negative impact on our immune system as well as our look. It can make us look tired, change the way our skin functions and make our hair and nails brittle. Protect your immune system and reduce stress with the all-natural stress remedy to help you through your daily life, reduce oxidative stress and look after the nervous system while times are tough and you need that little extra help.
Vitamin B12, Niacin, B6 and magnesium contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue as well as healthy metabolism and blood cell formation. Other tried-and-true nutrients such as Holy Basil, Lemon Balm, CoQ10, Ashwaganda, Rhodiola, Choline and Ginseng are also included for their proven efficacy. Balance stress naturally with BioAdvanced Stress Support a vegan-friendly and soy, gluten and yeast-free supplement.
Natures Plus BioAdvanced Hair, Skin and Nails Support £23.95
There are lots of supplements targeting hair, skin and nails but these are not all created equal! For a natural, comprehensive and vegan-friendly option, try Natures Plus NEW BioAdvanced Hair, Skin and Nails. Help your hair (as well as your skin and nails) through stress and seasonal changes with this supplement to support, repair and supercharge growth – for both men and women.
This supplement contains essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, including 2000mcg biotin, MSM, Vitamin A, silica and even hyaluronic acid which all help prevent and treat hair loss, brittle and flaky nails and improve skin conditions from the inside out. Unlike most beauty supplements on the market that contain animal derived ingredients to support collagen formation, the BioAdvanced Hair, Skin and Nails is suitable for vegans, as it is made with food derived antioxidants.
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