Healthy Ways to Manage Holiday Stress
The following article was written by Heinen’s Chief Dietitian, Melanie Jatsek RD, LD. Please consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplements.
As busy people, we tend to spend most of our waking hours everywhere but in our own body. It’s easy to be absent for the present moment when you’re juggling family and work, not to mention preparing for the holidays. Over time this can become stressful and take a toll on your physical and mental health.
How Your Body Responds to Stress
Imagine you’re sitting in traffic and suddenly the car in front of you stops abruptly, triggering you to slam on the breaks. This is an example of your fight-or-flight response, a natural life-saving biological reaction hardwired in your DNA. In response to a threat (impending car crash) your body releases stress hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol, to prepare you for action (hitting the brakes). This is an example of short-term acute stress.
The Real Problem: Chronic Stress
Chronic stress, on the other hand, is what most of us experience daily. It can be caused by relationship challenges, everyday demands of your job or family, and of course, the holidays.
The problem with chronic stress is that your body interprets it as acute stress and responds with fight-or-flight. If left unchecked, this can lead to conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
The Solution to Chronic Stress: Be Present
Every day stress occurs when you fret over the past or worry about the future, but if you think about it, you can only really be here, now. In this moment, you have no worries. In fact, all your real power rests in this very moment; in this breath.
This holiday season, I invite you to live your life as a series of present moments. When you begin to feel stressed, take a long, slow, deep breath in and out. Come back into your body and step into the now, where stress cannot occur.
Supplements to Help Manage Holiday Stress
If you could use a little extra support managing everyday stress, the following supplements from Heinen’s Wellness Department can help. As always, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before beginning any new supplements.
- Traditional Medicinals Organic Cup of Calm Tea: Sip on a cup of this relaxing tea when you need it most. The blend includes passionflower, chamomile, lavender, and catnip to support the nervous system.
- Heinen’s Magnesium Glycinate: Magnesium is one of the most important minerals in the human diet, yet close to 75% of Americans aren’t getting enough. It’s known as the “relaxation” mineral, and as such, can help support healthy blood pressure, sleep, and overall mood.
- Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that promotes stress reduction in the body. Bare Organics Ashwagandha powder can be blended into smoothies or stirred into no-bake energy bites. Gaia Herbs offers ashwagandha in convenient capsules if you prefer this method of supplementation.
- CBD Oil: Research shows that CBD’s benefits come from its interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a regulatory system that influences many physiological functions. In this way, CBD can help reduce anxiety and everyday stress, support healthy sleep patterns, and ease pain and inflammation. CBD softgels are the easiest way to take CBD oil. Heinen’s carries a THC-free variety of softgels by +PlusCBD that can be added to your daily routine for overall balance.
- Himalaya Hello Calm Mind: These capsules are formulated with ingredients like Bacopa, Gotu Kola and L-Theanine to help release stress while supporting cognitive function and mood.
Key Takeaway
Learning to focus on your breath and live in the moment can be a lifechanging way to manage everyday stress. Even if you focus on just one deep breath per hour—five seconds in and five seconds out—that’s ten seconds of unshakeable peace. Just think what spending a little more time in the now could do for your health.
Please consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any new supplements.
