Manage holiday stress the natural way

‘Tis the season for holiday stress, but combating the feelings associated with this busy time of year is easier than you think. The Canadian Health Food Association recommends considering adding these three safe, effective, and high-quality natural health products that have been shown to help combat stress to your healthcare regimen.

Valerian root. Getting enough sleep is one of the best ways to combat stress. However, consistently getting enough uninterrupted sleep can be challenging. Studies show that people who have trouble sleeping found that valerian reduced the time it took to fall asleep, improved their sleep quality, and helped them wake up less often in the middle of the night.

Magnesium. Magnesium is involved in a many of our body’s functions, including maintain brain health. Unfortunately, many Canadians fail to consume enough magnesium through their diet. In fact, according to Health Canada, 34 per cent of adults fall into this group. When we experience high levels of stress, the level of magnesium in our bodies is depleted. Low magnesium levels caused by stress have been shown to lead to headaches, cramps, and irritability. If you’re feeling stressed out, speak to your healthcare practitioner about magnesium supplementation for an extra stress-relieving boost.

Omega-3 fatty acids. The importance of omega-3 fatty acids for heart and brain health is well documented. But studies found that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can help also reduce symptoms of anxiety, a prolonged form of stress that occurs even when we don’t have anything to worry about. We can get omega-3s through our diet by eating oily fish like salmon and anchovies, but not everyone consumes the recommended weekly intake. This is why supplementation can be a great alternative.

Find your local CHFA Member natural health store online at chfa.ca. Remember to speak to your healthcare practitioner before making any changes to your daily regimen.

-NC-