The holiday season is among us! It’s time for quality time with family, delicious home-cooked meals, potlucks- if you’re into that sort of thing – and all types of celebrations. It can also be a time of stress and struggles. Every one of us has contemplated slipping a gallon of NyQuil into the Thanksgiving “grape juice.” It’s the busiest time of the year and your health shouldn’t suffer because of it.

What Is Stress Doing To Your Body?

Of course, we experience stress all year long, but it becomes a completely different beast – a much kinder one – when you change how you address its presence in your life. Why should you?

Stress causes inflammation. Unironically, inflammation causes more stress. Inflammation also creates a cozy, hospitable home for diseases to rest and strengthen themselves. You’re reading that right; stress attracts sickness and worsens it by 90% (https://nasdonline.org). Additionally, stress can:

What Should You Do With Stress?

You can’t avoid all stress, but you can definitely learn to listen to it, learn from it, and befriend it. I’m not saying to attract stress. Diagnose why certain situations cause you to stress.

Are you panicking because the situation is scary? Is it scary because it’s new, or because it’s completely out of your control? One of the best quotes I’ve heard recently was “It’s scary because it’s new, not because it’s impossible.” I promise you, you’re more capable, intelligent, and aware than you give yourself credit for.

Even if it’s only for 5 minutes while hiding from your kids in the locked bathroom, take a minute to assess the stressors around you.

Count to 5 while taking a large, slow, deep breath in.

Now count to 5 while slowly breathing out.

Don’t you already feel better?

Write down your fears, concerns, and grievances. Writing them or talking them out helps you release the tension in your brain and gives you permission to stop hanging onto so much overwhelming information. You will also find the solution to easing tensions in some areas because those thoughts are visible.

Practicing gratitude, prayer, meditation, and other mindful habits in the morning and evening help you expose negative thoughts, discover the beautiful things in your life, and rest better, instead of focusing on all that is going wrong. The way this positively affects your quality of life is outstanding.

Essential oils are another effortless way to encourage mindfulness and relaxation. For relaxation, try:

For mood boosters, you might like:

Start Eating Your Way Out of Stress…Crazy, Right?

Oh, my friend, food is the number one pacifist western culture turns to in order to relieve stress. I’m going to bet you do too. Heavy foods like cheese, bread, and pasta feel like a hug going down, but I assure you they’re the most toxic relationship you’re in. They don’t physically stab you in the back – they linger around your joints, muscles, and vital organs like your brain, heart, and liver. They cause swelling, which begins the domino trail of pain, disease, and mental breakdowns.

But you CAN eat your way out of a stressed body and mind. You can relieve bodily tensions by turning to more anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant-rich foods. Wholesome eats like:

And foods rich in:

Begin replacing carb or sugar-heavy foods with some helpful alternatives. Keeping cashews and pomegranate seeds on hand have been a game-changer in my everyday life.

Cooking for others is my love language. Since I can’t cook for you right now, let me give you the next best thing: a recipe. You have to promise me you’ll make this with love because that is what makes the difference!

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Bacon makes everything better, especially when paired with the sweet sensations of dates.

You will need:

Directions:

BONUS RECIPE: Kale Crunch

Surprise, I gotcha again! Healthy food is not just grass and seeds. THIS is not yo mama’s salad. This is bursting with flavor, saucy personality, and LOVE!

You will need:

Directions:

They’re quite a bit to handle, so I hope you can keep up, here…(**laughs* sarcastically)*

Watch here if you’d like to cook and learn with me

Are You Looking to Improve Your Health Holistically?

If you’re tired of

…iHeal may be the community for you! You will find:

Holiday Stress: Simple Tips To Reduce Your Stress Without Raising Your Stress

What Is Stress Doing To Your Body?

Of course, we experience stress all year long, but it becomes a completely different beast – a much kinder one – when you change how you address its presence in your life. Why should you?

Weaken your heart over time

Increase your susceptibility to blood clots

Raise your blood pressure

Increase your belly fat

Destroy the quality of your sleep

Imbalance your hormones

Throw off your ability to properly break down and digest nutrients

Lead to more serious mental health problems like depression and anxiety

What Should You Do With Stress?

You can’t avoid all stress, but you can definitely learn to listen to it, learn from it, and befriend it. I’m not saying to attract stress. Diagnose why certain situations cause you to stress.

Even if it’s only for 5 minutes while hiding from your kids in the locked bathroom, take a minute to assess the stressors around you.

Count to 5 while taking a large, slow, deep breath in.

Now count to 5 while slowly breathing out.

Don’t you already feel better?

Essential oils are another effortless way to encourage mindfulness and relaxation. For relaxation, try:

Lavender

Clary Sage

Chamomile

Bergamot

Sandalwood

Lemongrass

Rosemary

For mood boosters, you might like:

Orange

Frankincense (anti-inflammatory)

Lemon

Rose

Peppermint

Basil

Grapefruit

Lime

Start Eating Your Way Out of Stress…Crazy, Right?

But you CAN eat your way out of a stressed body and mind. You can relieve bodily tensions by turning to more anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant-rich foods. Wholesome eats like:

Pomegranates

Brown rice

Grass-fed meats

Wild-caught fish

Leafy greens

Cruciferous veggies (broccoli or cauliflower)

Avocado

Nuts/Seeds

And foods rich in:

Vitamin C

Vitamin D

Zinc

Magnesium

Begin replacing carb or sugar-heavy foods with some helpful alternatives. Keeping cashews and pomegranate seeds on hand have been a game-changer in my everyday life.

Cooking for others is my love language. Since I can’t cook for you right now, let me give you the next best thing: a recipe. You have to promise me you’ll make this with love because that is what makes the difference!

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Bacon makes everything better, especially when paired with the sweet sensations of dates.

You will need:

4 strips of turkey bacon

8 dates

1 tbsp of goat cheese

Directions:

Turn oven on to 400 F

Cut turkey bacon in half horizontally

Wrap 1/2 slice of bacon around each date tightly and secure with a toothpick

Place on a baking sheet, bake 20-25 minutes or until bacon is slightly crisp

Remove let rest for 5 minutes

Serve dates as a snack or with fresh tomato slices and roasted bok choy

BONUS RECIPE: Kale Crunch

Surprise, I gotcha again! Healthy food is not just grass and seeds. THIS is not yo mama’s salad. This is bursting with flavor, saucy personality, and LOVE!

You will need:

1 bunch kale chopped (sautéed or raw)

1/2 cup shredded red cabbage

1/4 cup red onion minced

2 strips turkey bacon cooked

1/4 cup coarsely chopped nuts

Balsamic olive oil dressing (we have a great recipe for this in my 90-Day Reset program)

Directions:

They’re quite a bit to handle, so I hope you can keep up, here…(*laughs sarcastically*)

Add all of the ingredients to a bowl

Drizzle balsamic olive oil dressing over all ingredients and mix well.

Now for the most important part…EAT!

Watch here if you’d like to cook and learn with me

Are You Looking to Improve Your Health Holistically?

They’re quite a bit to handle, so I hope you can keep up, here…(**laughs* sarcastically)*