Stressed out?
If you’re like most people, your stress level has been running at an all-time high for a while now.
According to the American Psychological Association, 2 out of 3 adults say their stress level has increased during the pandemic. But it’s not only health concerns that have us stressed – changes at work, gaps in school and childcare, social isolation, personal finances, and the news all contribute to growing anxiety.
And yet, that level of stress is simply unacceptable for our health and well-being.
Research shows a clear link between stress and immune cell health, as well as inflammation, which is associated with the onset and advancement of autoimmune diseases. Study after study show how exposure to trauma, chronic, high levels of stress, and even just stressful periods of life makes people more likely to develop autoimmune diseases.
Not only that, but stress can literally poison the brain and the body. It leads to a build up of free radicals, the potentially cancer-causing, Alzheimer’s-inducing atoms that damage DNA and age your cells.
Remember, the acid that stress causes in your body outweighs a million times to one any effect that food or drinks can cause.
That makes you more susceptible to both common illnesses and serious diseases.
When your body is busy fighting off acid and inflammation, it’s not as able to fight off germs at the same time.
So whether you have an immune system challenge, or you just want to be able to fend off colds and viruses, managing stress is of the utmost importance. It can literally change your life.
Today, I’ve got 13 science-backed ways to fight stress and leave you feeling more calm, relaxed, and energized. And the awesome bonus is these will also help keep you healthy!
13 Tools to Fight Stress & Boost Immunity
1. Take up a new self care habit.
Healthy routines reduce stress and make you feel good. Likewise, trying something new or developing a new skill deepens your confidence.
Combine a healthy routine with a new skill by trying a new exercise class online, taking up a meditative art practice, or taking classes in something you’ve always wanted to try, such as trapeze or fencing.
2. Go easy on yourself.
Often adding to high stress levels is the feeling that you should be coping better than you are. Be patient and kind with yourself, just as you would with a close friend. Remind yourself of times you have overcome stressful situations in the past, and that you can do so again.
3. Enjoy nature.
Whatever time you can spend outside, take advantage of it. Head to a park for a long walk, eat breakfast on your balcony, or spend an afternoon gardening. Research shows that time spent outdoors reduces stress hormone levels and anxiety, improves mood, and (no coincidence) enhances immunity.
4. Eat your antioxidants.
Oxidative stress is the phenomenon that happens when someone has too many free radicals in the body compared to antioxidants. This is a state you do NOT want to get into because, as you know, free radicals cause cancer, and they also make you more susceptible to bad outcomes from viruses and serious diseases.
We all fall somewhere on the scale of antioxidant-rich health to oxidative stress, which is caused by lifestyle factors like smoking, poor diet, alcohol consumption, certain medications, and exposure to pollutants.
In order to keep you out of oxidative stress, you need a diet rich in antioxidants. Think of it as eating the rainbow:
- Kale, spinach, and other dark, leafy greens
- Broccoli
- Carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes
- Cabbage
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Raw cacao
- Pecans
- Berries
- Coffee – BUT you’ve got to neutralize the acid in order to utilize the antioxidants
5. Add more movement every day.
Research shows that exercise or brisk movement for at least 20 minutes every day will cut your stress load and help you sleep better at night, which also reduces stress and boosts the immune system.
Take a walk outside, go to a HIIT class, do a yoga video in your living room, or invest in a mini-trampoline to get a great workout without setting foot in a gym.
6. Take deep breaths.
Did you know that 70% of the acids and toxins inside of your body are removed through your lungs? That includes acid caused by stress, which causes more acid build up than anything you could eat or drink.
Breathing can also reduce stress in other powerful ways – it can lower blood pressure, slow the heartbeat, energize your muscles, and change your pH within 1 to 3 minutes. Anytime you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, stop and take 10 deep breaths, aiming to focus on your breathing alone.
7. Eat nutritious foods that fuel you.
I know how it is when you’re stressed… you want to eat comfort foods and snack all day. But your body wants you to do the complete opposite! In fact, your body needs you to eat the best foods at fighting the acidity and again, free radicals caused by stress.
Foods that fight acid contain alkaline minerals, healthy fats, and vitamins. Here are a few to eat more of:
- Greens like lettuce, watercress, and chard
- Raw almonds
- Cucumbers
- Celery
- Peppers
- Onions and garlic
- Coconut and coconut oil
- Grapefruit, lemons, and limes
- Avocados
- Chia and flax seeds
8.Eat less junk and sugar.
Research shows that when stress hormones like cortisol are on the rise, the body will store sugar as belly fat. It’s that same type of fat that contributes to heart disease and metabolic diseases like diabetes.
So in other words, a glass of wine, double shot latte, or chocolate milkshake might sound like a good idea when you’re stressed out, but it’s actually the opposite of what you want to do to an already overly-taxed system. Avoid sugar and junk foods in favor of healthy fats, veggies, and plant-based proteins.
9. Relax your body.
While meditation is a sure-fire way to manage stress and train your brain to be less anxious, many people find meditation difficult. Here’s another option that gets the same results.
It’s called progressive muscle relaxation, and it’s the practice of relaxing the muscles and tension in your body, starting with your toes, while focusing on deep breathing. You can find guided practices online to walk you through it, or just try it on your own. After a few minutes, you’ll feel much more calm, relaxed, and at ease.
10. Protect your rest.
Getting plenty of sleep will help prevent stress, but also sleep is the time when your body fights off the damaging effects of acid, and the number one acid is stress.
Give yourself 8 hours to rest, and before that, get ready by turning off screens, taking a bath or diffuse some relaxing essential oils, drinking a mug of chamomile tea, and last but not least, take Acid-Kicking Minerals before bed to get restful, restorative sleep.
11. Seek support.
Lean on friends, family, and mental health professionals when you’re feeling stressed. Make sure you are giving support to friends and family too, which increases positive emotions and decreases stress.
12. Do something for someone else.
Science tells us that taking action for other people reduces our stress, as well as theirs. Send flowers to a loved one, give a family member a call, do a quick favor for a neighbor, or spend some time playing with your kids or animals.
13. Support your immunity.
If worrying about getting sick is adding to your long list of stressors, that’s one we can cross off your list.
It’s not that we can prevent you from encountering every cold and virus. It’s not about what’s out there, it’s about what’s in here – let’s strengthen your body and your immune system so you can fight off what you encounter.
That’s why I created this video of what I take and what I recommend you take – this is not just my products but everything I take – to keep healthy and prevent getting sick.
That’s also why we created the Alkamind Immunity Defense Bundle – the essential combination of supplements you need to keep your body sufficient in acid-fighting minerals so that it can fend off inflammation and disease.
It combines 4 of our most popular products:
1. NEW Acid-Kicking Immunity – this simple supplement is the best way to guard yourself and your loved ones from germs, microbes, and bacteria that you encounter everyday to help prevent diseases ranging from the common cold to chronic illness.
2. Acid-Kicking Minerals – Did you know that getting plenty of magnesium supports a healthy immune system and it’s clinically proven to open up restricted airways to ease breathing and improve lung function? In our best-selling product, we combine magnesium with calcium, potassium and sodium bicarbonate to fight acid so your body can fend off germs.
3. Acid-Kicking Greens – 5 whole servings of raw, green super foods will detoxify and boost immunity, creating an alkaline, oxygenated microbiome where viruses and bacteria cannot thrive.
4. Acid-Kicking Black Seed Oil – In the worst outcomes, respiratory viruses cause a cytokine storm that means inflammation skyrockets all over the body. So you need the most powerful anti-inflammatory on the planet that has 3 times the inflammation-fighting power of turmeric.
5. Bonus! The Ultimate Immunity Defense Guide – The same protocol of supplements that have prevented illnesses for myself and thousands of my patients in my wellness clinic, plus tips to protect yourself and your family.
Find out more about this powerful tool for your health and immunity now!
GET OFF YOUR ACID!
Dr. Daryl