10 Natural Ways To Beat Stress

Got the winter blues already? Stress doesn't have to take over. With a few natural remedies - including the ultimate calming bedtime drink - you can banish that sinking feeling for good. Make a change with these rituals...


Dark Chocolate
While herbal teas like camomile are popular for helping to calm before bed, new research has proven how cocoa and dark chocolate can effect our mood and reduce emotional stress. Those who drink a dark chocolate drink have significantly increased self-rated calmness and contentedness compared to those who made a drink with no polyphenols at all.

Choose a dark chocolate cocoa drink to help to relax and unwind before bedtime. Be sure to choose a drink with 70% or more cocoa in and make drinking your hot chocolate a daily ritual to benefit from the effects over time.




Sunflowers
Both sunflower seeds and alfalfa sprouts eaten together can lower stress levels, thanks to a anxiety-lowering substance that's released into the body. As soon as you feel stress building, eat them before it really kicks in.




St John Wort
St John's Wort is a known herb that helps knock depression, stress and anxiety on the head. Taken daily in either a tea or powder, just be sure to double check with your doctor beforehand to ensure it won't conflict with any existing medications you are taking.




Yoghurt
Yoghurt contains a host of vitamins and minerals including calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B complex and vitamin D, all of which are linked to relief from insomnia and stress. Keep your levels topped up with three to four tablespoons throughout the day.




Cherries
Cherries are one fruit known to soothe the nervous system, helping to alleviate stress. Eaten fresh, cooked in pies or desserts, the effect will be the same.




Basil
Believe it or not, chewing on a basil leaf can work wonders to lower your stress levels when they start to rise. Chew on a couple of leaves for several minutes to release the flavour before either swallowing or spitting out the remainder. You can repeat the process up to 20 times a day and your body won't experience any negative impact.




Ginger
Take time out one evening with this treatment to relieve stress. Mix two tablespoons of ground ginger with enough milk to form a paste, then smooth onto your forehead and let the mixture dry. Your skin will start to feel warmer, then cooler as your facial muscles relax. Leave the mixture on for 10 to 15 minutes before washing off.




Celery
Bet you thought celery was just a good weight loss option, it turns out this veggie also contains important phytonutrients called phthalides, which are acknowledged as sedatives and can lower feelings of stress and anxiety.




Eat Late
Although eating late at night isn't prescribed for those wanting to digest a big meal, it can help your stress levels by regulating blood sugar throughout the night. Cook up some pasta which is known to increase serotonin levels in the brain.




Bedtime
Stress levels can start to increase the closer it gets to bedtime, so beat the stress factor and reduce feelings of angst with a glass of warm milk flavoured with cinnamon and honey. If warm milk isn't for you, try lavender or camomile tea instead.