Stress.  All of us experience stress in some way.  Some of us experience it every day.  Some of us deal with it all day long.  It comes in many forms with some that we may not even realize.  Most of us recognize it as emotional stress  "I have too much to do in too little time" stress.

However, there is also mechanical stress which is the result of something external such as gravity or temperature, or physical injuries.  These may result in physical pain, aches or pain in the body.

Finally, there are nutritional or chemical stress-what you eat, is it being digested properly, is it toxic, are nutrients being transported and is the waste being eliminated. 

It is important to recognize all of these stressors as they do affect us in some way.  In order for us to achieve true health (and sanity!), our bodies must be in a state of balance or homeostasis.  Stessors cause imbalance and therefore interrupt in the proper flow of your body's function. In other words: disease, sickness, inflammation, pain, depression, anxiety, etc are all symptoms of stress.

The best ways to lessen stress is to give the body what it needs to heal and thrive on to get back to balance or homeostasis:

• Feed your body real food- one ingredient foods are the best source of fuel for any body such as fresh vegetables, fruits and clean protein (no hormones or pesticides please!). 
• Exercise-a body needs movement to get more oxygen flowing to your brain and throughout your body.  Whether it's a walk around the block or a spin class, just do it.  
• Drink lots of water-Drink up to 1/2 your body weight in ounces every day.  It will provide you with energy and improve your digestion and help flush out the waste.  Drink up.  
• Meditation-while the other three recommendations seem more obvious, meditation is an amazing tool.  In fact, in a recent study of 2,000 participants who regularly practiced meditation, there were 87% less hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease, 55% less for cancer, 87% less for diseases of the nervous system, and 73% less for nose, throat, and lung problems. Those are pretty powerful reasons to give meditation a go. Try this for just 10 minutes a day--

Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. A chair is fine.  Rest your hands in your lap or on your belly. Close your eyes.
At first, don't try to change your breathing. Just notice how your breath flows naturally.
Next, gently make your breath deeper, feeling your belly rise and fall.
Notice your breath becoming quieter, slower and more regular.
If your thoughts become distracted, bring your focus back to your breath.