Broadly speaking, stress is a challenge to the body or psychology, rather than a support. Although stress is a part of everyday life, how you process it and what you do to reduce the impact of everyday tensions, will determine how your body performs in the long term.

Incorporate these 5 simple changes into your lifestyle to improve your body’s performance, enabling you to deal with stressful periods with more energy and fewer symptoms:

1. Eat regularly
   Going for long periods without eating dwindles your energy levels and leaves you hungry. Eat smaller more frequent meals, taking care to include good quality proteins, whole-grain slow release carbohydrates and good quality oils at every meal.
2. Cut down on caffeine
   Caffeine should be avoided when stressed because stress triggers a ‘fight or flight’ response in our bodies, even on a minor level. Adding caffeine heightens this response and can cause further stress, anxiety and insomnia.
3. Eat your ‘greens’
   Eat a more alkaline diet. The simplest way to do this is to make up half of your meal as vegetables or salad. The rest should be made up of protein and slow release carbohydrate.
4. Supplement your diet
   Unless contraindicated, during periods of particular stress for short periods of time, take a vitamin B complex. Other key supplements can be used under guidance to support your diet and maximise your fuel supply.
5. Take proper advice
   Every body processes stress in a unique way, which is why you should get individual advice. A ‘one size fits all approach’ just won’t work. Developing a programme and following specific advice designed for your particular body will produce optimum results. Working smart through a bespoke programme for your body will help minimise your efforts whilst achieving maximum results.