According to an investigation by the Observatory of Applied Social Psychology (OPSA) of the Faculty of Psychology of the UBA, after the pandemic, a state of stress, uncertainty and fed up prevails in Argentines. Added to this is the country’s economic situation, which has worsened over the years, generating a negative impact on people’s mental health.
All these negative situations have generated a negative impact on people’s lives, with which severe or prolonged stress has as its main consequence the increased risk of contracting stress-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, the suppression of the immune system, among others.
Here are a series of habits that you can incorporate into your routine and thus reduce your stress levels.
Meditation
Meditating helps decrease physiological markers of stress, reducing cortisol levels, blood pressure and heart rate. Practiced over time, meditation helps to respond better to stressful situations.
Physical activity
Regular physical activity helps control stress and strengthen the immune system. Performing aerobic exercise increases the heart rate and the use of oxygen by the body, thus increasing the levels of endorphins, reducing pain and increasing pleasure.
Healthy food
Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids help eliminate stress, known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). They can be found in foods such as salmon, trout, mackerel, anchovies, and sardines.
Foods that contain vitamin C, such as red and green peppers, oranges, grapefruit and kiwi, help reduce psychological stress and blood pressure.
And fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut contain beneficial bacteria known as probiotics, which have the ability to reduce stress and cortisol levels.
Listen to music
Music helps reduce stress levels, it can be useful to boost mood or help calm the mind, relax muscles and release stress.
recreation activities
The most important thing is to choose an activity that you enjoy that will help relieve muscle tension and help free your mind. Painting, swimming, dancing, taking a course, cooking something you like, doing yoga, tai chi or gardening can be very beneficial for your physical and emotional health.