Q4: If people want to support their energy and stress levels, what are the top 3 things they should start and stop doing?
CW: First, start optimizing your nutrition. Balance your blood sugar and prioritize mineral replenishment. Start eating a balanced breakfast within 2 hours of waking and avoid long gaps between meals during the day. Prioritize quality, nutrient-rich foods asap!
Physical Stressors: Next, stop or try to minimize physical stressors. Treat chronic underlying infections, especially in the gut, decrease inflammation, reduce endocrine disruptors, and assess your workout strategy. Exercise is great, but too much high intensity exercise too often can also stress the body.
Gut Health: Consider functional gut tests if you’re dealing with any digestive issues, hair mineral assessments are great for determining current adrenal status and metabolic type, and, of course, hormone testing for insights into how stress is impacting your body.
These have been game changers for my clients as we are able to create individualized recovery protocols.
Stress Resilience: Then, start to build stress resilience. Prioritize nervous system support. Incorporate deep belly breath breaks throughout the day (I always suggest doing this before each meal). Try journaling and/or meditation, restorative movement like walking or yoga, self-development exercises like improving your self-talk, gratitude, and stress-management techniques, and addressing any long-term traumas with therapy.
The effects of stress can be relentless. But if you provide your body with the right nutrients through food and targeted support with supplements, your mental clarity, productivity, and overall well-being don’t have to suffer.
Start with the basics: