Stress is a part of our daily life, but it should not be ignored as too much-untreated stress can cause serious mental and physical health problems.

Any kind of stress can be managed with these few strategies and patience. This article talks about ways in which you can manage your stress levels through food and certain lifestyle changes as a cyclist :

Add these foods to your training diet to manage stress :

• Turmeric: It helps to reduce inflammation and anxiety. Oxidative stress can lead to anxiety and stress so when you add turmeric to your daily diet it helps to build your immunity and relieve stress.
• Whole Grains: These are rich in complex carbs, which provide energy to your body and mind, also control stress-causing hormones. Whole grains increase the serotonin levels in your body. The fibre and carb combination is great for relieving stress.
• Warm Milk: Stress can affect your sleep cycle, so consuming warm milk before bed helps to boost tryptophan, which is responsible for making serotonin. All the carbs along with milk sugar act on serotonin which helps in forming a better sleep cycle.
• Fruits: All kinds of seasonal fruits help to eliminate stress. The flavonoid content along with citric acid and various other nutrients help to fight stress.

Lifestyle changes to manage stress as a cyclist : 

• Adequate Sleep: Fix a bedtime and try to sleep at the same time each day. Avoid caffeine and nicotine before bed. Sleep in a dark room and avoid the use of any gadgets in the bedroom.
• Music: Listening to music can help you relax with having a positive effect on your body and brain, as calm music helps to reduce cortisol levels and lowers blood pressure.
• Meet Friends: If you feel stressed then talking about your problems with a friend can help a lot. Good healthy relationships are important in one’s life as they can put a lot of things in perspective when you feel stressed.
• Eat Right: Your diet and stress levels are related to each other. When you skip a meal then eating fatty and sugary snacks are a goto option, so it’s important to plan ahead. Vegetables, fruits and high levels of omega-3 fatty acids are linked to reducing the symptoms of stress.
• Reduce Caffeine: High caffeine intake increases anxiety and stress. So limit your intake of caffeine from tea, coffee, energy drinks and chocolates.