Good nutrition is a powerful ally when it comes to fighting off stress. Also, research shows that prolonged periods of pressure can weaken the immune system and cause a high incidence of minor illnesses such as colds, coughs and flu.

Certain nutrients are used up more quickly when you are under stress: your body needs extra B vitamins for a healthy central nervous system, and vitamin C and zinc for resistance to fight infections. These extra requirements can be easily met by eating plenty of foods listed below.

Also, remember to eat small, frequent meals to boost your energy levels and reduce fatigue caused by stress. These meals should ideally be based around complex carbohydrates such as wholemeal bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Also, set aside a peaceful time for eating – so that you can eat slowly, relax and enjoy your meal – no matter how busy and rushed you may be during the rest of the day.

Also remember, that excessive amounts of tea, coffee and sugar are far more likely to stimulate feelings of anxiety, rather than to calm them. Some people turn to smoking and drinking during times of stress, but both of these rob the body of valuable nutrients. While the short-term effect of alcohol is to reduce a sense of well-being, long term use can lead to depression.

Transcendental meditation (TM), yoga, Zen – they all work by inducing something called the relaxation response. This phenomenon shuts off the distracting, stressful, anxiety-producing aspects of what is commonly called the fight-or-flight response. We recommend Yoga as it is a complete physical & mental exercise when done under proper guidance and with regularity.

There are many natural herbal and homeopathic remedies that may be of assistance in providing all natural stress relief if you feel your stress levels are too high. A holistic approach encourages all natural stress relief by exploring physical and psychological effects of your stress and aims to treat the individual as a whole.

Some herbal remedies recommended for all natural stress relief are Hypericum perforatum (St John’s Wort), Passiflora incarnata, Scuttelaria laterifolia (Scullcap) and Valerian. Theses herbal remedies all serve to relieve the anxiety and tension related to stress.

YOu may get additional info on these here http://www.healthherbsandnutrition.com/remedies/s/stress.htm

You might want to consider supplemental magnesium. Depending on the source, it is variously estimated that 80 to 95 percent of us are deficient in magnesium and magnesium deficiency has been linked to a number of mental diffiulties. If you do try that, be sure that you get two to three times as much calcium as magnesium as they are important co-factors for one another.

Taking time to stop and smell the roses every so often could be invaluable. We all need breaks away from the constant buzz of daily life. Indulge in a nice fragrant bath from time to time. Get a close friend to give you a good massage or foot rub. Try yoga and/or meditation. Learn how to relax!

Fragrant scents themselves can help reduce stress. A study published just a few months ago in the American Chemical Society`s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, exposed lab rats to stressful conditions while inhaling and not inhaling linalool, which is a fragrance found naturally in lavender, mint, coriander, bergamot, lemon, mango and many other fragrant plants. After inhaling linalool, the rats which were exposed to stressful conditions had stress-elevated levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes return to near normal levels (both neutrophils and lymphcytes are key parts of the immune system).

The herb valerian root has been very effective at helping reduce anxiety. There are others, but some of them may make you more drowsy than you would like. Valerian root was widely dispensed to the citizens of London during the bombing raids in WWII to reduce anxiety and stress.

Personally, I use a product called colloidal gold and have found that it makes a noticeable difference in both mood and focus.

Instead of just looking at those three bottles, slow down and take the time to get each one and read the label, even if it may be mostly hype.

I hope I have helped.