Mechanical stressors affect the anatomy, with structural causes such as trauma to the joints, muscles and bones. There are two major activities you can do to maximize health in this area. One is active and one purposefully inactive:

• Exercise – Our bodies are meant to move. For optimal health, look for a balance of cardio workouts and strength training. Cardio workouts strengthen the heart and lung capacity, whereas strength training builds muscle and joint health. If you are unable to incorporate this level of activity into your life then do what you can to walk and be as active you can throughout the day. It doesn’t take much to see your energy level begin to rise.
• Rest – Aim to get 6 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. Sleep is very important to our health. It aids the body’s recovery and re-invigorates us so that we are ready to take on whatever challenge comes next.

The second area of stress is one that most of us can relate to. It is by far the most difficult category of stressors to tackle, but it is also the one that yields the most radical and permanent benefits when you are successful in alleviating or managing it properly.

Emotional stresses are those that require mental energy–concerns for our loved ones, our finances, work stress, our future. These stresses can rob us of that full night’s sleep, send us running to the cupboard for unhealthy comfort food or drive us to drink to excess. But again, it’s the increase of cortisol levels that happen when we are chronically stressed that also compromise our body.

When people think about living a healthy life, they immediately think of running a half marathon, severely limiting their intake of calories or drinking lots of water. They forget that emotional stressors have the biggest ripple effect on our health.

Of course, when you are in good physical health, it makes it easier to handle the emotional stresses that may come your way, but there are three other habits that can help you manage as well:

• Improve your attitude – Approaching life from a positive, “can-do” attitude dramatically impacts your ability to succeed and how we cope with negative influences in our lives. Gratitude for what we already have focuses us on the positive and gives us confidence to do more, be more and have more.
• Believe in something bigger than yourself – For some, that may be God; for others, it may be acknowledgment of the universe and our place in it. Prayer or meditation can bring about a sense of peace and clarity for how to handle the emotional stress and all we all grapple with.
• Practice Mindfulness – Mindfulness has been proven to help us cope and alleviate emotional stress. It is about focusing on the present and not focusing on the past or worrying about the future. Breathing exercises and meditation are two ways to practice being “in the now”.

Nutrition and proper digestion can have a big impact on our health. What we eat, drink and breathe affect how well the body functions and fights back disease. Of the three major areas of stress to our overall health, managing nutrition is the easiest to control.

Make sure you are eating a healthy diet filled with whole foods, fiber, healthy fats and protein, including fresh vegetables, fish and fruit. Some people take pains to cut out all fat from their diet but the body does need some good fats to help proper digestion.

In order to be healthy, it’s important to think not only about what you put in your body but also to consider how your body properly absorbs those nutrients and removes waste from the body.

There are two other areas that we sometimes tend to neglect:

• Water – The human body is made up of 70% – 80% fluids, and much of that fluid is water. It’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day for maximum health. Water helps flush toxins out of our systems and is the healthiest drink we can have.
• Oxygen – We often forget that breathing is one of the major ways that our body cleanses itself. Breathing clean air helps us to eliminate waste, pushing unneeded toxins out through the proper functioning of our lungs. Deep breathing exercises and taking moments throughout the day for deep, conscientious breath can calm our nerves and supply vital oxygen to the bloodstream.

Throughout our lives, we must manage a broad range of mechanical, emotional and nutritional stresses. While we may never achieve perfection in all of these areas, if we achieve a level of balance between the three, we’ll find ourselves happier, healthier and better able to manage whatever stresses may present themselves tomorrow.

Your health is directly impacted by the foods you eat and the lifestyle you live. By taking steps to lessen the stressors in your life; mechanical, emotional and nutritional, your body will function more efficiently, improving your overall health and sense of well-being.