The phrase ‘vicious circle’ is particularly pertinent when talking about anxiety, stress and inflammation. Like small children, they go around provoking each other and exacerbating the situation. Prolonged periods of anxiety and stress can lead to inflammation in the body and in return, inflammation triggers anxiety and stress. Ad infinitum. But how to stop the stress-inflame-repeat cycle?

“Chronic inflammation is the root cause behind a host of modern diseases such as obesity, heart disease and even depression. Whilst stress and anxiety are often associated with being the cause of the problem, chronic inflammation feeds into increasing levels of stress and anxiety.”

There are plenty of ways chronic inflammation can manifest in the body but it’s often an invisible enemy, so what are the symptoms of chronic inflammation? If you think you might be suffering from it, here are some of the tell-tale signs:

• You’re constantly tired or fatigued
• You suffer from unexplained skin conditions
• You’ve been experiencing digestive issues
• Your blood sugar tends to be high and carbs make you sleepy
• You suffer from allergies
• Your face is puffy and you have bags under your eyes
• You regularly experience water retention
• Your gums bleed when you brush (gum disease)
• If you’re a man you may suffer from erectile dysfunction
• You feel constantly anxious and/or stressed

5 of the best ways to banish inflammation from your body *(and reduce stress and anxiety in the process)

So many of the foods that we eat these days contain inflammatory compounds which increase our propensity to develop stress and anxiety. The first step for anybody looking to combat inflammation is to reset your diet.

Dairy and gluten should, initially, be ruled out in their entirety. This is especially important if you’re looking for a full reset or are suffering from prolonged and intense inflammation. You should also look to avoid refined sugars, alcohol and caffeine as all put an unnecessary strain on your system.

You need to focus on foods that have high anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties such as:

• berries, nuts and seeds

• fatty fish

• bitter green leafy vegetables

• raw cacao

• garlic

• brussel sprouts

• rooibos tea

• high quality fats such as coconut oil and olive oil

Consider taking collagen-containing foods, medicinal mushrooms and a wide variety of fresh herbs such as thyme, parsley, coriander and rosemary.

Cortisol is inflammation’s all time favourite hormone. It’s a vital response hormone, but only in short stints. Being constantly ‘switched on’ can cause the body’s systems to go into overdrive and react disproportionately to the stresses of everyday life. Meditation can be a really powerful tool to alleviate some of this extra strain on the body's systems. Just 20 minutes of stillness per day has been clinically proven to slash stress-levels and anxiety, and to lower inflammation. A natural antidepressant, affron® is a widely proven power ingredient for dissipating an over anxious mind and reducing the stress response throughout the body.

You get the jist. All of these things and more have been shown in scientific studies to reduce anxiety, curtail stress and diminish inflammation.

Poor sleep is a leading cause of chronic inflammation and has a profound knock-on effect to long-term health. Medical studies have proved however, it’s not how much sleep you get but the time spent in REM stages of sleep that combats inflammation and improves health.

Here are some of the best things you can do to sleep better and up your levels of good quality sleep, reducing your levels of inflammation, anxiety and stress:

1. Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day - establishing a routine will get your body feeling ‘ready’ to sleep
2. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugar in the second half of the day as they are stimulants and will mess with your body’s natural rhythms. Chocolate can also have a similar effect, so you might want to re-think that ‘one small square of dark chocolate’ after dinner
3. Exercise daily - for the reasons outlined below, but also because it will leave you literally ‘tired out’ and more in need of a restful slumber
4. Avoid all screens for two hours before bed - the blue light technology is designed to keep you wired and will completely mess with your body’s natural melatonin production
5. Sleep in a cool room - studies have shown that a room that is between 15°C and 18°C is perfect for a good night’s sleep. Your body’s sleep hormones work more efficiently in a cooler environment.
6. Try a natural supplement - for instance, one of LYMA's 10 ingredients, Sensoril® Ashwagandha has been clinically proven to enhance the sleep cycle and to promote both falling asleep faster, and staying asleep longer.

The effect of exercise on reducing stress, anxiety and inflammation is pretty much instant and studies have shown that just 25 minutes of movement a day (ideally outside for the added benefits of Vitamin D on your mental health) can significantly reduce levels of inflammation in the body. Physical exertion produces endorphins that relax the body and calm the mind, so if you are feeling anxious or stressed, lacing up your trainers and getting out the door is the best immediate remedy there is.

Move in a way that you enjoy, whether it be a brisk walk, stretching, rock climbing, cycling or going for a run. Making exercise part of your regular routine requires habit forming and consistency is key, so listen to your body and do what makes you happy.

LYMA is the ultimate Supplement for stress-relief, anxiety management and inflammation-reduction. An unrivalled formulation anti-inflammatory of HydroCurc® and calming Sensoril® Ashwagandha, both of which have been backed by peer-reviewed clinical evidence confirming that they pack a powerful anti-inflammatory punch and anxiety resistance.

Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory compound found in turmeric but, when ingested dietarily, is exceptionally difficult for the body to absorb. HydroCurc® 600mg is a biologically engineered form of curcumin that breaks this barrier, making it entirely bioavailable for the body to use and thus it’s been formulated at a clinically proven dose in the LYMA formula.

Full spectrum, root extract sensoril® Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic supplement which has been used and studied for centuries for its role in reducing stress and inflammation in the body.

Exercise, nutrition, sleep and lifestyle adaptation are all crucial health components but LYMA takes a full conditioning calming response to the next level. By touching every vital system in the body and brain, LYMA simultaneously soothes the body and brain and thus, stopping the stress inflammation cycle for good.