This post is written in partnership with New Chapter vitamins. Thanks for supporting partnerships that allow me to speak about topics I love and make Nutrition Happen!

If there’s one thing we all occasionally struggle with, it’s probably stress. Stress is a normal response from our bodies, regardless of whether it’s physical or psychological. In fact, if you exercise in any way or enjoy workouts that involve high intensity interval training, stress on the body is inevitable. As a result of the physical stress, inflammation kicks in to help rebuild tissues that help the body get stronger. I know inflammation often has a negative connotation but it’s technically a natural (and healthy) response by the body to protect us. Inflammation is not necessarily negative because it’s usually temporary and clears up quickly once the stress subsides. However, stress that builds up over time can contribute to the type of inflammation that leads to injury or pain.