If you've ever tried to lose weight, you've heard the mantra, “Eat less, exercise more.” The same prescription can help to decrease the effects of stress in your life. You should eat moderate amounts of food high in vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, low-fat proteins, and fiber, and decrease your intake of highly processed food and food high in sugar and fat. Exercise builds muscle, increases lung capacity, improves cardiovascular function, and triggers the release of chemicals that counteract the effects of stress.