Escaping stress in our modern world is no easy task. There’s always something causing anxiety, be it concern over finances, ageing parents, sick children, political instability, crime or a relationship that has broken down. Stress comes at us from every direction, and is often unrelenting. Whether its source is mental, physical, emotional, dietary or environmental in nature, the way your body responds is the same: chronic stress causes a cascade of chemical reactions that impact your sleep, cognitive abilities, hormone balance, mood and libido. And, as if being an irritable, foggy-brained zombie weren’t bad enough, stress also makes you fat! The type of fat that can make you consider buying a pair of elasticised trousers from the maternity-wear section so that you can sit, breathe and eat a meal at…