Archive for the ‘stress relief’ Category

While all of your jet-setting friends are traveling to the Caribbean, Rome, or another enviable destination, you may feel forlorn at having to sit at home and watch the proverbial paint dry.  But instead, perhaps this is an opportunity-an inexpensive one-to celebrate a stress-free “staycation”.

If you have some time to burn, but not a lot of money with which to burn it, take advantage of the familiar.  And no, that does not mean catching up on the laundry, dishes, garage clean-up etc.  Instead, give yourself permission to eschew everyday life stresses and indulge in vacation-like decadence.

Eat take-out from your favorite Chinese restaurant.  Read trashy magazines and watch silly movies that are fun, but not heavy.  Give your brain a break.  Hang out with friends or family, and whip up something cold and sweet in the blender.  Sit on your porch or out in your backyard.  Take a leisurely stroll through a park-not necessarily for exercise-just do it because it’s a lovely day.  Pack a picnic and take it somewhere pretty, like a local beach, pond, or lake.

Be a tourist in your own town.  Is there a museum you’ve always wanted to check out?  A bar or coffee shop you’ve always meant to try?  A deliciously touristy destination you’ve been meaning to see? (I’m talking about you Alcatraz Island, Mt. Rushmore, Brooklyn Bridge, St. Louis Arch et al)  These places aren’t any less cool just because they’re in our backyards and easily accessible.  So join the local tourist ranks and enjoy a stress-free, inexpensive “staycation”.

As they say, “When in Rome…” Do as the locals do.  Bon Voyage!

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Are you feeling deprived?  Working hard, running around all day long, trying to exercise and take care of yourself (and everyone else) to the point of absolute exhaustion?  And when you finally have a moment’s peace, you decide that you deserve a treat-something chocolately and gooey no doubt-because you’ve worked so hard and sacrificed for so long.

Maybe that’s not such a good idea.

If you truly are trying to live a healthy and active life, rewarding yourself (and your family) with sweet, fatty, and sugary treats is good for no one.  Aside from the obvious glut of fat and sugar, you are setting a dangerous precedent: food equals reward.

Some people choose food as a reward because it’s cheap.  But I would argue that’s not entirely true.  Healthcare costs are rising, and what about the new wardrobe you’d have to buy after you gain ten pounds from consuming all of the treats you “deserve”?

There is a better way.

Reward yourself and loved ones with a new CD or DVD, a beautiful candle, tickets to a sports event or concert, a pound of gourmet coffee, or even with a massage or pedicure.  Especially if you have kids (or grandkids), this will establish that rewards don’t have to be sugar/fat/food related.

And hey. You could even buy yourself or a loved one some favorite nutritional supplements and give the ultimate reward: Good health!

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To discover a healthier you and find all of your favorite nutritional supplements, visit our homepage.

If you’re anything like me, your day may go like this:  Get up early (acute torture for we non-morning persons), check email, make coffee/breakfast/lunch/kid’s breakfasts etc. Jump in your car with seconds to spare, fight your way through ungodly traffic to get to work, school, or both, squeeze in errands in between meetings, stay late, commute home, try to get to the gym for 40 minutes, come back home, cook dinner, clean up the dishes, throw a load of laundry haphazardly into the machine, and read to the kids and/or pass out in front of the TV.  Get up the next day and start the whole chaotic process again.

This strikes me as no way to live.

So last week I took one day and experimented; I only did the things I absolutely HAD to do.  I did get up, made coffee and went to work, fighting the commute and arriving (basically) on time.  But I forced myself to eat a sandwich somewhere other than my desk, and eschewed all non-essential errands.  I found that I had time to take a walk in a nearby park, allowing myself to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, if only for my lunch hour.  When I got back to my desk, instead of feeling harried and frenzied, I felt centered and somewhat relaxed.  I continued with this idea throughout the day.  I drove home, changed into casual clothes and took the dog for a walk around the neighborhood.  I did not go to the gym.  With that extra hour, I spent some quality time with my pooch and actually had a chance to talk to a couple of neighbors who were also out and about.  When the rest of the family came home, we all cooked together and turned our collective noses up at the laundry piling high in the utility room.  It felt great.

The point is this: give yourself permission to kick around the dust bunnies.  It’s very noble to try to do it all day after day after day, but it doesn’t make for a particularly happy or enriched life.  So let yourself have a day or two off from the gym, the cooking, the laundry, and anything else non-essential.  You will feel more relaxed, centered and ultimately more productive.  And if all else fails, send the laundry out once a month.  Let someone else do your dirty work.  After all, you have a life!

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We’ve all seen the magazine covers or talk shows featuring lithe starlets who quip that the only exercise they ever need to sculpt their perfect bodies is yoga.  At first I was incredulous, but then again-I hadn’t taken a yoga class in years until recently.  I have since rediscovered yoga.  Yoga is a challenging practice and wonderful for the body, mind, and spirit.  Anyone who has held a “Revolved Half Moon Pose” for any length of time will understand what I mean.  Among myriad physical benefits, research has also concluded that yoga practice can help mitigate stress and anxiety and can be just as beneficial to our health as good old fashion relaxation.

In a randomized comparative trial involving 131 subjects experiencing mild to moderate stress, participating in hatha yoga for one hour, once a week, for 10 weeks, was found to be as effective as relaxation in terms of reducing stress and anxiety. Subjects were randomized to either receive 10 weekly one-hour sessions of yoga or relaxation. Various questionnaires were used to assess the outcomes. After the 10 weeks, yoga was found to be as effective as relaxation in reducing stress, anxiety, and improving health status on several aspects outlined on the Short Form-36. Yoga was found to be more effective than relaxation at improving mental health. After a six-week follow-up period, while subjects in the relaxation group were found to have higher scores in terms of vitality, social function, and mental health, subjects in both groups were found to have similar levels of stress and anxiety. Furthermore, no significant differences between the groups were found for five aspects of health status outlined on the SF-36. The results of this study suggest that the practice of yoga may be considered as an alternative to relaxation for reducing stress and anxiety. Additional research is warranted.

So grab your yoga mat and sign up for a series of classes.  Yoga can help soothe the stress in your life and just may help you fit into your favorite skinny jeans too!

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For natural stress reduction, try our anti-stress supplement Relora®. Read more about stress reduction and best practices for a calmer lifestyle in our health article archives.

Reference: http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/36431, “A randomised comparative trial of yoga and relaxation to reduce stress and anxiety,” Smith C, Hancock H, et al, Complement Ther Med, 2007; 15(2): 77-83. (Address: Caroline Smith, Centre for Allied Health Evidence, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. E-mail: caroline.smith@acnhw.com.au ).

Depression can sneak up on even the happiest among us.  But some groups seem to be more susceptible than others.  A recent study involving a group of older Japanese men and women who live in communities discovered that drinking green tea several times a day can significantly decrease incidence of depression in the group.  Green tea is also heavy on antioxidant properties and light on caffeine and is thought to be very good for overall health.  And now it can add “natural anti-depressant” to its roster of good attributes.

Of course choosing to live a healthy lifestyle can also make you happy, just as experiencing health problems can precipitate depression in many people.  Exercise can help release endorphins into your body, causing feelings of wellbeing and calm.  And seeking out feel good foods can also contribute to feeling happy (and healthy too).  Foods like wild salmon (rich in omega-3’s and vitamin D), lowfat or nonfat milk, (high in vitamin D and B12), blueberries and strawberries (high in antioxidants/great source of vitamin C) can all help fight free radicals that can cause cell damage and in turn compromise health.

Ideally we’d all eat healthy, vitamin and antioxidant rich food every day of our lives.  We’d train for marathons regularly, bicycle to and from work, and enjoy the requisite eight hours of sleep a night.  But most of us don’t live in this kind of world.  So do the best you can.  Take a walk after dinner.  Eat organically whenever possible.  And take your vitamins and supplements that help to fill in the nutritional gaps from your less-than-ideal-lifestyle.

And at the end of a particularly stressful or bad day, unwrap a little bit of dark chocolate (full of antioxidants), make yourself a cup of green tea, and end your day on a happy note.

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Learn health tips including how to achieve better cardiovascular health.  Read our health articles here.  We also carry natural stress relief solutions.

Reference: http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/38595, “Green tea consumption is associated with depressive symptoms in the elderly,” Niu K, Hozawa A, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2009 Oct 14; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Division of Biomedical Engineering for Health and Welfare, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Sendai, Japan).

Have you ever gone on a hike, a walk, or a run and felt tired but also very relaxed and at peace afterwards?  We thought so.  That is the magic of exercise and of focusing on something other than every day minutiae.  Yoga classes, meditation and even simple relaxation techniques can also quiet the noise within and calm the mind.  And it turns out that these practices are exceptionally good for your health.  A recent study was conducted on cancer patients who were asked to try an 8-week stress reduction program and the results were staggering:

In a study involving 49 patients with breast cancer and 10 patients with prostate cancer, participation in an 8-week “mindfulness-based stress reduction” (MBSR) program was found to enhance quality of life, reduce stress symptoms, reduce cortisol levels, improve immune patterns, reduce systolic blood pressure and improve mood. The 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program consisted of relaxation, meditation, gentle yoga, and a daily home practice. Various measurements were taken pre- and post-intervention, and at 6 and 12 months follow-up. Results of linear mixed modeling showed significant improvements in overall symptoms of stress after the intervention, which remained over the follow-up period. Reductions in pro-inflammatory cytokines, cortisol levels, systolic blood pressure, and mood disturbances were found. Furthermore, heart rate was positively associated with symptoms of stress. The results of this study suggest that participation in activities such as those included in this mindfulness-based stress reduction program may be of great benefit to cancer patients, with beneficial effects lasting well beyond the intervention. The authors conclude, “These pilot data represent a preliminary investigation of the longer-term relationships between MBSR program participation and a range of potentially important biomarkers.”

You don’t have to be a marathon runner or a renown Yogi to enjoy the benefits of exercise and relaxation.  If you are short on time, buy a yoga or Pilates DVD, or simply find a nice place to sit, breathe, and quiet your mind for a few minutes.  All together now: “Om”

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To learn more about managing stress levels for better health, see our health archives.  Stress can compromise the immune system, cause insomnia, and can even contribute to unwanted weight gain.  Our effective, high quality  supplements Relora® and Dual-Release Melatonin can really make a difference in your stress levels and can promote healthy sleep patterns.

Reference: http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/36457, “One year pre-post intervention follow-up of psychological, immune, endocrine and blood pressure outcomes of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in breast and prostate cancer outpatients,” Carlson LE, Speca M, et al, Brain Behav Immun, 2007 May 21; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Linda E. Carlson, Department of Psychosocial Resources, Tom Baker Cancer Centre Holy Cross Site, Alberta Cancer Board, 2202 Second St. S.W., Calgary, Alta., Canada T3B 0W7; Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada).

How often have you lamented if only I had an extra hour, or half hour in the day-if only I had more time, I could make some real progress?  Time is at a premium for most of us.  And tacking on an extra errand or chore, even if it’s for our health, can feel burdensome.  And maybe going to the gym and cooking fresh, organic produce just isn’t in the cards everyday.  But what if there were some ways to optimize your time every day and etch out just a little bit (between the carpool, work, dentist appointment etc) of healthy time for yourself?  We’ve come up with a few ideas that just may work for you.

Set your alarm just ten minutes early.  This is a very small sacrifice but you’ll be amazed that you’ll actually have time for a bowl of cereal, a piece of toast with peanut butter or chopping up a delicious apple to have as a mid-morning snack.  Your mood will improve, your productivity will go up, and who knows?  Maybe you’ll finally secure that raise, allowing for a more robust vacation fund, (also excellent for your health!).

You can exercise in spurts.  Yep, it’s true.  No more excuses that you don’t have an hour to dedicate to your gym.  Instead, look for opportunities to integrate exercise into your daily activities.  Walk to you local coffee shop at least three times a week.  Whether it’s down the street from your house, or three blocks from your office, there is no need to get in the car.  Your body will thank you in the long run for the bit of fresh air and exercise, plus you’re being eco-friendly.  If you don’t drink coffee, the same goes for a trip to the post office, pet store, dress shop, or rare Ukrainian coin purveyor.

Turn the TV off-at least sometimes!  Yes, we know it’s the playoffs.  And there’s always that funny movie on that you’ve been meaning to watch.  But the truth is, getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health and TV can be a time-sucking black hole.  (Sorry Conan!)  Take that extra time to hang out with your family and friends and then catch some quality zzz’s.

By carving out a few extra minutes in the short day for some healthy practices, you will find that time ends up being right on your side.  Now go out there and make good use of it!

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Ever notice that when you’re really tired, rushed or stressed out that you also seem sluggish, fuzzy, and unmotivated?  I can only speak for myself, but I’ve noticed a pattern that I have to assume is fairly common.

Perhaps I have a particularly taxing week at work, and then the car breaks down, then I’m late for a flight that I already had to reschedule once before, and now the presentation won’t be done on time.  Stress then rears its ugly head, which in turn makes me count cracks in the ceiling all night, which leads to me feeling less than svelte as I go about my daily routine.

And then this domino effect continues.  It pervades my eating, drinking and exercising habits in an insidious way.  I start to make excuses why I absolutely have to have that maple doughnut bar oozing with sugary goodness, or that double cheeseburger-with fries of course, otherwise the burger is lonely.  Top all that off with a triple fat full mocha with extra whip and candied orange peels.  Here’s the troubling thing; all this actually makes me feel better!  I have more energy and I’m sated.  I can focus on my work, on driving, on saving that little kitten in the big Oak tree.  I feel like superman!

Until I don’t.  Then the crash comes, oh how I resent you sugar crash!  Just when I thought everything was going so well.  But I was simply fooling myself, masking what my body really needed with my out of control crazy cravings for sugar, caffeine, and lots o’ fat.  That’s not to say that there isn’t a time and place for indulgence.  But I was using this sustenance as a kind of super fat-sugar-coffee inflated life raft, rigged to help me handle my stressful, insomniac existence.  However, my little plan failed me miserably, so much so that I slogged home and blended myself an extra thick margarita for good measure.

At the risk of sounding like a 90’s fitness icon, it was time for me to “stop the insanity.”  I knew better.  I knew that the stress hormone cortisol was working against me and making me eat things I knew I shouldn’t.  And the fact that I wasn’t getting enough sleep made it all the worse.  My body craved instant (but not sustainable) energy to make it through the day and I ate it in abundance.  What I really should’ve done was take my vitamins, had one cup of coffee (which is my usual, sane practice), eaten my bran cereal, gone to work, drank plenty of water, had a very sensible and fuel-laden lunch of salad, a low fat turkey sandwich, and maybe some fruit which is my usual custom.  I then would’ve had enough sustained energy and patience to deal with the missed flight and the broken down car and maybe, just maybe, I still would’ve gone to the gym, just to blow off a little steam lifting weights.

Now I know better.  And you should too.  This is my cautionary tale.  It’s fine to have treats, but don’t rely on them to keep you going.  They will let you down every, single time.

Happy holidays.  And by the way.  Who moved my eggnog latte??

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Want to read more about enhanced energy and daily health?  Check out our health concerns archives.  And even if you overdo it at the dinner table, there is digestive help.  We also have powerful  probiotics to promote a healthy digestive tract and help synthesize vitamins and nutrients.

As you sit listening to the symphony, taking in the beautiful architecture and the rich, melodic sound surrounding you, there is something else that you are neglecting to notice.  Your body.  It is screaming at you, and you aren’t listening.

When it finally does get your attention, you’re alarmed.  Your legs are aching and you feel really run down.  By intermission, your back has joined in the cacophony of pain you’re experiencing.  What is going on?  Then you stop to think.  I guess I have been a little stressed lately.  And I haven’t been sleeping very well or exercising much.  I’ve also been grabbing food on the go, usually in the form of a burger or a burrito.

This kind of behavior adds up.  Not sleeping, living a stressful life, not eating a proper diet and-it goes without saying- not having enough time to exercise can all be harmful to your health.  But you don’t need me to tell you that.  Your body already has.

Each problem informs the other.  You’re tired because you aren’t sleeping well, so you eat more to keep up your energy.  Your body aches, so you don’t feel like exercising.  But if you tackle one of the problems you’re experiencing, oftentimes that starts the healthy ball rolling and the other issues get solved too.  Don’t want to take any heavy pharmaceuticals to ease joint or back pain?  Eschew the muscle-relaxers and NSAIDs in favor of a natural treatment like acupuncture.  In a recent study, 40 patients with primary osteoarthritis of the knee were given daily acupuncture treatments for 10 days.  At the end of the treatment period the patients experienced reduced pain and stiffness and increased mobility, all without any use of drugs.  Committing to reducing chronic pain can help you achieve better quality sleep and will help you feel more relaxed as you deal with everyday demands.

Another good way to take care of your body is to make sure you get all the proper nutrients.  It’s hard when you’re busy to eat a balanced meal, right?  Wrong.  By the time you’ve waited in the long lunch line at the nearest fast food joint, you could’ve raided the salad bar at your local grocery store.  And if you’re sleeping well, you can spare five extra minutes in the morning to make a quick turkey sandwich, grab an apple and cut up some fresh yellow and red bell peppers.  This doesn’t mean you can’t ever have a burger or an ice cream soda.  But save the treats for a Friday afternoon, when you’ve put in a hard week.  The reward will seem even sweeter.

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Want to read more about achieving a better night’s sleep?  Click here.  Check out our great supplements that help you relax and sleep better, naturally,  Relora® and Dual-Release Melatonin.  And for more natural pain relief, try Nexrelief™ or Nexrutine® Extra.

Reference: http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/38530 “Clinical and endocrinological changes after electro-acupuncture treatment in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee,” Ahsin S, Saleem S, et al, Pain, 2009; Sept 17; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Physiology, Army Medical College Rawalpindi, Pakistan; Department of Natural Sciences, School of Health and Social Science, Middlesex University, UK).

Remember when you were eight, and the coolest holiday by far was Halloween? Not only could you wear your awesome Superman outfit or princess garb in public without condemnation, but your reward for all this creativity?  Giant bags of overflowing candy!  How could life possibly get any better?

Ah, those were the days.

Now you have to read every label of everything you consume for its sugar content because your doctor has warned you that you are a borderline type 2 diabetic.   All of a sudden you’re noticing that the jam you spread on your toast, the trusty cereal you’ve been eating for years, and the orange juice that you’re absolutely sure you can’t live without, all have insane amounts of sugar in them that your body is finding it harder and harder to negotiate.

But knowledge is power.  It’s important to go to your annual medical check ups and get things like your blood sugar tested.  It provides a benchmark for where you are and where your future health is headed.  And while something like a possible type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes diagnosis can be upsetting, there are things that can be done to maintain your health and perhaps even head the diagnosis off at the pass.

Exercise for better health.  We all know that it can help fight heart disease, high blood pressure and keeps our weight under control, but it can also mitigate stress and blood sugar levels.  And eating right, i.e. foods that are low in fat, full of fiber and that have less sugar can also contribute to lower blood sugar levels.  Certain vitamins and supplements too can be added to the mix for better nutritional and blood sugar support.

See?  With a little diligence, life can be pretty sweet after all.

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Do you need more information regarding diabetes?  Learn more about diabetes and pre-diabetes at the American Diabetes Association’s website.  And discover a healthier you at Solanova.com.  We have many vitamin and nutritional supplements to support your good health, including Relora®, which can help fight the stress hormone Cortisol that can cause undesirable weight gain.