Stress Driving You Crazy? – Ways to Stress Less – Part I

Stress. It is one small word but oh what a loaded word! Too much of it is bad for your health and your overall well-being. It can affect your heart, your relationships, your ability to focus and make decisions and even your cholesterol level. Here we look at some simple ways that you can relieve tension and minimize stress in your busy life.

You know that expression, “Stop and smell the roses”? Well when it comes to stress there is some logic in that. It is aromatherapy and stopping to smell the roses that can help to ease stress. Roses contain a chemical called linalool which has been proven through scientific studies to reduce stress.

This is also true of fruits such as oranges, mangoes and grapes, and herbs such as basil, rosemary and lavender. Keep a vase of flowers nearby or some dried lavender or a bowl of fruit and take a whiff of it whenever you are feeling blue.

Here is one you may never have thought of – chew gum. Chewing gum offers a means of busting stress and it is a pleasant treat that will not cause a spike in your cholesterol level. A recent study showed that workers who chew gum reported a lesser amount of stress than did workers who did not chew gum. Putting a piece of gum in your mouth and chomping on it stimulates a nerve known as the vagus nerve. This nerve helps to calm and relax you. Just make sure that you think of the health of your teeth as well.

Naturally, opt for sugar-free gum.

Sipping a relaxing cup of tea is well… relaxing and soothing when you are feeling like a bundle of nerves. Take a hint from the British. The Brits brew a pot of tea when stress threatens to boil over and it helps them to feel calmer and more in control of their circumstances. Black tea has been found to be high in antioxidants that blast stress.

These antioxidants include flavonoids, polyphenols and amino acids. There is also evidence to suggest that green tea can help to lower the bad type of cholesterol in the body, otherwise known as LDL cholesterol. Next time you feel overwhelmed with stress brew yourself a cup and sit down and enjoy it!

Do you laugh a lot? Do you even laugh enough? If you cannot remember when you last cut loose with a hearty laugh then it is no surprise that your health is paying the price when it comes to stress. As far as stress is concerned, laughter really is one of the best types of medicine. When you let go with a hearty belly laugh this brings about the production of endorphins which are the feel-good brain transmitters. It also relaxes blood vessels and thereby increases blood flow. As an antidote for tension laughter is very good indeed!

More ways continue in Part II to stop stress in its tracks.

Samantha

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Laughter Therapy- Yes it is a Form of Therapy!

Ha! Ha! Ha! If you keep laughing like that, you just might find yourself getting … healthier!

If you enjoy laughing and find as many occasions as possible throughout the run of a day to be jolly then you will be filled with glee to know that this can lend itself to a happier and healthier human being.

Laughter is good in so many ways but studies have shown that as adults we simply do not do enough of it. If you have children then you probably have noticed that they giggle about everything from a spilled glass of milk to a funny cartoon character on television to something their best friend said to how mommy put their shirt on inside out when they were getting dressed in the morning.

Children know how to laugh and enjoy life and it shows. Research has shown that despite our maturity and (hopefully!) wisdom from our life experience, adults could learn a thing or two from the younger set. The average child laughs as many as 400 times a day. 400 times! On the other hand, the average adult- wait for it- laughs only an estimated 15 times on a given day, or in some cases, less.

Can you believe it?!

Did you think that adults would rate higher on the laughter scale? As we age we become bogged down with the business of work and responsibilities and an array of details. What this means is that the lighter and more humorous side of life is often lost to us. We practice being serious until it becomes an art form. We are afraid that we will not be taken seriously if we don’t appear as such. People who laugh too much are often perceived as not being on the same plain of life (and sanity!) as the rest of us.

Know what I mean?

The thing is that laughter has so many benefits. In brief, these benefits include:

• Lowers blood pressure
• Exercises the heart (which is why it is sometimes called “an internal jog”)
• Provides a workout for the diaphragm (which is cleansing for the lungs)
• Improves the work of the immune system
• Reduces the level of hormones that cause stress
• Controls as well as reduces pain in the body
• Relaxes the muscles throughout the body

Have you ever noticed how you feel after a hearty laugh? It feels good, doesn’t it? That is another benefit of laughter therapy. There is an emotional and physical release from it that does every part of you good. Your skin will be a little pinker than it was before but it will glow with life and your eyes will be bright and shiny. So go ahead- laugh as often as possible because it is a form of therapy that is most enjoyable and entertaining!

Samantha

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