Don’t Let Stress Damage Your Diet
You spent a lot of time and effort to stick to your diet. You’ve resisted temptation after temptation, but now you’re stressed and your diet just went out the window.
It’s a tremendous discouragement to you and can make it hard to bounce back, but it is possible to handle your stress using natural methods to prevent permanent damage to your diet.
Stress is a normal human reaction everyone faces when unsuspecting things happen within our lives.
A small amount of stress is actually necessary to handle these situations, but too much stress will cause adverse reactions to our body and mind.
In those times, we sometimes end up turning to food to alleviate the stress we feel.
In order to keep you from straying from your diet when stress rears its ugly head, you’ll need to find effective ways to face it.
There are some natural alternative methods you can use that don’t involve traditional medical treatments. One way is to plan time for meditation each day.
We all have busy lives with our work and raising a family.
The more we’re on the go, the more run down our body will become.
When you’re rundown and tired both physically and mentally, it will make facing stress that much harder to overcome.
A daily dose of meditation, even if it’s only for 10 minutes, can do wonders on your body and mind.
Having a regular exercise routine that includes a mind-body mix, such as yoga, will also help you handle stress better.
It helps you clear your mind and gives you a little energy, making you feel better about yourself.
When your confidence is up, you’re better equipped to battle the stress whenever it pops up.
If it’s possible for where you live, plant a garden. Horticulture can be a rewarding way to build confidence within yourself by the “fruits” of your labor.
You can enjoy the end results of your efforts as the fruits, vegetables, and herbs grow to maturity.
Even small planter gardens can help. Grow your own herbs and spice up your healthy dishes with what you grew.
When gardening isn’t an option, just try doing another hobby that can provide stress-busting benefits.
Sometimes food seems to be the only option in your eyes. If you can’t resist food, then go for the healthier snacks.
You can handle your stress and you won’t add more stress to the mix by feeling guilty about eating the wrong types of food.
Stress is inevitable for us, but it doesn’t have to control you to the point where your diet suffers.
If you take time for yourself and give your body and mind a chance to thrive, it will help you face your stress and eradicate it from your life the second it shows up.
Beat Anxiety Without the Use of Prescription Pills
Some anxiety is a normal part of life – but extreme anxiety or feeling anxious for no reason can be devastating.
If you experience insomnia, inability to reason, tiredness, headaches and/or a number of other maladies, you may be a candidate for some natural remedies that will help you get your life back.
Studies have shown that the following natural remedies can help symptoms of anxiety:
- Passionflower – Long used to treat anxiety and insomnia, passionflower has been found to cause fewer side effects than prescription drugs such as mexazolam. Don’t take passionflower with other medications without consulting your health care professional.
- Breathing techniques – Deep breathing exercises associated with yoga and other forms of meditation can positively affect anxiety issues. Research various techniques to find out which is best for you.
- Valerian – The herb, Valerian, is often used effectively to treat insomnia and promote calmness. As with passionflower, don’t use with prescription medications until you’re sure there will be no consequences.
- Aromatherapy – Massage oils added to baths or infusers can help anxiety. Some essential oils derived from plants for aromatherapy treatments are lavender, geranium, cypress and jasmine.
- GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) – GABA is an amino acid that helps ease anxiety symptoms by positively affecting brain receptors.
- B-Vitamins – Vitamin B12, in particular, helps the body ward off stress and anxiety. Try taking a B-Complex multi-vitamin supplement each day.
- John’s Wort – Often taken as an antidepressant, St. John’s Wort can also lessen anxiety symptoms. Don’t take this remedy with other prescription drugs, especially antidepressants such as Paxil.
Most anxiety is caused by stress, both emotional and physical. It’s a sign that your body and mind are in distress.
Seek balance in your life by taking steps to reduce stress, get enough sleep and take better care of yourself.
It’s important that you also reduce caffeine intake and attempt to work some type of daily exercise into your schedule.
Beat Insomnia – The Natural Way
You probably know how frustrating a sleepless night can be. You’re so tired the next morning that you may be disoriented and unable to function as you should.
If you suffer from sleep loss on a regular basis, you most likely have insomnia.
Hormonal changes, heart disease, depression and sleep apnea can all cause insomnia.
If you’re having trouble sleeping, you may want to try some natural remedies — but be sure to seek professional help if it continues without relief.
Some natural remedies used to treat insomnia or occasional sleepless nights include:
- Melatonin – One of the most popular natural remedies for insomnia, melatonin is actually a hormone produced naturally in the body. The brain makes serotonin which is then made into melatonin, which helps you fall asleep naturally. If your body isn’t producing enough melatonin, you may need to take a supplement before retiring each evening.
- Meditation – Yoga practices of deep breathing and meditation before you go to bed have proven beneficial to help sufferers of insomnia fall asleep naturally.
- Aromatherapy – The sedative qualities of inhaling lavender, ylang ylang and chamomile are found to be useful in treating insomnia.
- Valerian – Non-addictive Valerian has been used for years as a remedy for insomnia. It has qualities that are believed to affect the brain’s calming neurotransmitters.
- Diet – Avoid caffeine and foods containing sugar before bed time. Instead, eat foods rich in magnesium such as green vegetables, bran and some nuts (almonds and cashews) that will calm nerves and help promote sleep.
- Exercise – Regular aerobic exercise such as a brisk walk can help you sleep well at night. Avoid exercising just before bedtime though – exercise earlier in the day or evening.
Also, be sure that your mattress and pillow are appropriate for your body type and that the room you sleep in is neither too hot nor cold.
If sleeplessness persists, you may want to try acupuncture and calming teas such as chamomile and lemon balm.
Some prescription drugs may cause insomnia, so check with your health professional or pharmacist to see if the prescription(s) you take is the cause of this debilitating side effect.
Before You Pop Pills, Use Movement to Address Depression
The cases of depression (especially in today’s youth) are rising.
In fact, the pre-school generation is the fastest-growing segment of the population to be clinically diagnosed with depression.
We place blame wherever we can – on our workplace, on bullying, or on our tight schedules.
But what we really need to do is find solution to an epidemic sweeping the nation at an alarming rate.
Some people don’t want to medicate their moods, or those of their children. Depression will happen to just about everyone at some point in life.
Whether it gets to the point where you need outside assistance depends on how good you can control the situation.
Instead of running to the doctor every time your mood is deflated, try using movement to produce serotonin (the feel good hormones) and see if you can use a natural approach to achieve your goals.
Even though it’s supposed to be considered a fundamental part of our lives, exercise is often known as an alternative cure for conditions such as depression because what’s normal in today’s society is to drug the problem and make it go away.
When depression takes root, you may find it more difficult to use movement and exercise as a mood-enhancer.
Many people who are depressed feel lethargic and would prefer to wallow in their current situation.
But just a little bit of exercise goes a long way.
Although it’s known as a “runner’s high,” you don’t technically have to pound the pavement at a fast pace to get the benefits of endorphin-driven movements.
Walking, strength-training, ad other forms of exercise can all help release endorphins in your body.
Not only does it act as a stress-reliever, but it also provides pain relief, too as it blocks out pain signals from your nervous system.
As your endorphins support your elevated moods, they also help build your immune system, keeping you healthier and happier for a longer period of time.
You may still need to consult your physician if your depression continues to grow.
But even if he or she does put you on medication to control the situation, you can still benefit from the analgesic effect endorphin release has on your body every time you get off the couch and put your body into motion!
How Music Can Help With Stress
Bach, Beethoven and Brahms are the three Bs of stress busting. Composers of a long ago age are reaching out and annihilating stress in people they’ve never met.
Sounds like something from the twilight zone, doesn’t it?
Actually, it’s not. Bach, Beethoven and Brahms were composers of classical music. Classical music appeals to some of your senses.
It produces calming tones from instruments like violins, pianos, guitars and flutes.
It lacks the drum-laden music some tunes contain today.
While rock and roll might perk you up in the morning, a calming mixture of classical music can help lull you to sleep at night.
But not everyone is a fan of classical music. They can get the same effect from other types of music that they’re more accustomed to, like the sounds of nature.
If you visit any high-end spa in your local town, chances are your brow wax or facial will be set to the tune of relaxing sounds that help relax you and remove the stress from the environment.
Studies show that softer, relaxing music will lower your stress levels and allow you to handle situations better.
Doctor’s offices can be a stressful atmosphere if you’re sitting in the waiting room, so physicians have classical music stations preparing you for your visit.
Elevators are enclosed spaces and can easily cause a person to become stressed by the crowded enclosure, so they routinely have calming music flowing in them to help you relax during the short ride.
Supermarkets want their customers to buy more products, so they provide them with stress-less music to keep them calm and in the buying mood.
Restaurants do it to keep you coming back.
What started out as a heartbeat from our mother’s womb evolved into a personal preference for musical beats that we find relaxes us.
It’s a physiological reaction when we find a tune that increases serotonin levels and helps us engage in deep breathing.
You don’t have to have the music loud for it to be effective.
Your subconscious mind can pick up on subtle sounds that help alleviate stress during the most chaotic times of your life.
Your heartbeat will slow down and your overall mental and physical health will improve.
To make the most of your music therapy, try to listen to a relaxing sound for at least 20 minutes a day while sitting or lying down in a comfortable position.