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Posts Tagged ‘Reduce’

Boost Energy And Reduce Stress Naturally

January 23rd, 2010

These days, more and more Americans are feeling overworked and overtired, lacking the energy needed to meet the responsibilities required for everyday life. This constant feeling of fatigue has become a part of the American way of life. Research has proven that the same processes that cause lack of energy in Americans can also keep us from getting an adequate amount of sleep, cause weight gain, disrupt hormonal balance, and add a significant amount of stress to ourdaily lives. However, people do not have to accept the pain, insomnia, or fatigue associated with chronic fatigue syndrome andfibromyalgia thanks to the following three step process called “Vitality 101.”

The first of the three steps is nutrition. Good overall nutrition is important for everyone. To obtain this, a foundation product that supports energy levels, such as a powdered drink mix, can ensure that you are getting all of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that you need. This drink should include the following ingredients: vitamin A, C, D, and E; magnesium; malic acid; betaine; selenium; zinc; amino acids; and frutooligosaccharides. Vitamin A is essential for healthy skin, mucous membrane, immune system responses, bone growth, and reproductive processes. In the form of beta-carotene, vitamin A is an antioxidant and a free radical fighter. Vitamin C, which is necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system, is an antioxidant free radical fighter as well as an assistant in hormone synthesis and a supporter of healthy skin integrity and iron absorption. Vitamin D is essential for healthy calcium and phosphorus metabolism. It is also responsible for the absorption of vitamin A and supports bone mineralization. Vitamin E, which helps oxygen circulation, supports healthy nerve transmissions, leg nerves and muscles, and helps boost energy levels. Magnesium supports enzyme activity involved in energy productions and healthy nerve and muscle function, as well as supports the immune system functions, while malic acid acts as a catalyst to stimulate the complete burning of fuel for energy. It also supports healthy connective tissue and muscle functioning. Betaine, which works with B vitamins, may have an effect on overall mood elevation. Where as selenium works with vitamin E to maintain healthy cell membranes and support healthy thyroid functioning. Zinc supports a healthy immune system, enzyme processes, and immune response. Amino acids are essential for the production of energy in the body, which is essential for brain function. Finally, fructooligosacchardies provide nutrition for good bacteria in the intestinal tract which improves digestion and healthy microflora. In addition to the powdered energy drink mix, it is important to take a high potency vitamin B-complex supplement that includes riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, and choline, which are each important in restoring the energy production needed in your body. It is also very important to get enough water.

The second step of the process is to rest your body. Because having trouble sleeping is one of the most troubling symptoms of stress and can cause pain and hormonal and immune dysfunction, it is important to break the stress/insomnia cycle early. It may be helpful to use herbal products in order to get the good quality sleep that will repair and re-energize the body. Although there are many formulas that are marketed for sleep, it is very important that the right ingredients are in the sleep formula that you buy. This formula should include herbs that promote deep sleep including: valerian, L-theanine, hops, passionflower, Jamaica dogwood and wild lettuce. Wild lettuce has been found to have sedative effects and similarly hops acts as a mild sedative and has a sleep inducing effect. Similar to hops and wild lettuce, Jamaica dogwood has been found to be mildly sedative and it is often used for anxiousness. L-theanine causes a significant increase of neurotransmitter concentrations in the brain which promotes muscle relaxation and improves sleep. Valerian has been clinically proven to improve sleep quality. Lastly, passionflower eases nervousness and insomnia. Each of these herbs addresses a different aspect of sleeplessness, making the combination very important.

The third step in this process is to manage excess stress levels. In the world we live in today, it is important to manage the stressors in our lives. Adrenal extract, as well as other glandular extracts, can offer natural support to help our bodies deal with the effects of stress. In turn, they can also boost your energy levels. Exercise is also a good way to reduce stress and is important for good health. Not only can stress cause you sleepless nights, it can also lead to adrenal burnout or adrenal fatigue, which occurs when the adrenal glands are constantly producing cortisol in response to chronic stress. However, when stress is decreased, changes in our hormone levels can return to normal. The key is learning how to deal with daily stress so that the body is able to return to its normal state.

In addition to stress control, it is important to provide yourself with an adrenal supplement to improve the health of your adrenal glands and repair them when they are malfunctioning. If your adrenal glands are stressed-out, great results can be seen from taking a raw adrenal supplement. Be sure to buy a supplement that contains whole adrenal and cortex adrenal as well as vitamin C, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, and licorice. The adrenal glands use these nutrients to manufacture cortisone and other compounds. Liver extract also improves energy levels by providing an excellent source of nutrients such as iron, B vitamins, and other minerals. It has been shown to support healthy function of the liver and increase the energy levels inside our body. A high-quality liver extract supplement should be cold-processed and encapsulated to enhance speed and absorption of nutrients from the liver because heat will destroy the key components in the liver. Along with the above listed nutrients, there are many other natural alternatives that promote relaxation and increase energy levels during the day. Rhodiola rosea relieves stress and increases energy as well as lifts our moods, improves sexual satisfaction, and helps in certain nervous system disorders. Remember to consult your health care practitioner before changing any medications. The above mentioned vitamin supplements are available at your friendly internet health food store.

Visit VitaNet Health Foods at http://vitanetonline.com/ VitaNet sells high quality supplements like this energy and stress formulas from Enzymatic Therapy. Please link to this site when

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How can I reduce stress at my workplace?

January 8th, 2010

I am a British engineering manager in a design house in England. We design hi-tech microchips for mobile phones. We are owned by a big American corporation.

I work with the US workforce on a daily basis but report to a VP who is British. He is the founder of a British start-up firm that made it to the big time and he made his millions (and a bit for us) by selling it to the American firm. He has conservative opinions on how the design house should maintain its british approach that made it so successful.

The US want us to use their procedures but this causes the engineers here to work late hours when the US is awake (8hr time difference). He hates the kind of place it has become and wants to leave in a year or so (when his shares vest).

Its inevitable that we will eventually be swept up into the arms of the global hyper-corporation! Unfortuantely for me I manage a team of UK and US engineers. So how do I cope? The more I Americanize the place myself the tougher it gets.

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Super Foods to Reduce Stress and Feel Fabulous

December 31st, 2009

 

Numerous studies show that one thing we all have in common in 21st century is stress. How often do we get really stressed out? Once a month…a week…a day?

Did you know that more than 300.000 people a day take time off work because of a stress related illness? When overstressed, we may have headaches or migraines, anxiety attacks, pounding heart, sadness and depression, tension in back of neck or head, stomach problems, irritability, moodiness, bad temper, overeating, fatigue, frequent colds, etc.

Are you always busy, always on the run, always stressed out? Do you have no time for taking care of yourself because you always put children, relatives, relationship, and career first priority? No wonder you have no time to eat regularly! Sound familiar?

According to Ayurveda, we are what we eat. When we are stressed out, we need better quality meals to help us stay focused, grounded, in balance. But instead, we get trapped in cycles: we eat too much junk/processed food – we get even more stressed out – we eat even more refined, processed, junk. What shall we do? We have to break the cycle!

The first step in helping with stress overload is to eat more food that can help us to reduce stress and feel much better.

High-fiber foods are digested slowly, which can help control blood sugar. High fiber foods can also help with constipation, which can be a trigger for a stress overload because of high amount of toxins that are not eliminated.

Low sugar meals can help stabilize insulin level and reduce stress.

Overall, lean protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates can help you to stay balanced.

Whole foods rich in anti-stress vitamins and minerals are stress fighters and we have to incorporate them in our diet as much as possible.

Magnesium. It has been found that people under stress have low magnesium levels, indicating that magnesium may be beneficial to those under stress. A deficiency of magnesium interferes with transmission of nerve and muscle impulses, causing irritability and nervousness. Almonds, apples, apricots, brown rice, garlic, leafy vegetables, spinach, salmon, etc. contain magnesium.

Calcium. Our body needs a proper balance between magnesium and calcium to have a healthy stress response. Healthy foods rich in Calcium are almonds, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, kale, kelp, mustard greens, oats, prunes, salmon, seafood, sesame seeds, tofu, yogurt / kefir, etc.

B6. Studies show that people who are depressed have low levels of B6 and serotonin. We need eat more avocados, bananas, fish, spinach, walnuts-to get more Vitamin B6;

B12. As we know, B12 deficiency can contribute to many anxiety disorders caused by stress, such as hormonal imbalances, blood sugar fluctuations, chronic fatigue, depression, irritability, moodiness, nervousness. We need to eat more salmon, seafood, sea vegetables (if we don’t eat meat) to get more Vitamin B12.

Folic acid. Studies show that folic acid helps make dopamine – the real key to transmitting feelings of pleasure. Healthy foods rich in Folate are asparagus, barley, brown rice, dates, green leafy vegetables, legumes, lentils, mushrooms, oatmeal, oranges, root vegetables, salmon, tuna, whole grains, etc.

Slow down, relax and enjoy.

Bon appetite to get rid of stress!

Irina Wardas is a founder of NaturalCounselor.com and works with women who have stress or weight management issues and are experiencing increased appetite, mood swings, insomnia and lack of energy.

As a Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor, she helps her clients get healthier and happier naturally in a step-by-step enjoyable way for long lasting results. She works around food choices and lifestyle alternatives. To learn more about her Health and Wellness Programs and e-Books or sign up for her free Newsletter visit her website

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