Tips to Fight Holiday Stress and Holiday Blues Part 2

Last week I introduced you to some tips to fight holiday stress and blues.  I hope that you found them to be helpful.  This week we will continue on relaxation and nutrition.  In our stress filled world of today, the need for relaxation is even more important.  Stress, as I mentioned previously, can cause serious health issues if not controlled.  With respect to nutrition, by eating properly, we can lessen the effects of stress on our lives.  As you continue to follow this website, there will be future postings on how proper nutrition can improve our health and our lives. 

6.  Deep breathing, yoga and meditation.  Believe it or not, a series of deep cleansing breaths can be very useful in temporarily relieving stress.  Take a deep breath, hold it, and then exhale.  Repeat this as needed.  If possible, you may want to look into yoga or meditation classes.  It is a well documented fact that yoga and meditation can alleviate stress and improve health long term. 

7.  Nutritional supplements can help you to reduce stress levels as well:

A.  A good multivitamin will ensure that you are getting the proper nutrients to maintain normal metabolic functioning, and to supplement nutrient deficiencies in diet.  They will also help your body heal itself.

B.  Omega III Fish Oils perform so many helpful functions in the body.  With respect to mood levels, they will provide essential fatty acids needed for normal neural functioning.

C.  A good antioxidant will scavenge free radicals, cutting down their levels.

D.  B Complex vitamins helps decrease stress and improve mood, help maintain healthy levels of serotonin, increase energy, and help to maintain proper neural function.

E.  A good Greens supplement with probiotics will boost the immune system, and aid in providing the body with enzymes, nutrients, probiotics and phytonutrients that a vegetable-rich diet offers, helping individuals to receive well rounded nutrition.

F.  There are herbal formals available that contain adaptogenic herbs.  Adaptogens are natural herbals products that help to increase the body’s resistance to stress, fatigues, trauma, and anxiety.  They help to increase the body’s resistance to stressors and return it to normal physiological functioning.

I hope that these suggestions help to lessen the effects of holiday stress on you.  Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Festivus and Happy New Year to you all!  Here’s to a great 2011!