| Reduce Stress, Calm Nerves, and Feel Happy | | | | effects. |
| Stress Management is an important part of any health | | | | Exercise |
| improvement program. There are many ways to | | | | One of the most effective ways to reduce stress and |
| reduce stress. Here are some of the best we’ve | | | | lift your mood is exercise. It’s a proven fact that |
| found. If you can turn these ideas into action and then | | | | people who exercise have a better outlook on life. It |
| habit, you’ll create a life long coping strategy that | | | | doesn’t have to be strenuous exercise but it does |
| will become second nature all year long. | | | | have to be fun or you wont do it. |
| Eat a Balanced, Nutritious Diet. | | | | Walking is one of the easiest exercises. Go at your |
| Carbohydrates cause your brain to trigger the | | | | own pace and have fun. Walk with a friend or take |
| production of serotonin which makes you feel happy. | | | | your dog. |
| Sweet potatoes, pastas, rice or popcorn are always | | | | Swimming is also easy and fun. If you can’t swim, |
| good. | | | | don’t worry. Just hang on the edge of the pool and |
| The capsaicin in hot peppers also cause your brain to | | | | do some leg lifts. |
| trigger endorphins that will make you feel happy. Learn | | | | Gardening, though not always considered exercise, is |
| to cook with hot pepper. Sprinkle hat pepper flakes on | | | | at least moving, bending and stretching. It gives you a |
| your food. | | | | sense of accomplishment, which in turn, makes you |
| Foods high in the B vitamins and magnesium help | | | | feel better and then you sleep better. |
| convert triptophan into serotonin to help your body | | | | Join an exercise group or dance class. Try square |
| relax. Try artichokes, stuffing, baked beans, sardines, | | | | dancing. It’s a lot of fun and you’ll really get your |
| avocados, chard, spinach and other dark green, leafy | | | | heart pumping. Get several friends to join with you. |
| vegetables. | | | | It’s always more fun with people you know and |
| Studies have shown a diet high in vitamin C and beta | | | | like. |
| carotene can reduce stress. Try strawberries, melons, | | | | For the more energetic, there’s tennis, golf, volley |
| citrus fruit, tomatoes, acorn squash and carrots. | | | | ball, etc. Don’t worry about being good at the |
| Eat foods high in fiber to keep your body systems | | | | game. Just get some friends together and have fun. |
| functioning. If your body is not functioning properly | | | | Recognize the Things that Cause you Stress. |
| you’ll feel sluggish and out of sorts, which causes | | | | Sometimes it’s not the situation that causes stress, |
| stress. Fruits, vegetables and grains will help. | | | | but the way you react to it. You may not be able to |
| Foods containing potassium, such as, potatoes, | | | | control what happens in your life but you can control |
| oranges, tomatoes, celery, avocados, kiwi and | | | | the way you react. Thoughts are powerful. They can |
| bananas help you think clearly and calmly. Dandelion | | | | cause stress or they can relieve stress. |
| roots and leaves are also good. | | | | When you feel yourself losing control or getting angry, |
| Drink plenty of water. When you don’t get enough | | | | take a few deep breaths and think of something else. |
| water your body becomes dehydrated, causing you to | | | | Something pleasant. Think about a place or time when |
| feel stressed and sluggish. When your body is | | | | you were happy. Imagine you’re there. Try to |
| dehydrated it cannot properly eliminate the toxins from | | | | imagine the good smells coming from your |
| your body. | | | | mother’s kitchen when you were a child. |
| Get Enough Sleep | | | | Remember how loved and safe you felt. |
| Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep every | | | | Imagine strolling through a grove of fragrant pine trees. |
| day. If you have trouble sleeping, try some of these | | | | Listen to the wind softly rustling the pine needles. |
| natural herbs at bedtime. | | | | Hear the quiet sound of running water in a nearby |
| Chamomile tea is know for it’s relaxing and immune | | | | stream. Listen to the birds singing. Watch the fleecy |
| building qualities. Steep one teaspoon of dried | | | | white clouds drifting overhead. |
| chamomile flowers in one cup boiling water. Strain and | | | | Someone once said, “There is nothing either good |
| drink whenever you feel stressed or at bedtime to | | | | or bad, except thinking makes it so.” Always try |
| relax. | | | | to think happy, positive thoughts. When you find |
| Passionflower relaxes your nerves and muscles | | | | yourself thinking a negative thought, stop. Replace it |
| without any sedating effect. Make the tea according | | | | with a positive thought. |
| to the directions for chamomile. | | | | Stress happens. It’s an ongoing problem. You |
| Kava comes in capsule form and works by relaxing | | | | can’t expect to solve it in a day but by practicing |
| nerves and muscles and relieving pain. For some | | | | the steps outlined above you’ll find your stress level |
| people it works as well as common anti-anxiety | | | | declining. With less stress you’ll find your life much |
| medications. Take at bedtime for a good nights sleep. | | | | more enjoyable. You’ll feel better and look younger |
| Valerian (capsules) calms the nervous system. Some | | | | and you’ll have more time for friends and family. |
| researchers believe that Valerian has an effect similar | | | | Maybe, even for yourself. |
| to prescription medications but without the side | | | | |