Protect Yourself From Stress, The Silent Killer

Stress is an engineering term. It describes the forces that try to tear a structure apart such as weight, wind, temperature and pressure. In humans it is much the same: Certain pressures try to tear us apart. Sometimes these stresses come from inside of us; sometimes the pressures tearing us apart come from the outside.

Homeostasis is a gift that humans and other living creatures possess but bridges and buildings do not have. Homeostasis is the force that moves resources from our reserves to wherever they are needed to combat stress.

Where stress begins

Stress is caused by change – any change. Change requires us to rearrange our priorities to meet new circumstances. Stress can also be the same circumstance over time because time itself is change.

An easy way to conceptualize stress is to say it comes from inside of us and outside of us. Some examples:

Stress from inside

• Hunger
• Aging
• Time pressure

Stress from outside

• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Noise pollution

Stress is the accumulation of all the things that pull us apart.

Homeostasis
The antidote to change is homeostasis. The Greek word “stasis” means to stand still or to stand equally. It describes a point where the tug-of-war balances out and motion ceases. Homeostasis is the ability of living organisms to adjust their internal environments to create balance. Of course, people can adjust their external environments as well (at least to some extent).

Just imagine all of the stresses pulling you apart every day: gravity, temperature, emotional upsets and expectations, etc. What balances that tug-of-war? The 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness!

Nutrients and nurturing
A body and mind deprived of proper nutrients and nurturing will be more prone to disease. “Disease” is the joining of two words. “Ease” is the freedom from difficulty, hardship or effort. “Dis-ease” is the opposite of ease: the things that make life more difficult and hard. It is also the abnormal functioning of the body or mind when the balancing forces of homeostasis fail to meet the demands of change.

The 10 Essentials create a reservoir of energy to combat the destructive forces of stress. For example, the simple act of breathing deeply can reduce the level of toxicity in our body and therefore reduce the state of imbalance.

Vitamins and minerals
Nutrients create a bulwark against stress as well. A reservoir of vitamins and minerals can help protect you from deficiency. Nutrient deficiency means specifically that you lack the nutrients you need to meet the stress imposed on your system. Without nutrients you will be weakened and you will lose the tug-of-war with stress. You will develop disease.Adaptogens
Specific plants called adaptogens help pull us back into balance. Adaptogens help us adapt no matter what the situation is – no matter where stress tugs at our body and mind. A recent conference of psychiatrists and psychologists demonstrated that a single adaptogen (Rhodiola rosea) was as effective at reducing emotional stress as several popular medications.

Another paper published by the University of Toyama in Japan demonstrated that in animal models, the adaptogen Eleutherococcus senticosis hindered the brain plaque associated with Alzheimer’s disease. It even helped slow some of the brain damage. Given the safety of adaptogens and the extreme nature of this stress-related disease, supplementing with these nutrients should be a daily routine for anyone concerned about the possibility of Alzheimer’s.

Conclusion
Stress pulls us apart. Homeostasis struggles to put us back together. Disease is the result of an imbalance between stress and homeostasis. Nutrients and nurturing support homeostasis and help build a bulwark against stress – the silent killer!

Source: TriVita Weekly Wellness Report February 14, 2009

Top Stress-Busters

These easy-to-use tips can help you keep your cool when you get hot under the collarStress can get to you everywhere… at home, work and even when you’re supposed to be having fun. We’re all stressed out to certain degrees… but some of us handle stress better than others.Most of us think that stress is caused by big problems, but that’s not always the case. Actually, stress can be caused by the constant accumulation of little irritations. Examples include misplacing items such as your keys, being slighted by someone in a conversation, or getting frustrated by a slow moving car ahead of you. Anytime your body tenses or you “blow a gasket” your stress level builds. Add up all the daily stresses and you can feel exhausted, even without physical activity. When your stress levels go up, your enjoyment of life goes down. Plus, stress can create a wide variety of physical and emotional problems such as: • Increased blood pressure, heart problems and nervous tics • Irritability, constant fatigue and disturbed sleep • Lowered immunity, headaches and muscle aches. So, what can you do about stress? You can start by correcting those bad habits that cause added stress in your life. Here are some of the more common habits – and some helpful ways to correct them: if you’re disorganized – you may be irritated every time you can’t find something you need. To correct this bad habit: • Use lists and notes to write down the things you need to do – it’ll help keep you organized, focused and on top of things • Avoid clutter by tidying up your home, your desk and your car – this will make it easier to find important items without going into a frenzy • File important papers when you receive them, instead of heaping them in different piles and shred them when you don’t need them anymore • Store your car keys and cell phone in the same place every time, so you can easily find them – it’s a small way to rid yourself of frantic runarounds. if you’re constantly running late – you’re likely to feel agitated, bothered and possibly anxious each time you get to your destination. To correct this habit: • Plan ahead by scheduling enough time to get to any meeting or appointments • Write down appointments 15 minutes earlier than they’re scheduled. Add in extra time for traffic problems or last minute phone calls. • Trick yourself – set your watch ahead a few minutes. if you’re procrastinating too much – you’re likely to be worried about getting important things done on time. To correct this habit: • Do the 20-minute challenge. Take 20 minutes to work on a project, doing as much as you can, and then give yourself permission to quit after 20 minutes is over. If you do several of these challenges every day, you’ll be surprised how much you accomplish. • Make your “big” projects more manageable by breaking them down into smaller tasks. You can use a group of “20-minute challenges” to finish a big project in smaller steps. • Create “to do” lists, and as you complete tasks, update them constantly. if you’re a perfectionist – you’re likely to be taking on too many extra tasks and responsibilities. To correct this habit: • Let go – understand that perfectionism makes you want to be in control all of the time, and this brings you lots of extra stress. Try this: On less important tasks, let others take the lead role while you play a supporting role. • Delegate tasks – here, you won’t even be playing a supporting role. Instead, you’ll give up the entire task to someone else. And try to be okay with any task’s end results, even if they’re not quite up to your perfectionist standards. You can help lower the stress from your life by following these tips. It’s important because by lowering your daily stress, you’ll have more energy, sounder sleep and a better mood throughout the day. Source: VitaJournal April 2008 pg 6.

Calm Your Holiday Worries With Simple Stress-Relieving Techniques

 

The holiday season is a time of joy we look forward to, but it also represents a time of heightened stress. Stress can have a negative effect on us, both physically and mentally, so it’s important to find ways to cope with it. It’s easy to turn to unhealthy behaviors such as over-eating or smoking, but this will only worsen the problem. This year, commit to make a change in your life that will benefit you positively.

There are several stress-relieving techniques that will help trigger the body to relax. Practiced regularly (daily is best), these techniques will help reduce stress and boost feelings of happiness and calm. Choose the one that best suites you.

Deep breathing

• Sit in a comfortable position, with your back straight. Place one hand over your chest, the other over your abdomen.

• Breathe in through your nose, and notice as your hand on your stomach moves. The hand on your chest should move very little. This means you are breathing in from your stomach and filling your lungs with air.

• Exhale through your mouth to let out all the air (you might count to get a good rhythm). Notice how your stomach goes back in.

• Concentrate on peaceful, deep breathing one to two times a day for stress relief.

 

Guided imagery

• Close your eyes and use your senses to imagine a serene and tranquil place. This could be a tropical island, a quiet cabin in the woods, a favorite childhood spot; any place that makes you feel calm and at ease.

• See the details around you (the sun rising, the palm trees waving). Hear the wind blow or the waves reaching the shore. Feel the cool air on your skin, or the water at your feet. Smell the flowers or trees beside you. Taste the clean, fresh air.

• Whenever you feel stressed, take a few minutes to close your eyes and think of this peaceful place. Your mind will travel there with you for a moment, and your body will begin to relax.

 

Massage therapy for stress relief

• Soothing your scalp: place your fingers on the back of your head, with your thumbs resting behind your ears. Make circles on your scalp with your fingertips for 15-20 seconds. This is a simple, quick exercise to massage your scalp and relax your body tension.

• Eye Relaxation: Close your eyes. Place your ring fingers under your eyebrows at the bridge of your nose. Press down slowly for 5-10 seconds, and then gently release. Repeat two to three times.

• Relieving sinus pressure: Place the tips of your fingers at the bridge of your nose. Slowly move your fingers down your nose and across your upper cheekbones, to the outside of your eyes.

• Tension relief for your shoulders: With one arm, reach over the front of your body to your opposite shoulder. Press firmly, using a circular motion, on the muscle above your shoulder blade. This should release bottled-up tension. When stress builds up (especially during the holidays), our health can wear down. It’s important to take the time to relax in this and every season.

For answers to this and other Health & Wellness issues visit TriVita for more infomation.

DOES STRESS top your holiday list?

Nobody’s holiday wish list includes stress, but there it is, right at the top. It thrives on planning and shopping, get-togethers and gift-giving (and guessing), houseguests and house decorating. And all this, on top of our daily “to-do” lists for job, family and home. What’s more, we’re “supposed” to also be upbeat and joyful. Even when our nerves are jingle-jangling more than a sackful of sleigh bells, there’s pressure everywhere to be merry and bright. Stress can just take all the “happy” out of holidays – if we let it. There are proven ways to squelch stress. A good start: recognizing the causes of stress at this time of year. What’s stretching you too thin this season? Experts tell us that there are three main issues that often lead to holiday stress or depression: 1. Money If you feel strapped for cash most of the time, you probably feel worse this time of year. Between gifts and travel, food and entertainment, it’s easy to put even more strain on finances. 2. Relationships With family and other loved ones around, old tensions and resentments can flare. (See article on Forgiveness, page 18). On the other hand, being without someone close at the holidays can tend to make us feel sad or lonely. 3. Health The holiday frenzy can boost stress, which disturbs sleep and harms our health. And, the temptations of the season can steal into our exercise time while we’re eating and drinking too much. This is why it’s smart to keep (or start) taking Adaptogen 10 at this time of year. Their stress-fighting nutrients help you feel calm while they protect your health. The unwanted power of stress: How it can hurt our health Stress all by itself is not a bad thing. In fact, we need a certain amount of stress to be alive and to function. But when we get overloaded with pressure and tension, day after day, our bodies and our health can pay a high price. Doctors and researchers have found that there are strong connections between stress and these medical conditions: • Heart disease • High blood pressure • High cholesterol. We also know that too much stress, over a long period, can lead to these dangers (which can put us at risk for serious disease): • Overeating • Drinking too much alcohol • Smoking • Lack of exercise • Sleep problems • Weight gain. The good news! There are many proven techniques to help us handle stress in general, and holiday stress in particular. So when Yuletide fun seems like just another frenzied chore, relax. Take a deep breath (just like the Number One guideline on TriVita’s 10 Essentials). And remember why we celebrate this season in the first place.

Source: VitaJournal December 2007 pg 4