Don't Let Stress Impact Your Health This Cold Season

 

Got stress?  Who doesn’t these days!  If you’ve got a job, you’re worried about losing it.  If you’re out of work, you’re worried about finding a new gig.  And, of course, you’re worried about money: the mortgage, the car payments, health insurance and medical bills. 

In fact, the American Psychological Association reports that 73% of Americans name money as the number one factor that affects their level of stress.  To top it off, you’re worried about what all this worrying is doing to your relationships and to your health. 

To be frank, it’s downright depressing!  It’s enough to make this kat want to curl up into a ball and take a nice long nap.  This week let’s talk S-t-r-e-s-s with a capital S.

So what’s a poor human to do? Take a cue from your feline friends, of course. In fact, it turns out, curling up and taking a catnap is not a bad idea. You need to schedule time to relax and take it easy. 

Stress can wreck havoc on your body, in particular your immune system, and contributes to a slew of health problems including: high blood pressure, cancer, depression, migraines and more.

In addition to naps, here are 5 more things you can do to reduce the stress in your life.

1.      Laugh! Yep, laugh. Recent research out of Loma Linda University shows that laughing improves the function of immune-enhancing hormones. Over the course of a year, study participants who participated in a mirthful-laughter group saw their good HDL cholesterol rise 26% while their levels of C-reactive proteins (think inflammation) plunged 66%. Turns out “laughercise” is just as good for you as exercise! Yet another reason to read this kat’s newsletters.

2.      Take a hike. Or even a short walk. A little fresh air can still do wonders. Want company?  Get a cat, ok, maybe not for the walk, but to greet you when you come home! Pets can help reduce stress, too. And cats, as you know, make the purr-fect companion!

3.      Turn to Supplements. At the top of the list, Vitamin C. Research shows C can measurably reduce the effects of stress.  That’s because C works on the metabolism of stress-related hormones like adrenaline, dopamine, and noradrenalin.  Next up, Vitamin Bs which contribute to the metabolism of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that keeps the mind calm. The B vitamins and other antioxidants also boost your body’s defenses against free radical damage.  The Kat also recommends Magnesium, a great soother of cells in your arteries, and Ginseng, a supplement tailor-made to support you during bouts of mental, physical, and emotional stress.

4.      Eat a banana. Filing and sweet, bananas are also packed with potassium and vitamin B6, two key crusaders against stress. You might also want to have a bowl of Black Bean Soup.  Stress saps the minerals from your system. Black Bean Soup replaces them, especially magnesium, iron, and zinc.  Besides, who can be stressed while sitting and enjoying a nice bowl of hot soup?

5.      Do something for YOU everyday. Put it on your ‘To Do’ list. Make a list of little pleasures and then indulge yourself daily!  After all, you deserve it!