Digestion Problems Continued

The intestinal tract is designed to have some bacteria in it in order for us to break down some foods. One of the things you should do if you have been placed on a course of antibiotics, is to restore these healthy bacteria to the intestine. You can do this by taking probiotics which are supplements that contain lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacteria and saccharonmyces.

Stress is another issue which can suppress the normal bacteria in the gut and you should use the probiotics at these times as well.

Little Things That Can Imporve Heart Health #10

The last little thing to help protect your heart health is to take a moment each day to acknowledge all of the blessings in your life. This will help you tap into positive feelings and emotions. Positive feelings and emotions have been shown to be linked with better health, not just better heart health, living longer and a great sense of well-being.

When you are feeling angry, worried or hostile, these are things that can increase blood pressure and contribute to heart disease. So even if you get angry or you are worried, take a few moments to see the blessings in your life. This will often bring a smile to your face and you will feel your body relaxing.

One of the things that I did years ago was to take the bills and instead of putting them in a "Bills Due" folder, I put them in a folder marked "Blessings." Sometimes I used to fret about the bills, now I see the folder and I think, "Oh, those are the blessings in my life" and I smile. Try it, it may take just a little stress out of your life.

What Causes Disease? #3

The one process that I believe is the cause of 99% of our disease is stress. The AMA states that it is 95%, but I think we can really look at almost everything as being caused by stress. The body was designed to deal with stress by using what we know as the flight or fright response. The adrenalin starts to flow but there are other chemicals released in this response as well that make our blood pressure rise, heart rate goes up, blood sugar rises, and a host of other things occur.

Now the original design was to make it so that you could get away from the saber tooth tiger. The problem today is that the tiger no longer exists and the stresses in our lives are everywhere and constant, so our bodies are in an endless flight or fright response. I mentioned earlier in this series about needing your immune system to be strong. Well, it won't be for long if you are under a lot of stress.

The fact of the matter today is that we have so many stressers coming at us on a minute to minute basis, that we have become somewhat oblivious to stress and its effects. For more on this interesting topic and how to use your body to combat stress, click here.

Vibration and Wellness

Have you ever been annoyed by someone drumming their fingers or a pencil. Beating out a rhythm is a natural human impulse. And beating out rhythms helps us stay healthy.

I had the opportunity last summer to participate in a drumming circle. It was an incredible experience. What I saw were people who to start with were sitting on the outside of the circle and before long they were looking for a drum or some instrument to join into the circle. the number of faces that went from a "I don't know about this" look to smiles and active participation was mind boggling. And the best part was, that no one wanted to stop to rest.

What drumming does according to researchers is to improve the cardiovascular system, strengthens the immune system, improves moods, reduces stress, actually helps reverse the effect of stress at the cellular level. Drumming also reduces anxiety, depression, and feelings of loneliness.

Another Way To Relieve Stress

I have a colleague who has developed a home study course for relieving stress and anxiety and actually reversing some of the problems that stress and anxiety cause in the body. He has not released it, but will be doing so this Fall. I wanted to just make mention of the fact that alternatives to prescriptive medications exist which can help you alleviate stress and anxiety. Better still is to learn how to keep your body running maximal with energy medicine.

My colleague also has a basic course in energy medicine that will help you do just that. This again is not available except at a live event which will be happening in Denver on Sept 12. For more information respond to this blog post and I will get it to you.

Ten Things To Do To Decrease Stress #10

Take some time for yourself. I just spent a very intense week finding my inner strength. Yes, it was stressful but a truly amazing experience. Yesterday, 2 new friends and I ventured into the land of the giant sequoias. These magnificent old soldiers have been standing for centuries. The strength that they conveyed just by being in their presence was amazing. While we were all tired from the strenuous week we had been through, we found an awesome peace amoung these giants.

I'm glad we took this day to be among these giants. Find a place where you can go to find peace. This will be one of my new guided imagery spots to go in times of stress when I can't actually get there in person.

Ten Things To Do To Decrease Stress #9

Yesterday I spoke about taking care of yourself. There is a great way to put yourself first and that is to go get a massage. A good therapist can work the tension out of the muscles to relieve pain and create relaxation. This will help your whole body to relax and let the stress drain away.

When you're done, know that you have done something wonderful for yourself and you will feel more relaxed, refreshed and revitalized to move on in your day and life.

Ten Things To Do To Decrease Stress #8

Another way to relax is with Yoga. This gets you in touch with your body so you can relieve the stress within. Yoga incorporates many aspects which will help you relax, such breathing, flexibility and strength. I've spent this entire week in a very stressful environment where we started each day with at least an hour of Yoga. It's unbelievable how much this helped all of us to cope with the stresses of the week.

Being in touch with your inner self even for a short period each day will help you find that calm, relaxing point to bring a feeling of well-being to you.

There are a plethera of yoga DVDs out there, get one and spend some time taking care of you.

Ten Things To Do To Decrease Stress #7

When I was a college professor years ago, I learned the value of guided imagery. This is something you can do for yourself at home or in the office. Just take a few moments. You don't need anything but you, however, if you have music that takes you to a place of peace then by all means put it on. My place of peace is the mountains and I have several songs that take me into the serenity that the mountains hold for me. I can get there in an instant.

You can close your eyes - this is often helpful until you become proficient at this. Visualize your place of peace. Where do you feel the most calm - the mountains, on the beach with the surf rolling in, on a boat, - where is your favorite spot? Visualize that spot and feel the feelings you feel when you're there, hear the sounds that are present around you. Take a deep breath. Stay in this place until you feel your body relax.

Ten Things To Do To Decrease Stress #6

A great way to release tension and stress is to exercise. Now I know if you are really busy, you're going to tell me you don't have time. Actually quite the opposite is true. You can't afford to not take the time to exercise. Not exercising could cost you your health.

Start with 10 minutes a day. If you're really stressed, you'll be amazed at how much less stress you feel just by doing some form of exercise for 10 minutes.

Ten Things To Do To Decrease Stress #5

Remeber the old song lyric "Slow down you move to fast, got to make the morning last." Well that was great advice especially if you are stressed. As we become more and more stressed we tend to put ourselves in hyper-gear! This just increases our stress. So slow down. Take a deep breath as I mentioned yesterday before you do something. You have time, don't feel like it is crushing you to death.

If someone comes to the door, take a deep breath before you answer it. If you are headed into a meeting, take several deep breaths before you enter the room or before they come in to meet with you.

Take it down a couple of notches and you'll live longer and healthier!

Ten Things To Do To Decrease Stress #4

Here's something you can do anytime to decrease stress. Take a slow deep breath. We tend to breathe shallowly when we are under stress. This can lead to feeling even more stressed. So wherever you are, think about your breathing and take 5-6 slow deep breaths, feeling your chest rise as you inhale and feeling the tension in your shoulders and neck release as you exhale.Stre

Ten Things To Do To Decrease Stress #3

How much water have you had to drink today? One of the causes of stress in our bodies is to become dehydrated. This stresses all of the muscle cells as well as our brain cells. We tend to take hydration for granted, but it is something we have to work at each day.

The average person does not drink enough water each day. Coffee and tea do not count. These both contain caffeine which actually dehydrates you more. Herbal teas are Ok because they do not contain caffeine.

How much to drink? Se my blog post on 3/05/09 to find out exactly how much water you minimally need each day.

Ten Things To Do To Decrease Stress #2

How's your posture? One of the things that can happen to us when we are stressed is that we let our shoulders droop and our posture becomes saggy. Physiologically what this does is increase the tension in the muscles of the shoulders, back and neck. This can actually lead to pain and discomfort in these areas, making us feel more stressed.

Remember to check your posture. Are you sitting upright - are you standing upright? Move those shoulders back and straighten your spine. You'll be amazed at how good this makes you feel.

Ten Things To Do To Decrease Stress #1

Remember to eat. This sounds pretty simple, but often times when we are stressed, we simply forget to eat. Eating 3 meals a day is critical to keeping up your energy.

Also, when you don't eat you can begin to develop symptoms of a body in need of food such as headache and fatigue.

The other side of this coin is also prevalent in our society today and that is that when we are stressed all we do is eat. While you need food, don't make it a comfort in times of stress. Eat sensibly and at appropriate times.

Metabolic Types and Stress

Two other factors that affect your weight loss and or gain and your diet is your metabolic type and the amount of stress in your life. There are those of us out there who are the sports cars and those who are trucks. You have to match the gas with the vehicle. Or in other words match your food with your internal metabolism.

Stress plays a factor here also in that stress produces cortisol and we know that cortisol increases belly fat. Cortisol also leads to carbohydrate craving which adds to your problem. Look for ways to reduce your stress and thereby your cortisol levels.

#7 of 7 Ways to Lessen Stress in Your Life

Finally, the last way to lessen stress in your life is to organize. Plan out your daily activities and schedule. This will help empower you in taking control. When you've completed a task or activity, instead of just checking it off the list, write a big SUCCESS over the top of it. Celebrate your having completed the task or activity. This can be as simple as completing the grocery shopping or going to the post office. It doesn't matter celebrate that you completed the task or activity. You'll be amazed at how good you feel just by having done this.

I am working with a friend who is an energy healer and we are putting together a course on stress and healing, using energy as well as other sources for healing and coping with stress. I will keep you informed as we get closer to the course.

#6 of 7 Ways to Lessen Stress in Your Life

The sixth way to lessen stress in your life is to put other people first. Think of ways that you can help other people. I think I can say that all charities are looking for volunteers to help out. By providing your time to helping others, you'll help yourself as well.

Here's a suggestion for you. If you play a musical instrument (probably other than drums!) - think about going to nursing homes or assisted living facilities and volunteering to play for their residents once a month. The residents love this and you will get great satisfaction knowing that what you are doing is being appreciated.

#5 of 7 Ways to Lessen Stress in Your Life

Simplify your life is the 5th way to lessen stress. When I say simplify, I mean to get rid of the clutter in your life. Get rid of the things you don't use. This serves a two fold purpose, one is that you get rid of the things you really don't need or use and the other is that you can pick up some extra cash by having a yard sale and selling those things.

Along this regard, think about controlling spending. Make it game with yourself to see how much you can save in a day, week or a month. Record what you have saved and then celebrate your success. This will also help in keeping clutter out of your life.

#2 of 7 Ways to Lessen Stress in Your Life

The second way to decrease stress in your life is to exercise. I know this is probably the last thing you want to do, but realize that exercise not only benefits you from a physical standpoint, but also from an emotional one. the hormones that are generated during exercise have a positive effect on our emotions.

Having some kind of regular exercise program, instills a sense of discipline in you as well. If you have trouble getting it into your day, go get a free copy of my book "Too Busy to Exercise, Making Exercise Fit in Your Schedule." You can get it for free at here.