As summer rapidly bounds towards its close, we turn our minds to the next phase of our year: the start of school, the beginning preparations for the parade of holidays as the earth changes seasons, slowly turning from the oppressive heat of this height of summer to the cold, brisk temperatures of winter. These changes in seasons can cause added stress to already busy lives, as our day planners begin to fill with activities when there are only so many hours in a day.
At BetsyHealth, we believe that you can be prepared for anything, from concurrent soccer games for your high schooler and eighth grader to that holiday dinner when 24 people crowd your dining room table and every chair in the house, including the lopsided cane back that little Joey used to prove his hacksaw could cut through anything, spreads out before you in an odd mixture of blessing and embarrassment.
Supporting your body and mind is an ongoing process and works best when we make it a part of our everyday routine, not just a “quick fix” we hope will do the job of getting us back on track when everything around us seems to be falling apart. Here are some steps we at BetsyHealth believe you should be taking now to ensure your peace of mind and lowered stress levels in the future.
Choose wise stress support
Too many of us turn to bad-habit living when we start to get stressed. We eat junk food and sweets, and find ourselves doing other feel good habits that usually bring us fleeting comfort, such as smoking, and drinking, and consuming a whole cherry pie in one sitting.
But these fleeting-comfort coping mechanisms have ill effects on our bodies and only make facing and coping with stress harder in the long run.
Wise Stress Support begins by choosing healthy coping mechanisms instead of turning to unhealthy comfort strategies.
- Exercise–exercise helps with energy, overall health, weight management, and easing stress. Feel-good endorphins are released during exercise. All of the benefits of exercise support the stress response and your ability to handle stress.
- Eat Right–reduce your intake of sugar in all its forms, including white rice, potatoes, bread, etc. Replace snacks like candy bars with a medium-sized apple or orange and a couple of ounces of nuts or other low fat protein source. Choose smaller portions of food (especially if you are having a hard time keeping weight off), and feed yourself lots of fruits and non-starchy vegetables, like dark, leafy greens, green beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and more. Drink plenty of water, the cleaner the better, to stay hydrated throughout the day, another source of energy for our bodies that we take for granted.
- Protect Your Brain–the brain is susceptible to oxidative stress and inflammation. As we age, the damage done by free radicals from the foods we have eaten and the toxins to which we have been exposed, makes an even greater impact on the ways we handle stress. The brain requires a lot of energy to function, energy we can provide by making smart food choices. Supplements also provide support to keep the brain from forgetting, to combat brain fog, and to handle stress when it comes upon us.At BetsyHealth, we have the educated staff to help you with your product questions when it comes to brain support products.
- Relax–snatch moments throughout your day and/or get in the habit of regular relaxation practice. A relaxing meditation can be as simple as a few long, deep breaths, in and out, sitting comfortably in front of your desk with your eyes closed. These relaxing breaths should expand the belly as you inhale, then hold the breath for a count that is a couple of beats longer than what it took for you to breathe in. Finally, exhale out, slowly deflating your belly, taking the longest number of beats yet.
- Gratitude–alongside moments of relaxation, don’t forget to count your blessings. Finding what you can be thankful for in any situation will help to reduce stress and contribute to a more joyful attitude. Gratitude for even small things can help you define what brings you the most joy. Moments of joy offset some of the tension that is created by life’s stresses.
Supplement Savvy
Several types of supplements, including many vitamins and minerals, support a healthier stress response. There are also many nutrients that are important to immune support, for everyday and not just when we feel like we might be getting sick. Supplements can support energy, a sharper brain, and general health so that we are ready to face anything that the busy-ness of life throws our way.
At BetsyHealth, we are prepared to answer your product questions about adaptogens, herbs that support the body’s stress response, ask you the important questions, like discovering if you might benefit from B vitamins or magnesium supplements because you take prescription medications that rob the body of certain vitamins and minerals or have a stress-filled life full of poor diet and lifestyle choices. We want you to know that you have options when it comes to supporting your best health, including your immune health, and we are ready to point you toward the options that best fit your needs.
Operating on the premise that the more we know, the more we can help you, our family-owned business has been always taking your health and your budget to heartR, since 1993. Visit us at our brick and mortar or online locations and see the difference our quality products and educated service can make in your life.
In health,
Ramona
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BetsyHealth Note: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before trying a supplement, especially if you have a medical condition, including being pregnant or nursing, take prescription or over-the-counter medications, or are planning on having surgery.
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