Swanson Health Products - Daily Tips

Want to Lose Weight? Then Stop Stressing!

This may be old news to most of you, but because fighting the battle of the bulge is almost always a struggle, it’s worth repeating. Stress not only can be detrimental to your overall health, as it has been linked to many health concerns and chronic diseases, it can also wreak havoc on any weight loss program. If you’re trying to shed some excess weight, stressing over it will not help. In fact, it will probably make it worse. Avoiding stress is easier said than done, though. If you’re feeling stressed about your weight, one of the best things to do is just get up and go for a brisk walk or hit the gym. Exercise should be a central component of any healthy weight loss plan already, but exercise also has stress-relieving benefits, which means breaking a sweat can have a two-fold impact on your success.

 

Can Chewing Gum Kill Your Stress?

Feeling overly stressed lately? There might be a simple little trick you can do to help relieve some of that built-up tension. Try popping in a stick of gum and chew it out. That’s right, new research is looking at the potential stress-relieving benefits of chewing gum. Scientists have been studying the psychological benefits of gum chewing. One study used the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to test for changes in study participants’ levels of stress as they relate to gum chewing. The perception of stress dropped for those who chewed gum. Feeling less relaxed and tenser was reported by participants who did not chew gum. It also seems that fast gum chewing is more beneficial than leisurely slow gum chewing. So chew on that the next time you’re feeling stressed out.  

 

Herbal Health Supplements- To Grow or not to Grow

There are many amateur herbalists out there who grow, dry and infuse their own teas with different herbs from the garden. Growing herbs such as chamomile, St. John's Wort or hops is a great way to supplement your diet, but don't expect those tinctures and decoctions to be nearly as potent as the stuff you can buy in the store. Really, there's a much easier way than making your own concentrated formulas of chamomile, ginseng, valerian or St. John's Wort.

(Just keep reading.)

Growing your own herbs to use in recipes, teas and tinctures are all a great way to keep healthy and an even better way to learn to appreciate what Mother Nature has to offer. If you're serious about natural stress relief, it's a good idea to buy safe, concentrated formulas of your favorite herbal stress relief remedies. It'll save you time and the frustration of having to buy a piece of land to grow enough herbs to make your own supplements!

Herbal stress relief supplements like American ginseng, bee pollen, chamomile and valerian can really help regulate your body's response to stress. There's nothing wrong with using your own herbs to supplement your diet, but some things, like bee pollen, just isn't something you're probably going to want to harvest on your own. For one thing, catching bees and shaving the pollen off of their little legs takes forever! And where are you going to find a tiny razor to do the job? Save yourself time and frustration and buy your herbal stress relief supplements.

GABA For Me and GABA For You

Some supplements have strange names. For example, what the heck is GABA? Fred Flinstone never used to stress much. Maybe instead of saying Yabba Dabba Do he should have been sayingGaba Gaba Goo! The guy had a ton of energy and little stress, even when things went terribly wrong in his life. GABA is actually a naturally occurring amino acid in the brain that functions as a neurotransmitter. Under extremely stressful condition, or after a long bout of stressful life circumstances, you might feel the need for a little GABA boost.

GABA does a lot of wild and wonderful things for the body including promoting muscle development and aiding in weight control. Oh, it won't do the work for you, but if you're on a weight control program that includes a healthy diet and exercise, GABA could help the body metabolize and process nutrients efficiently. An efficient body is a healthy body!

Ever go to bed with your mind racing a mile a minute? Your options include staying up worrying half the night and dealing with the effects of insomnia the next day or taking a natural compound like GABA to put your mind at ease. Sounds like a no-brainer! GABA, which works with your body's natural functions, can be taken daily in capsule form.

Bee Pollen for Better Health

When we think of stress, we tend to think of the way we feel after a crazy day at work or after a week at Disney World with three small children. Now that's stress!

Most people, however, encounter stress in all sorts of places and circumstances. Stress isn't limited to work-related issues. Life circumstances and disease are two big reasons for seeking out natural stress relief. The catch is to try and balance your life before disease enters your life. By taking care of yourself, balancing a healthy lifestyle and taking herbal stress relief supplements, you might help ward off those nasty free radicals that swim around in your body looking to destroy health cells.

Bee Pollen is one of those natural supplements that is said to be a catch-all among dietary supplements. Most people take bee pollen supplements in capsule form for health maintenance, strength and stamina. If you're into working out, bee pollen could provide a healthier source of energy than sugary drinks or candy bars. Start with a very small dose of bee pollen unless you're absolutely sure that you're not allergic to bee stings.

Guilt-Free Stress Relief

Swamped at work? Annoyed with your spouse? Fed up with the rigors of daily modern life? Well, guess what? You're stressed out! Sometimes this type of stress drives people to choose unhealthy ways of relieving stress (you know, drinking too many fruity cocktails at the last office party, overindulging in your favorite comfort food every single day, withdrawing from an otherwise positive relationship, etcetera). Relax! Here are a few ways to relieve stress, naturally, oh, and without any guilt.

• Exercise. Let's just get it out of the way now. You know why you have to do it, but maybe you feel guilty because you haven't been doing it. Just pick something you enjoy doing; it doesn't have to be anything fancy, super vigorous, trendy or expensive. Here are a few reasons to get motivated: Exercise oxygenates your blood for better circulatory health; it boosts your feel-good hormones (endorphins), so you're not so grouchy; plus, (this is really the #1 reason to exercise) it tones and tightens your hot body. So, if something is stopping you from exercising, just think of those reasons above, especially the last one.
• Massage. Well, after you exercise, treat yourself to a relaxing massage with your favorite essential oils. Lavender, orange, peppermint and other wonderfully exotic scents can help calm your mind and comfort your soul. Essential oils are easy to find and can be diluted at home. The fun part is sniffing all of the different oils and discovering which one does it for you.
• Spend time with positive people you love. Hey, not everyone at work, in your neighborhood or in your family is a glorious ray of sunshine. So, when you have a choice to spend your free time with someone, choose the person who truly brightens your day. Obviously, you can't neglect all the negative people in the world. Just try and find a way to balance your time between the people who make life challenging and the people who make it an absolute joy.
• Make sure you're getting all the right nutrients. It's easy to forget things like 5-htp when planning even the most balanced diet, but vitamins play an important role in your daily energy level and mood.
• Take a vacation. What? You think vacations are too stressful? Well, they sure don't have to be. If you'd like to spend time at a touristy destination to relax and de-stress, go for it. But, maybe, you're not really that type or don't have the cash. Here's an idea. Take time off of work, grab the most positive person in your life and explore different types of exercise programs, and then get a relaxing and rejuvenating massage together.

Oh and don't forget to laugh; exercise isn't the only thing that boosts your endorphins, you know.

Natural Stress Relief from a Saint

Stress is everywhere for all of us. Listing out all of the possible stressors of modern life might just add to your already maxed-out stress levels! The key is to find ways to relieve it without yelling at your spouse, kids, dog or co-worker in the next cube. (Even though you really, really want to.)

An easy-to-find option from Mother Nature, St. John's Wort, helps relieve stress and improve emotional wellness. Its name is said to come from St. John the Baptist, because the botanical traditionally blooms around his feast day in late June. Growing wild in parts of Asia, North America and Europe, St. John's Wort contains several active components, most notably hypericin. (And you though it was just another annoying weed in your neighborhood!) In fact, St. John's Wort is one of the most popular dietary supplements in America.

Many herbalists recommend extracts standardized to 0.3% hypericin content, because that is the concentration used in most research. The standardized version (look for the % hypericin on the product label) is easy to find and the most popular. However, some herbalists believe that the whole herb, often called full spectrum, is equally beneficial. The whole herb product consists of plant parts, as they exist in nature. By working with a naturopathic physician or knowledgeable pharmacist, you can determine which form is the best for your needs.

Saying "Yes" To Stress Relief

Stress relief means different things to different people. For some, it's a fun day at the amusement park enjoying the cathartic thrill of roller coasters. For others, stress relief might involve a hike in the park, a walk on the beach or a picnic.

If you're already becoming agitated at the thought of doing any of those things, stress relief for you might come in a prepackaged bottle. Relax, it's not as bad as it sounds! Mother Nature provides the world with things like natural St. John's Wort, chamomile, valerian, American ginseng, Korean ginseng and a multitude of other herbal stress relief supplements.

Of course, popping herbal stress relief supplements isn't the only answer, but it's a start. Sometimes you have to be in the right frame of mind before you can start to make improvements in your life. This means that you've allowed your mind and body to relax and let go. Start this process by sipping herbal teas like chamomile. Inositol is another naturally occurring substance thought to help relieve stress. There are all kinds of natural stress relief supplements on the market, so be sure to ask about things like valerian, St. John's Wort, and other supplements that might aid in stress relief.

As soon as your body starts feeling better and less stressed, make a commitment to yourself to find ways of actually reducing the cause of that stress in your life.

Insomniacs Rejoice!

Many people have their own laptops and electronic communicating devices that bring a whole new meaning to "bringing some work home for the evening." How many of us check work emails on our time off? We have instant access to everything so why wouldn't we squeeze in some work whenever a minute or two presents itself? That's how stress creeps into your life and negatively impacts your body systems. Insomnia is a huge problem in America. When you're sleep deprived you make mistakes and unfortunately some of those mistakes can be serious.

Set a certain time in the evening and make sure you power down the laptop, turn of the cell phones and so on. Make sure it's early enough in the evening in order to give yourself some time to unwind before bed. Sip some chamomile tea and listen to soothing music or watch a little television. Valerian root is an excellent sleep aid and can be taken about an hour before bedtime. Relax in the tub, read a good book, and have the best sleep you've ever had.

Resetting the Mind/Body Balance with Herbal Stress Relief

It can be hard to find balance and harmony in today's world. Unfortunately, people sometimes turn to unhealthy eating habits, cigarettes, alcohol, give up exercise routines and push themselves harder instead of relaxing. The result is an unhealthy mind-body balance that results in disease, insomnia, stomach upsets, headaches, poor appetite and so on.

Here's the thing: you might not even realize you're under a great deal of stress until your body starts sending you warning signals. The sad fact is that stress can become so chronic that it almost seems natural to us. Sure we're tired all the time! That's just part of life isn't it? Well actually, no, it isn't. Neither is popping antacids on a daily basis. To help bring things under control in your life, there are two things that you can do simultaneously to help.

The first thing to do is buy some herbal stress relief. American ginseng is good for improving appetite, chamomile tea is perfect for sipping just before bed to help you drift off effortlessly, St. John's Wort has been shown to reduce symptoms of low mood when taken as directed and Valerian root will help you drift off to sleep.

The second thing to do is mindfully take your herbal stress relief supplements. That doesn't mean just remembering to take them on a daily basis, it means setting aside five to ten minutes either just before or just after taking the supplements to refocus your mind. Do some deep breathing exercises and set your intentions for the day. Let your mind examine how you plan to handle the day and what your positive responses will be.

It doesn't take long to reset your mind-body balance; all you need is some herbal stress relievers and the mindfulness to pull it off.