October 22, 2012

Autumn is here!



By: Dr. Don VerHulst

Autumn has arrived with its spectacular colors, refreshing temperatures, and, if you’re like most of us, a flurry of activities. If leaves were Post-it® notes, I think each one falling into my yard might have a task written on it for me!

How can we deal with the stress and overwhelm of work, children’s school schedules, and all of these other commitments? Laugh them off. You see, when you’re stressed, your body produces harmful cortisol, but laughter can help your body destroy cortisol. This major stress hormone is no laughing matter. It is linked to high blood pressure, premature aging, and fat accumulation, especially around the abdomen.

Kids have this one down. They laugh more than 200 times every day. No wonder kids are so resilient. You see, laughter releases endorphins that relieve stress, elevate your mood and even relieve pain. The benefits of laughter don’t depend on how funny something is. Even forced laughter can do the trick.

Rx: Three belly laughs a day to relieve stress and boost wellness.
Take a few minutes today to ask yourself, “What makes me laugh?” A favorite movie or comedian?  An especially humorous friend? Those silly emails from your aging aunt? Don’t dismiss humor from your life—embrace it! And don’t scold the kids for making jokes at the dinner table. When you’re stress free, you digest your food better.

How else can you relieve stress? Exercise is a great stress reliever—even just a walk around the block. Taking time in prayer and reflection each day can also help. Or schedule yourself a therapeutic massage with a licensed practitioner.

Eating healthy foods also helps keep stress in check. And, if you need a little boost, I recommend It Works! Confianza. A naturally based supplement that increases your energy levels while reducing stress and fatigue, Confianza was developed to provide a safe way to enhance your ability to cope with all forms of stress: physical, emotional, or environmental.

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