Food for Thought : Stress

April and  May is  Stress awareness Months . While  stress is unavoidable , managing  it  is necessary  to stay healthy  and happy . The stress  of  short-term frustrations  , such as  traffic  jams , as well as life  events , such as illness or  death in the family , have  an effect  on our  body  and  our health . Although outwardly we we may seem to handle stress  well , some of the changes happening inside our body can create  negative effects on our  health . Our bodies  release hormones , such as  cortisone , that can raise our blood pressure  and  blood sugar . These  hormones  can also  increase our  appetite  which send  us  searching  for  high-fat and  high-sugar foods  , and  they can also increase  our  fat stores .  Here  are  a few tips  to help you manage  your stress in a healthy way :

1. Eat smaller  meals  and  do not  skip meals :
Going  more than 5 hours  without  food  duting  wasking  hours  can contribute  to fatigue  , low  concentration  and  headaches . These  can  all be  a problem  when you are stressed  or  trying to concentrate more on  decisions  and taskes.

2 .Avoid fast-foods and processed foods when you are stressed :
Although it can be more  difficult  to eat healthy  when you are  extra  busy or  have  added  responsibilities , it is  important  to make  good nutrition  a priority . These  foods are usually high in sodium  and  fat which  cam make  you feel  bloated  and  fatigued . 

3 .  Avoid  having to much  caffeine :
While it  may give you  an immediate pick-up , you will most likely  experience  a drop n energy  later in the day . Caffeine  can also  disruft  your  sleep cucles and  prevent  you from  getting  the rest you need  during periods  of  high stress . 

4 .  Consider  taking  a multi-vitamin :
While  most of the time  you can get  all of  the  vitamins  and  minerals  you need  through  the  food  you eat , there  may be  times  when a general multi-vitamin  can be helpful . Talk to  your  physician  or  dietian  regarding  your  need  for   a supplement . And remember  to always take  vitamins  exactly  as prescribed  . Taking  more  than prescribed  is  not  always  beneficial or  safe .

Words of Wisdom :

“A book is not just a collection of words, it is a perception portrayed on blank sheets. You know, getting you the feelings of blowing winds and rains and sun and flowers around, the smiles, the tears, the notional links with the characters and make them all alive, while you read. And that's sure as hell a grueling task !” 

“Life is filled with opportunities. Be courageous and fulfill your destiny. You were created for a purpose and once you realize your potential, you become unstoppable. Let no one get in the way of you pursuing your dreams.” 

“Many are never satisfied. They always want more ; and then when they get more, they are still not content. I think mostly because they are trying to keep up with others. You have to live within your means or you'll find yourself trying to dig your way out of a hole. Whatever is meant for you is for you. Don't lose yourself trying to live another's life” 

“Mother Nature has in its nature of bringing and bonding living creatures of same nature and the duration of their staying together depends purely on the similarities among their intrinsic characters. Only in case of non-living things, it has endowed the power of attraction between opposite features and its example is positively charged cations and negatively charged anions.” 

“It’s so easy and convenient to buy our children gifts, but I encourage and challenge you to give them gifts that TRULY matter! The gift of unconditional love. The gift of encouragement. The gift of support. The gift of friendship. The gift of communication, understanding, and patience. The gift of guidance and support. The gift of quality time. And the gift of loving them for who THEY are. Material things are nice, but NOTHING compares to genuine love! Parenting should be taken seriously.”

A proud grand-poppa       G.