We all know that tension can wreak havoc on our eating patterns. But the right (healthy!) foods can often help tame mindless munching and cravings and, better yet, actually lower overall anxiety and its symptoms. Here are eight of our favorites:
#1 Dark Chocolate
High in flavonoids, which are lauded for their relaxing properties (chamomile tea is another great source), chocolate also contains phenethylamine, a chemical that enhances your mood. The darker the chocolate, the more healthy substances you're getting in your diet, so look for bars that are 70 percent cacao or higher.
#2 Skim Milk
Turns out that a glass of warm milk really is calming. One study found that women who drank four or more servings of lowfat or skim milk every day were about half as likely to experience stress-related PMS symptoms than those who drank less than one serving a week.
#3 Oatmeal
Carbs help you produce serotonin, a calming hormone that helps fight anxiety's negative effects-which is probably why many of us crave them when we're stressed. Go with the craving and choose healthy sources. Oatmeal is high in fiber, which means that your body will absorb it slowly. In one fell swoop, you'll prolong the serotonin boost, keeping yourself feeling full for longer (and on less) and making sure your blood sugar's in check.
#4 Salmon
Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids-abundant in fish like salmon-can help reverse stress symptoms by boosting serotonin levels, and that an omega-3-rich diet can also help suppress the production of the anxiety hormones cortisol and adrenaline.
#5 Walnuts
They've been shown to help lower blood pressure, which is critical for those whose hearts are already working overtime thanks to high adrenaline levels. In fact, research so strongly backs their health benefits that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration goes so far as to recommend 1 1/2 oz per day.
#6 Sunflower Seeds
A good source of folate, which helps your body produce a pleasure-inducing brain chemical called dopamine.
#7 Spinach
Studies show that magnesium, which you'll find in leafy greens like spinach, improves your body's response to stress.
#8 Blueberries
Their antioxidants counteract the effects of stress hormones like cortisol on your body.
March 30, 2010
Exercise Benefits
Lets Learn Just Some of the Many Benefits of a Fitness and Nutrition PlanThere are literally zillions of exercise benefits to be gained through a regular fitness and nutritional plan. When you read this list, you'll wonder why everyone isn't taking advantage of what fitness has to offer.
Let me count the ways...
• Exercise Benefit #1 Increased energy: The right combination of exercise and nutrition creates an hormonal environment conducive to fat loss, increased muscle strength and increased energy. When your body is working at peak efficiency, your energy levels soar! Every day things become much easier to do.
• Exercise Benefit #2 Increased Self-Esteem: Gaining control of your body size and weight through fitness is an amazing way to increase self-esteem. You look better and are more confident which empowers you in everything you do. You will find that the self-discipline required and learned through regular exercise spills over into other areas of your life and you will be better able to make other necessary and desirable changes.
• Exercise Benefit #3 Increase Mental Focus: Did you know that the latest research shows that exercise helps keep the brain sharp well into old age? Anything that involves mental acuity (focus and concentration) is improved. You also stand a much better chance of avoiding such diseases as Alzheimer's and senility.
• Exercise Benefit #4 Decreased Risk of a Heart Attack: By exercising regularly and making positive changes in your diet, you lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and greatly diminish the chances of having a heart attack.
• Exercise Benefit #5 Decreased Risk of Osteoporosis: Regular exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise, reduces the risk of osteoporosis, and can even reverse it buy building bone tissue!
• Exercise Benefit #6 Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer by up to 60% Estradiol and progesterone, two ovarian hormones linked to breast cancer tumor production are lowered in the body by exercise.
A woman body is most susceptible to these hormones during the time between ovulation and menstruation. Habitual exercise can actually delay ovulation until later in the menstrual cycle. This reduces the time she must fight these hormones.
Fat has long been known to be a catalyst in the production of estrogen (estradiol). Regular exercise burns body fat and thus decreases the rate of estrogen production.
So there you have it! A two pronged, cancer preventing exercise benefit!
• Exercise Benefit #7 Increased Strength and Stamina: Every physical thing you do becomes easier which is immensely useful in everyday life.
• Exercise Benefit #8 Reduced Depression: The production of Endorphins (Feel good hormones) is increased through exercise. Nothing improves mood and suppresses depression better than those endorphins.
• Exercise Benefit #9 Decreased Stress Levels: The worries and stresses of everyday living (commuting, work demands, conflicts etc.) can stick with you long after the work day is done. Exercise right after work is the perfect natural therapy that can change your mood. You'll sleep better too!
• Exercise Benefit #10 Well actually, here are another 50 benefits...
o Improved digestion.
o Enhances quality of sleep.
o Adds a sparkle and radiance to complexion.
o Improves body shape.
o Tones and firms muscles.
o Provides more muscular definition.
o Enables weight loss and keeps it off.
o Makes you limber.
o Improves endurance.
o Burns extra calories.
o Improves circulation and helps reduce blood pressure.
o Increases lean muscle tissue in the body.
o Improves appetite for healthy foods.
o Alleviates menstrual cramps.
o Alters and improves muscle chemistry.
o Increases metabolic rate.
o Enhances coordination and balance.
o Improves posture.
o Eases and possibly eliminates back problems and pain.
o Makes the body use calories more efficiently.
o Lowers resting heart rate.
o Increases muscle size through an increase in muscle fibers.
o Improves body composition.
o Increases body density.
o Decreases fat tissue more easily.
o Makes body more agile.
o Is the greatest body tune-up.
o Reduces joint discomfort.
o Improves athletic performance.
o Enriches sexuality.
o May add a few years to life.
o Increases your range of motion.
o Enhances immune system.
o Improves glycogen storage.
o Enables the body to utilize energy more efficiently.
o Increases enzymes in the body which burn fat.
o Increases the number and size of mitochondria in muscle cells.
o Increases concentration of myoglobin(carries oxygen in muscles)in skeletal muscles.
o Enhances oxygen transport throughout the body.
o Improves liver functioning.
o Increases speed of muscle contraction and reaction time.
o Enhances feedback through the nervous system.
o Strengthens the heart.
o Improves blood flow.
o Helps to alleviate varicose veins.
o Increases maximum cardiac output.
o Increases contractility of the heart's ventricles.
o Increases the weight and size of the heart.
o Improves contractile function of the whole heart.
o Makes calcium transport in the heart and body more efficient.
Want to learn more?
Let me count the ways...
• Exercise Benefit #1 Increased energy: The right combination of exercise and nutrition creates an hormonal environment conducive to fat loss, increased muscle strength and increased energy. When your body is working at peak efficiency, your energy levels soar! Every day things become much easier to do.
• Exercise Benefit #2 Increased Self-Esteem: Gaining control of your body size and weight through fitness is an amazing way to increase self-esteem. You look better and are more confident which empowers you in everything you do. You will find that the self-discipline required and learned through regular exercise spills over into other areas of your life and you will be better able to make other necessary and desirable changes.
• Exercise Benefit #3 Increase Mental Focus: Did you know that the latest research shows that exercise helps keep the brain sharp well into old age? Anything that involves mental acuity (focus and concentration) is improved. You also stand a much better chance of avoiding such diseases as Alzheimer's and senility.
• Exercise Benefit #4 Decreased Risk of a Heart Attack: By exercising regularly and making positive changes in your diet, you lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and greatly diminish the chances of having a heart attack.
• Exercise Benefit #5 Decreased Risk of Osteoporosis: Regular exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise, reduces the risk of osteoporosis, and can even reverse it buy building bone tissue!
• Exercise Benefit #6 Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer by up to 60% Estradiol and progesterone, two ovarian hormones linked to breast cancer tumor production are lowered in the body by exercise.
A woman body is most susceptible to these hormones during the time between ovulation and menstruation. Habitual exercise can actually delay ovulation until later in the menstrual cycle. This reduces the time she must fight these hormones.
Fat has long been known to be a catalyst in the production of estrogen (estradiol). Regular exercise burns body fat and thus decreases the rate of estrogen production.
So there you have it! A two pronged, cancer preventing exercise benefit!
• Exercise Benefit #7 Increased Strength and Stamina: Every physical thing you do becomes easier which is immensely useful in everyday life.
• Exercise Benefit #8 Reduced Depression: The production of Endorphins (Feel good hormones) is increased through exercise. Nothing improves mood and suppresses depression better than those endorphins.
• Exercise Benefit #9 Decreased Stress Levels: The worries and stresses of everyday living (commuting, work demands, conflicts etc.) can stick with you long after the work day is done. Exercise right after work is the perfect natural therapy that can change your mood. You'll sleep better too!
• Exercise Benefit #10 Well actually, here are another 50 benefits...
o Improved digestion.
o Enhances quality of sleep.
o Adds a sparkle and radiance to complexion.
o Improves body shape.
o Tones and firms muscles.
o Provides more muscular definition.
o Enables weight loss and keeps it off.
o Makes you limber.
o Improves endurance.
o Burns extra calories.
o Improves circulation and helps reduce blood pressure.
o Increases lean muscle tissue in the body.
o Improves appetite for healthy foods.
o Alleviates menstrual cramps.
o Alters and improves muscle chemistry.
o Increases metabolic rate.
o Enhances coordination and balance.
o Improves posture.
o Eases and possibly eliminates back problems and pain.
o Makes the body use calories more efficiently.
o Lowers resting heart rate.
o Increases muscle size through an increase in muscle fibers.
o Improves body composition.
o Increases body density.
o Decreases fat tissue more easily.
o Makes body more agile.
o Is the greatest body tune-up.
o Reduces joint discomfort.
o Improves athletic performance.
o Enriches sexuality.
o May add a few years to life.
o Increases your range of motion.
o Enhances immune system.
o Improves glycogen storage.
o Enables the body to utilize energy more efficiently.
o Increases enzymes in the body which burn fat.
o Increases the number and size of mitochondria in muscle cells.
o Increases concentration of myoglobin(carries oxygen in muscles)in skeletal muscles.
o Enhances oxygen transport throughout the body.
o Improves liver functioning.
o Increases speed of muscle contraction and reaction time.
o Enhances feedback through the nervous system.
o Strengthens the heart.
o Improves blood flow.
o Helps to alleviate varicose veins.
o Increases maximum cardiac output.
o Increases contractility of the heart's ventricles.
o Increases the weight and size of the heart.
o Improves contractile function of the whole heart.
o Makes calcium transport in the heart and body more efficient.
Want to learn more?
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