All Stress reduction Articles

Ten squares of dark chocolate a day for two weeks can ease stress, researchers have found. The treat reduced levels of stress hormones and helped to rebalance other chemicals in the body during times of high anxiety. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests chocolate, and dark chocolate in particular, is the latest superfood, thanks to high levels of anti-oxidants and Read more...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- While exercise is constantly touted as the best way to have a fit and healthy body, it may also be the single most important tool to combat everything from obesity to depression to ADD and Alzheimer's, according to research by one Harvard professor. Moderate exercise, even just five or 10 minutes at a time, can help supercharge the brain's mental circuits and help beat Read more...

Can pretending to ride the subway, leaning into the turns and toppling fellow passengers, relieve stress? Apparently, if the conductor is a certified laughter leader and the strap-hangers are willing to force a few laughs. "Let's do subway! Lean to the right, to the left!" barked Jolene Nevers, above a chorus of loud but faked ha-has that morphed into a real giggle here, a bona Read more...

Need to relax? Take two comedies and call me in the morning. It appears laughter can help increase the amount of blood moving through the arteries, and thus improve blood pressure and lower the risk of heart disease, studies presented to the American College of Medicine show. In one study, healthy adults in a small group were asked to watch either a comedy or documentary, and they were Read more...

A simple life has a different meaning and a different value for different people. By my definition, it means eliminating all but the essential, eschewing chaos for peace, and spending time doing what you consider important. It means spending less time on the meaningless and more time on doing things and being with people who are meaningful to you. It means cutting out clutter so you can Read more...

Stress is a fact of life. You can't avoid it, but you can learn to handle it and that will help safeguard your health and improve your quality of life. The key is not to focus on the stress event itself, but your reaction to it. In other words, you have the choice to manage your stress or to let it manage you. For example, being caught in a traffic jam can lead one person to bash away on the Read more...

Israeli and German researchers suggest body fat can become stressed and behave dysfunctionally. The consequences of this dysfunctionality, the researchers say, may include common diseases -- such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases -- attributed to obesity. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, has identified a signaling pathway in Read more...

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- You can reduce stress by exercising and do it on a budget too. "You don't have to spend money to be active," said Jeremy Spencer, fitness coordinator for the Illinois Wesleyan University Wellness Program. That's good news for anyone whose stress is up because of the recession, state budget cuts or other challenges. Thousands of Central Illinoisans have been laid Read more...

Fat people get fatter when they are under stress, according to scientists. Their study contradicts the common belief that people lose weight when they are upset. But the U.S. team found thin people didn't gain weight in stressful circumstances. The Harvard University study is believed to be the first to look at the relationship between weight gain and multiple types of stress. Read more...

NEW YORK -- The economy doesn't have to go straight to your hips. Here are some tips on how to control stress-driven eating: Recognize that being stressed is normal, said Edward Abramson, a psychologist in Lafayette, Calif., and author of "Emotional Eating." Talk about the stress with family and friends. Know that the economy is out of your hands, said Martin Binks, director Read more...

Reducing stress is important because numerous studies have shown that people constantly stressed are more at risk of illness or disease, a U.S. expert says. Bernadette Latson, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at University of Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, says the best way to address stress, particularly for office workers, is to get away from the computer monitor and take a Read more...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- As stress from economic anxiety mounts, the Better Sleep Council (BSC) and the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) have joined forces for Better Sleep Month in May to help consumers enjoy a stress-less, good night's sleep. In order to get the best rest possible and help relieve stress, the BSC and CRN say it's essential for Americans to make a commitment to a healthy Read more...

Every second of every day, the brain and its network toil at keeping the body on an even keel. Our neurotransmitters -- the chemicals that carry messages of good or ill, action or inaction -- respond to ingredients in the things we eat and drink or breathe. While the TV may offer many suggestions on how to find that even keel, dietitians say the first place at home to look might need to be Read more...

Faster heart rates from mild mental stress before exercise doubles the risk of sudden cardiac death in later life, researchers in France warn. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, found that men whose heart rate increased the most during mild mental stress just before an exercise test had twice the risk of dying of a sudden heart attack in later life than men whose heart rate Read more...

The cuisine of choice in a hurting economy tends to be fattening comfort or fast-food, a U.S. dietitian says. However, just because funds are tight that doesn't mean pants have be to tight too, Gina Bucciferro, clinical dietitian at Loyola University Health System in Chicago, said in a statement. "As a registered dietitian who loves to cook, I have learned there are ways you can save Read more...

Like you needed a study to tell you this: The recent economic turmoil has wreaked havoc on companies and on families across the country. Now, a study of 300 married, working couples conducted by Florida State University's College of Business researchers, is revealing just how deeply the crunch is being felt. In "The Hits Just Keep Coming: How the Recession is Affecting Families and Read more...

The American Psychological Association's Annual Stress in America Survey finds almost half of American workers say they're stressed about their ability to provide for their families' basic needs, and eight out of 10 say the economy is a major stressor. A new Gallup poll says 64 percent of American workers describe themselves as either "struggling" or "suffering" due to Read more...