Stress can be a good thing. Really.
It heightens our biological systems so we can deal with an impending threat, an enemy, a natural disaster and the like. Think fight or flight: stress is necessary, sometimes even life-saving.
But prolonged stress is what's killing us.
Under constant stress, falling asleep becomes difficult, mood swings are frequent, aches and pains are prevalent, breathing becomes shallow, and sugar and carbohydrate cravings soar while the libido suffers. Your stomach churns, headaches are common, skin ages prematurely, and your body's defense against disease and infection weakens.
A breakdown in one area of the body can have a domino effect. Too much stress can prompt food, alcohol, drug or shopping additions. At worst, it can be a factor in heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other debilitating or inflammatory illnesses.
Bottom line: reducing long term, day-to-day stress is vital.
In these tough economic times, however, finding ways to overcome stress has fallen by the wayside. Don't let it. So what do we do?
For starters, do simple stuff: Sing, laugh, do yoga, pray, read a good book, exercise, walk with a friend.
These are just the basics, but as co-owner of Bella D'ora Spa and Wellness Sanctuary, I research, study and test products and programs that take healthy living and stress relieving to the next level. Beautifying the body is one great way to bring about calm and joy, but beauty comes first from the inside, and for that stress must be held at bay.
To that end, we have vetted hundreds of products over our seven-year history to determine what's best for the body. We've discovered holistic remedies that safely and effectively combat stress, including antioxidant-filled dark chocolates, herbal treatments, aromatherapy, chakra remedies, specialized teas, essential oils, and nutraceutical-based isotonic vitamins and minerals such as resveratrol, CoQ10, omega fatty acids, acai and digestive enzymes.
Also, consider a massage. Among its numerous benefits, it relieves hypertension, stimulates proper organ function, helps regulate the central nervous system, and is emotionally supportive.
Another amazing discovery to help keep the body healthy is alkaline water, shown to help relieve stress as it aids digestion, oxygenates your body, helps correct your pH, hydrates the skin, and scavenges disease-causing free radicals.
Choose wisely how you fuel your body. Eat more rainbow-colored vegetables, fruits, low-glycemic foods, fish and whole grain products. Skip refined ingredients, MSG, saturated fats, foods with chemical additives, high fructose corn syrup and the like. Drink half your weight in ounces of alkaline water every day.
Contact Susan Miller at (760) 438-7404 or www.belladoraspa.com.
It heightens our biological systems so we can deal with an impending threat, an enemy, a natural disaster and the like. Think fight or flight: stress is necessary, sometimes even life-saving.
But prolonged stress is what's killing us.
Under constant stress, falling asleep becomes difficult, mood swings are frequent, aches and pains are prevalent, breathing becomes shallow, and sugar and carbohydrate cravings soar while the libido suffers. Your stomach churns, headaches are common, skin ages prematurely, and your body's defense against disease and infection weakens.
A breakdown in one area of the body can have a domino effect. Too much stress can prompt food, alcohol, drug or shopping additions. At worst, it can be a factor in heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other debilitating or inflammatory illnesses.
Bottom line: reducing long term, day-to-day stress is vital.
In these tough economic times, however, finding ways to overcome stress has fallen by the wayside. Don't let it. So what do we do?
For starters, do simple stuff: Sing, laugh, do yoga, pray, read a good book, exercise, walk with a friend.
These are just the basics, but as co-owner of Bella D'ora Spa and Wellness Sanctuary, I research, study and test products and programs that take healthy living and stress relieving to the next level. Beautifying the body is one great way to bring about calm and joy, but beauty comes first from the inside, and for that stress must be held at bay.
To that end, we have vetted hundreds of products over our seven-year history to determine what's best for the body. We've discovered holistic remedies that safely and effectively combat stress, including antioxidant-filled dark chocolates, herbal treatments, aromatherapy, chakra remedies, specialized teas, essential oils, and nutraceutical-based isotonic vitamins and minerals such as resveratrol, CoQ10, omega fatty acids, acai and digestive enzymes.
Also, consider a massage. Among its numerous benefits, it relieves hypertension, stimulates proper organ function, helps regulate the central nervous system, and is emotionally supportive.
Another amazing discovery to help keep the body healthy is alkaline water, shown to help relieve stress as it aids digestion, oxygenates your body, helps correct your pH, hydrates the skin, and scavenges disease-causing free radicals.
Choose wisely how you fuel your body. Eat more rainbow-colored vegetables, fruits, low-glycemic foods, fish and whole grain products. Skip refined ingredients, MSG, saturated fats, foods with chemical additives, high fructose corn syrup and the like. Drink half your weight in ounces of alkaline water every day.
Contact Susan Miller at (760) 438-7404 or www.belladoraspa.com.