I find it is even more important in the world we live in today!

I have also noticed that most people are so busy doing everything for everyone else, that they aren’t making enough time to nurture and take care of themselves.

Please remember, the better we take care of ourselves, the better we can take care of the ones we love. We all need to take some time each day to slow down, calm the mind, and rest. If we don’t take a little time for ourselves, emotions and stress can get hold of us.

“Our emotions infuse life with a rich texture and transform our conscious experience into a meaningful living experience. Emotions determine what we care about and what motivates us. They connect us to others and give us the courage to do what needs to be done, to appreciate our successes, to protect and support the people we love and have compassion and kindness for those who are in need of our help. Emotions are also what allow us to experience the pain and grief of loss. Without emotions, life would lack meaning and purpose.“(1)

Stress will put the body into survival mode, and it will break down the immune system quickly. Studies show that 60 to 80% of doctor visits are associated with stress! The last thing we need to be doing to ourselves during this busy time is to break down our own immune system. We want to do all we can today to stay as healthy as possible.

We have been conditioned to believe that stress is the silent killer, but studies show that stress itself is not the killer. In actuality, it is how we THINK of stressful circumstances. (Psychologist, Kelly McGonigal has a marvelous talk on this subject.) If we feel we can get through the situation, then we are not harmed by the stress. If we think stress will harm us, then it will. So, be mindful of how you focus on things.

A soothing hot bath or foot soak at the end of the day is always a wonderful way to relax and release stress. I add some magnesium chloride to the bath, along with some lavender essential oils for a truly relaxing bath.

Along with that, here are some additional techniques on how to get a handle on stress, and boost the immune system as well!

First

Breathe!
Breathe deeply into the diaphragm. I can’t emphasize this enough. When we are stressed, we tend to hold our breath and/or only breathe into our upper lungs. When we do this, it cuts off much of the oxygen to the brain, which makes it harder to think. This type of shallow breathing tells the body that we are in a fight or flight mode.

Most importantly, shallow breathing breaks down our immune system. Research that has been done with deep breathing exercises has shown an immediate positive impact affecting blood pressure and the PH of the blood.

According to Esther Sternberg, a physician and researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, and author of several books about stress, “Slow Deep Breathing can actually stimulate the body’s reaction that will calm us down.” She says deep breathing is like putting on the brakes of your car.

According to Sternberg, when you’re stressed, the immune system’s ability to do its job to fight infections is seriously compromised. If you want to handle a stressful situation, and boost the immune system, and ultimately feel better, you need to breathe deeply and slowly on a regular basis. It’s free, easy, and you can do it anytime and anywhere!

Pranayama yoga uses breath work as a regular part of their practice.

Cleveland’s Integrative Medicine Clinic has their chronic disease patients learn and practice breathing, using yoga techniques. Mladen Golubic, who was a physician at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine, says “You can influence asthma; you can influence chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and you can influence heart failure.” There are studies which show that people with these conditions who practice breathing exercises regularly, benefit greatly.

Second

Eat whole organic foods (that are in their pure form, not from a package or fast-food container), and eliminate caffeinated beverages from your diet.

Many people rely on and become dependent on beverages that contain various forms of caffeine to help them deal with fatigue, which can be caused by stress.

Caffeine will actually raise the level of stress hormones in the body, is a bowel irritant, and is also dehydrating. Get off the roller coaster of caffeine and try for a steady, even stride of energy.

Hydrate your body with abundant amounts of water first thing in the morning, as soon as you wake up and before eating anything. Then eat a densely nutritious breakfast. When our body is really fed on a deep cellular level, we are giving the body the fuel it needs to run on.

Dehydration is a major cause of disease and illness, so hydrate with water or coconut water between meals. We need to drink as much water in the cold months as we do in the warm months. Central heating can dehydrate us.

Don’t drink water with meals. Drinking water with meals tends to make us not chew our food as well as we should. Avoiding liquids with meals can encourage you to chew your food until it’s liquid, and better able to be digested.

Drink water between meals for hydration. Add a tiny bit of whole unrefined sea salt (electrolyte is a fancy medical term for salt) to the water for additional minerals. This will help the body absorb the water more effectively.

Third

Get a good night’s sleep.
Every night, make the last 30 minutes before bed a time of reflection, gratitude and positive, peaceful thoughts. Sleeping is where our body rejuvenates itself. A good night’s sleep can make a world of difference in our health and well-being. What we focus on before bed is what our mind is going to ponder over for hours throughout the night.

Make a list of the things that are on your mind, and also list the things that need to be done the next day. Put them down and get them out of your head. Release any thoughts about problems, and shift the focus to solutions.

Have your sleeping space free of clutter and electronics. Make sure that your bedroom is completely dark. Light can disrupt the sleeping pattern, even if it is just a little nightlight. This will create a more peaceful healing environment.

Free up the mind by taking about 20 or 30 minutes to focus the mind on something positive, joyful and peaceful.

Studies done by the Heartmath Institute show that when we focus on positive thoughts like gratitude, compassion or caring, we can actually stimulate healing responses in the body to the point of even activating our own stem cells.

Meditate, and if you like, you can do it with some soft uplifting music or sounds of running water. If you do need to do something, then read or watch something that is uplifting, positive and relaxing. If you can’t seem to sit still or have problems keeping your mind quiet, try one of Dr. Joe Dispenza’s walking meditations. The walking meditations are wonderful and they are my favorite mediations these days.

I use my new phototherapy non-transdermal technology that has Silent Night Patches, which have been found to regulate sleep through melatonin production. The silent night non-transdermal patches can also help reduce oxidative stress as melatonin is an antioxidant and cancer protective. Great for calming in children. To learn more about them, click here and contact me, (214-202-9243 or nancy@nancyaddison.com), if you would like to try them. (Here is my referral number 1439757. and my link is: https://lifewave.com/nancyaddison

Fourth

Make time for laughter!
There have been numerous studies revealing clear evidence that episodes of laughter helped to reduce pain, decreased stress-related hormones, boosted the immune system, and decreased anxiety. I’m actually a certified laughing yoga instructor, because I believe in the power of laughter so much.

The Cancer Centers of America use laughter therapy now, and says it can:
• Enhance oxygen intake
• Stimulate the heart and lungs
• Relax muscles throughout the body
• Trigger the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers)
• Ease digestion/soothe stomach aches
• Relieve pain
• Balance blood pressure
• Improve mental functions (i.e., alertness, memory, creativity)

Laughter therapy may also help to:
• Improve overall attitude
• Reduce stress/tension
• Promote relaxation
• Improve sleep
• Enhance quality of life
• Strengthen social bonds and relationships
• Produce a general sense of well-being

Some funny recommendations for lifting your mood are:

1. Movies like: Elf, Legally Blonde, Big Business, The Court Jester, The Glass Bottom Boat (anything Doris Day for me!)

2. Music – The Love Train by the O’Jays, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B, Biscuits by Kasey Musgraves.

What (music, movie, audio book) makes you feel joyful? Play that whenever you need to shift your energy or lift your mood.

When we are laughing, we can’t be worrying about the past or the future. It makes us completely present.

I also wear a new technology using photo-therapy with non-transdermal patches, if I am feeling stressed, because the studies have shown that they can lift your mood. The Aeon patch is anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, and so they call it the happy patch!
The name of the substance that is elevated in the liver is called phenyl-glutamine.  Click here to listen to a medical doctor explaining how they work.

(My referral number 1439757 and click here for my link.

Try it any of those suggestions, you may like it.

In conclusion:
It’s been an unusual and sometimes challenging last 4 years.
I heard that in today’s world, we are confronted with more input in one day than our grandparents were in a whole year.

As life is speeding up, it is important to know how to slow down, take some time to stop and smell the roses, and focus on what is important in life.

Ultimately it is a choice.

If you are feeling depressed or low, find a place to volunteer, or get involved with a group that is doing something that interests you. When we are helping others or getting involved, we find ourselves feeling empowered, and it can lift our mood, and create happiness in our life.

Breathe deeply, eat and drink whole fresh food, focus on the solution and positive things in life, find something that can make you laugh, and release stress from your life.

I send you wishes and love for a blessed December.

Sources:

How Emotions Guide Our Live, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201801/how-emotions-guide-our-lives

Nerurkar, A., et al., When physicians counsel about stress: results of a national study. JAMA Intern Med, 2013. 173(1): p. 76-7. Avey, H., et al., Health care providers’ training, perceptions, and practices regarding stress and health outcomes. J Natl Med Assoc, 2003. 95(9): p. 833, 836-45.

Breathing and Stress: NPR- “Just Breathe: Body Has A Built-In Stress Reliever” by Gretchen Cuda, December 6, 20103.
https://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131734718/just-breathe-body-has-a-built-in-stress-reliever

Stem Cells and Heart Math: https://deanhoweswbp.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/heartmath-the-science-of-the-heart.pdf

Laughter: Cousins N. Anatomy of an illness as perceived by the patient. N Engl J Med. 1976;295(26):1458–63. [PubMed] Devereux PG, Heffner KL. Psychophysiological approaches to the study of laughter: toward an integration with positive psychology. In: Ong AD, van Dulmen MHM, editors. Oxford handbook of methods in positive psychology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2007. pp. 233–49.

Effects of Laughter Therapy on Anxiety, Stress, Depression and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/effects-of-laughter-therapy-on-anxiety-stress-depression-and-quality-of-life-in-cancer-patients-1948-5956-1000362.php?aid=60533

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 3 (2006), Issue 1, Pages 61-63, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nek015, Humor and Laughter may Influence Health. I. History and Background by Mary Payne Bennett1 and Cecile A. Lengacher 2, 1Indiana State University, College of Nursing, IN, USA, 2University of South Florida, College of Nursing, FL, USA, Received 30 March 2005

Nancy also counsels people in health and nutrition.

You can contact Nancy through her website: Organic Healthy Life .com

copyright@nancyaddison2021

Nancy’s 7 books on Amazon are also in Audio and some of them are in large print:
 https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Addison/e/B00E6K5KGY/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
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Medical Disclaimer:
Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video  for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.

Information provided in this video or audio and the use of any products or services related to this video by you DOES NOT create a health counselor-client relationship between you and Nancy Addison, certified health counselor. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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Visit Organic Healthy Lifestyle for award-winning nutritional advice that will make you rethink your current eating habits.

Rest first and foremost

Rest is often the most effective remedy to realizing your full potential, but it is also the most overlooked. However, rest is vital for our bodies and minds. Ensuring that you get seven to nine hours of sleep at the very minimum every night is what is going to set the stage for how productive and focused you will be the next day.

Eat right

Eating right is another simple and often neglected practice that is glossed over. But again, it is an essential habit that needs to be practiced so that your body has the strength to function at its best. Your mind also requires essential vitamins and nutrients to think clearly, which, if you think about it, is necessary in achieving your most desirable goals.

Upgrade your home

If your current home is no longer doing anything for you or is no longer catering to your growth, it may be time to look at alternative prospects. Online listings can provide you with various options to suit your wish list regarding the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc., you want. You may be able to do a virtual tour with some websites, which can provide a clearer picture of what the property is like before you view it in person.

Create a cleaner home environment

When trying to be healthy, it is a good idea to look at every facet of your life to see what areas detract from your health goals. Of course, you also want to be sure that you are spring-cleaning your home with safe cleaning chemicals. Reading online advice and product reviews from reputable websites such as https://cleanerdigs.com/ can give you a good indication of what to use and what not to use when keeping your household safe from toxic chemicals.

Take a step towards becoming a business owner

Becoming a business owner is a huge step towards growing if you have been in the comfort zone of working for someone else for a while. Choosing a business structure that will allow you to further expand on your entrepreneurial exploits should help make this process easier. For example, with an LLC, there is minimal to do regarding registering a business plus, there are certain advantages with an LLC that you can’t get with other business structures, such as limited liability, flexibility, pass-through taxation, and more. You’ll also get access to a registered agent who will be your go-to person for any tax and legal queries by the government, law firms, and tax agencies.

The journey towards self-growth can consist of both little steps and more major adjustments, such as finding a new home (and keeping it in the necessary condition) to help promote a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.

Written by guest writer, Brad Karuse.

Brad Krause created Self Caring after years spent putting his own self-care on the back burner. His goal now is to educate people on the importance of self-care by providing tips and tricks that are easy to implement.

Nancy’s website is: http://www.organichealthylife.com

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC and Brad Krause. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video  for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email

The post How to Orchestrate Your Own Path Toward Self-Improvement appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

As people embrace the mental and emotional benefits of walking, let’s not forget the physical impact it brings. Walking 10,000 steps a day, for example, boosts your heart strength, sheds extra body fat, stabilizes your blood sugar, and improves your brain’s performance. In fact, 10000 steps a day is the equivalent of doing five 30-minute workouts a week.

The best thing about walking is that it’s something we naturally do, and with a little push, getting your steps in is just a matter of balancing this simple exercise with your daily life and work hours. Here, we’ll go over some ways you can approach walking as a daily exercise, even when you’re busy:

Walk to reflect

We’ve discussed this in a previous post, but daily stress is inevitable. And while we may not be able to prevent stress from affecting us and our loved ones, we can adopt habits like practicing yoga, deep breathing, and exercising to handle stress more effectively.

Walking meditation is a good mindfulness practice, allowing you to reflect on things you are grateful for while getting your workout in. By incorporating slow walks into your mindfulness exercises, you can even improve your posture, boost your confidence, and increase overall wellness.

Walk to socialize

It may be hard to find time to do your walking when everybody seems to want a piece of your time. Fortunately, walking can be a group activity. Aside from the shared accountability, walking with others allows you to hit two birds with one stone since you can also use this time to discuss various pressing matters.

And if you find it hard to motivate other people around you, why not take your pet with you? After all, studies show that dog owners are more physically active than non-owners, improving their blood pressure and decreasing stress reactivity. If you need extra motivation to walk and get some daily steps in, try doing it as a favor for your furry pal. Overall, walking can be a great bonding experience for everyone in your life.

Walk to avoid being desk-bound

Most of the time, a common excuse for not walking enough in a day is because we are bound to our desks and our work. Studies have long been done on the harmful effects of prolonged sitting, point to developing muscle pains on top of chronic illnesses and changes to overall posture. While work is no doubt important, it’s just as important — if not more — to take care of yourself.

Treat walking time as a break from long periods of sitting at your desk. Not only is it good for your back and muscles, it will also allow your eyes some resting time away from harmful blue light in screens. While walking, you can also do some light stretches to come back to your desk more energized than before.

Ultimately, walking is a simple but incredibly effective exercise that helps us stay fit. And because we do it every day, the motivation we need to get our steps in shouldn’t be hard to come by. In fact, it’s all around us.

This article was written by Shirley Morgan.

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video  for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.

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