Ever wonder why you feel so stressed out all the time? We’ve rounded up the most popular culprits.

A recent survey by NeuroBliss revealed 44 percent of Americans spend over 2,000 hours a year stressed out – and that’s just the stress we’re aware of. Holy. Crap.

Stress is good for us in the short-term – it boosts our immune system, motivates us and energizes our bodies. (Admit it: you feel pretty badass when you accomplish something that scares you a little.) But many of us are doing it all wrong, pushing ourselves to extremes and getting stressed out for all the wrong reasons. We can’t tell the difference between healthy and unhealthy stress anymore, and what’s worse: we’re used to it.

“When you have too many stress ‘inputs,’ whether good or bad, they can pile on top of each other very quickly,” says Shawn M. Talbott, Ph.D., author of The Secret of Vigor: How to Overcome Burnout, Restore Metabolic Balance, and Reclaim Your Natural Energy. “The good stressors don’t cancel out the bad – they all add up at once.”

The key, says Talbott, is to take inventory of all of your sources of stress – the short-term, and the ongoing – and start creating boundaries to prevent getting stressed out. Most of us are well-aware of our limits but push ourselves to go further by justifying our actions (i.e. “I really need the money,” or “I don’t want to let anyone down.”), and don’t take stock of what it’s going to do to our bodies in the long-term. Start listening to your body: figure out which areas or situations cause you to be stressed out and decide exactly what you’re going to do about them.

For example, when it comes to my cell phone, I get a little…cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. Between checking my e-mail every 35 seconds to lunging at it every time I receive a text, I really need to get a grip. (Sometimes I check for texts “in case” I didn’t hear it! Face. Palm.) By creating a few small boundaries: turning off e-mail notifications, only texting when it’s actually convenient, and turning my ringer off before bed, I’ve managed to be less stressed out and, you know, have a life again.

By being mindful of how you feel throughout the day, you’ll also be able to suss out autopilot behaviors that are causing you stress behind-the-scenes, such as:

1. Ignoring bodily reactions.
It’s estimated that 70 percent of people suffer from food intolerances that cause symptoms – from mild to severe – in any system of the body.

2. Criticizing yourself.
Self-criticism is linked to stress-induced changes in our biochemistry, making us more susceptible to engage in unhealthy behaviors (like overeating or drinking).

3. Watching television.
Sure, it takes our mind off painful emotions and stress – but it doesn’t decrease them. It also contributes to a sedentary lifestyle that actually causes our bodies to be more stressed out in the end.

4. Shallow breathing.
When we’re stressed out our breathing becomes shallow, which brings on fatigue and even more stress because of a lack of oxygen in our cells.

5. Slouching.
Poor posture creates muscle imbalances that can alter your body’s motor patterns.

6. Avoiding emotions.
It takes energy to suppress emotions once they’re triggered. A recent study by the University of Canterbury showed a link between avoidance coping and higher levels of anxiety.

7. Saying yes… to everything.
When we let our sense of obligation call the shots, we overextend and exhaust ourselves.

8. Sweating the small stuff.
A recent study in Psychological Science revealed that people who let everyday stress get to them have a higher risk of psychological distress ten years from now. (Let the hyperventilating begin!)

9. Multitasking.
Women are especially prone to multitasking, says Talbott, which leads to weakened focus, increased errors and lowers our ability to block irrelevant information (which we already suck at in the first place).

10. Hoarding mail.
Letting your mail pile is a stressor on its own, never mind how it contributes to other stressors like lost bills, late payments, finance charges, bad credit… sigh.

Even though stress is no longer considered a badge of honor, tell that to society! Am I right, ladies?

On a scale of one to 10, how stressed out are you?

Related on EcoSalon:

6 Yoga Poses to Help You Chill Out and Wind Down

Stressed, Anxious, Frayed? 24 Simple, Effective Ways to Quiet Your Mind in 24 Hours or Less

Treating Stress the Natural Way

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Have you noticed a trend among men lately? No, I’m not talking about orange tans or a disturbing move towards overly-gelled coiffing. Rather, some of our brethren are strutting the streets sporting moustaches not seen since Magnum PI was sporting daring thigh-grazing shorts. November is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – and to bring attention to this deadly disease, dudes are growing moustaches. November has combined with “the Mo” to make “Movember.”

Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer for men. (Number one? Lung cancer. Drop the cigarettes, gentlemen.) About one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in a lifetime, and it accounts for 11 percent of all cancer deaths in men. As the American Cancer Foundation reports, around 217,730 new cases will be diagnosed in 2010. And around 32,050 men will die of prostate cancer this year.

This leaves many thinking – how best to prevent prostate cancer? First, eat healthy. As any nutritionist will tell you, food is key to fighting off cancer. I spoke with Laura Klein, publisher of Organic Authority, for her best advice to prevent cancer through nutrition. Laura recommends reading the tome, Eat to Beat Cancer by Dr. J. Robert Hatherill. In it, Dr. Hatherill promotes eating large quantities of broccoli and tomatoes – together and raw.

As Laura told me, “Bottom line, if you are struggling with your health, up your intake of raw veggies and fruits and eat them at least five times per day. We’ve all heard those stories of people who have miraculously healed themselves from serious diseases like cancer, diabetes, obesity and more simply by cleaning up their diet and eating a diet rich in whole foods, and low in animal fat. Anyone can do this.”

But nutrition is just one way to help prevent prostate cancer. Early detection is extremely important to fighting the disease. As the American Cancer Society reports, “Modern methods of detection and treatment mean that many prostate cancers are now found earlier and can be treated more effectively. If you are diagnosed this year, your outlook is likely to be better.” So get yourself checked out and checked out often.

And how to remind everyone to do so? Get aware and stay there. As we mentioned, Movember is the movement to bring much needed awareness to prostate and testicular cancer. Throughout the month of November, men across the globe are growing moustaches for the entire month.

According to the organization, “the moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.”

The group started in Australia in 2003 – and just last year, global participation was 255,755, with $42 million raised. Mo Bros grow, while Mo Sistas recruit Mo Bros and cancer awareness. In the end, funds go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LiveStrong.

And for some, it’s very personal. Ari Sturm, pictured above, is a writer/producer in Los Angeles who decided to live the mustachioed life after a recent health scare.

As Ari told me, “Movember means something a little extra special to me this year, and the fact that it’s a little wacky and fun, well, the entire better. It’s ridiculous, but it’s a conversation starter, which is the point, to raise awareness and money for means health. I’m growing a moustache in solidarity with my brother, and raising money through his official Movember site.” You can help Ari and his brother reach their goal here.

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We all continue to be somewhat baffled over how often to get mammograms and whom to trust as the last word on this critical issue for women. Hey, we all want to grow up to be old women, right?

Weeks after the release of the report on new recommendations for mammograms by the 16-member U.S. Preventative Task Force, the firestorm rages on, even splitting parties as Republicans argue that the recommendations could be used to ration healthcare under reform legislation before Congress, a charge Democrats denied.

According to Reuters, Republican Representative Joe Barton suggested in a congressional hearing that under Democratic healthcare reform legislation passed by the House of Representatives, the task force could decide which preventive services, including mammograms, would be covered for many Americans.

“To have a task force make the recommendation that has been made, and to have in this bill the authority that’s given to various unelected bureaucrats to make healthcare decisions, including coverage frequency, in my opinion, is wrong,” Barton told the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on health.

The Senate is debating its version of healthcare reform legislation, seen as President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority, especially among American cancer doctors, who are outraged about the challenge to the accepted guidelines. It has touched off a heated debate among those doctors, as well as various groups.

The American Cancer Society, perhaps the most prominent of these groups, says it is sticking to the current recommendation to start annual mammogram screening at age 40 because the breast X-rays have been proven to save lives by spotting tumors early on when they are most easily treated.

Current standards say women 40 and older should get mammograms every year, while the revised recommendations suggest only we gals over 50 get screened, and that they do so every other year. Women over 74 can dispense with the test altogether, says our government.

An analysis by ABC News suggests money is the motivation. Professor Theodore Marmor, a health care policy specialist at Yale University, said cost-benefit analysis is routine in the health insurance biz.

“Although screening every woman between the ages of 40 and 50 would turn up some breast cancer”¦the question is what is the cost per diagnosis per relevant harm,” says Marmor.

“The question is going to be, between the ages of 40 and 50, what is the frequency with which you are going to find a true positive cancer finding, how many cases would we miss, how many of those cases would develop into cancer and what is it going to cost to treat them,” says Ian Duncan, president of Solucia, a company that provides actuarial health care analysis for insurers.

Duncan explains further that mammograms are actually a value-based benefit because they are preventative and only run about $125 per exam.

It’s  believed the new research doesn’t take into consideration the savings of newer technologies in screenings. ABC reports that digital mammograms are 1.5 to 4 times more expensive than conventional film-based mammograms, according to the National Cancer Institute, which also reported in 2005 that only 8 percent of the country’s breast imaging units provide the technique.

Either way, should we be thinking about money when it comes to prevention and saving lives?

“I definitely think this is the beginning of rationed care and I am very upset that women are the first to get slammed with this,” said Dr. Elizabeth Vliet, a women’s health care specialist based in Tucson, Ariz., and an opponent of health care reform. “I think that this change is designed to cut costs, not improve women’s health.”

Meantime, we women must decide for ourselves. What else is new?

Personally, at 51, I’m usually a year late in getting my own exam so I’m not overwhelmed by this debate. I don’t beat up on myself when I’m late but I know I cannot let it go too long. I know because of the number of women lost to this horrible disease, and the pink ribbons that symbolize we must keep asking the important questions and donating to our own cause when we can. I trust the pink panel more than the government panel. How ’bout you?

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Kaiser Permanente is prescribing big doses of sustainability in the sixth season of its $50 million Thrive ad campaign.

Two new ads – Emerald Cities and Connected – reinforce the health care provider’s commitment to the planet by dramatically reducing paper use – no small task for an industry long married to countless charts and forms. For most of us, being ordered to “Fill this out” is as rote as, “Hop on the scale,” and just as painful.

The Emerald pitch describes how Kaiser is allowing patients access to their own medical data via Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect, the world’s largest civilian electronic health record.

Not just a handy core tool for patients, the online system is apparently saving thousands of trees annually. And, as of September 2009, Kaiser estimates its members completed six million doctor’s visits without using one gallon of gasoline. Guess they got the help they were seeking by going online.

“We will be entirely paperless by 2010 and these ads illustrate how we are doing our part in some way to help the environment,” I’m told by Lisa Ryan, Director of National Advertising at Kaiser. “Having a healthy environment creates a healthy community that helps individuals thrive.”

In these appealing ads, actress Allison Janney, the KP spokeswoman since 2004, drives home the point in her now familiar, smooth-as-a-surgical-glove delivery:

“By putting an end to paper medical records, we have ushered health into the digital age.”

To paraphrase the tagline: I think that I shall never see, a 62-page medical report as lovely as a tree.

“Our ode to trees talks to the fact that when you have online capabilities and a way to connect, it  does eliminate the need to drive to a facility or to an office visit,” says Ryan.

The Connected spot highlights the convenience of securely e-mailing your doctor, checking your medical records, reviewing test results and booking appointments online. This spares not just trees but the stress of being forced to listen to bad “music” after being placed on hold the second your doctor’s receptionist answer the line.

Kaiser clinicians are digitally connected to each other, which ultimately helps them stay connected to  members. The closing line of the ad summarizes, “At Kaiser Permanente, we believe that if knowledge is power, shared knowledge is even more powerful.”

Personally, I have struggled to attain the elusive power of shared knowledge while advocating for loved ones at hospitals where overworked, impatient doctors seemed agitated when pressed for too much info. Getting them to return phone calls was even harder. Then again, my family doesn’t use Kaiser. Maybe their doctors are more generous.

“Our primary care physicians are at center of who we are and we have great accessibility in person, on the phone and email,” says Ryan. “Ive had great experience with my own doc whom I have spoken to on the phone and through email. All of our new alternative ways to reach out and stay connected really help.”

I was glad to see the green connection extends to its Thrive website, which give readers tips on being “thriving communities” by buying locally-grown food, using fewer shopping bags, making their own cleaning supplies and avoiding exposure to chemicals in the home.

Ryan told me all of this effort, including the ad campaign, has been an extension of proven sustainability practices at Kaiser’s newly-built facilities, such as centers in Modesto and Santa Clara, using solar panels, pavement treatments to recycle run off water and friendly denim material in the walls as green insulation.

“The advertising is a great bridge between the sustainability message and the innovation of who we are,” Ryan  says. “It was a huge undertaking to go digital and to retrain the care staff, but it all speaks to our overall concern with the health of individuals and the community. ”

Prior to the green thrust, Kaiser treated us to daily ads on prevention, reminding our unhealthy nation that the more we exercise, eat well and get screened for diseases, the less we will have to spend on health care.

I think the ads resonate with the radio-listening masses facing poor health along with a poor health care system that has yet to be reformed.

With $50 million invested in the message, let’s hope Kaiser proves to be one of the needed cures.

Images: Kaiser Permanente, Wiki

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The flu is already spreading like a Malibu wildfire in my Bay Area community with dozens of kids out the first few weeks of school and contaminated parents unable to play nurse.

It’s going to happen, no way of avoiding it all together, but there are some simple steps to build immunity and combat the spreading of germs at home.

Some people opt for the influenza vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says protects against the three main flu strains causing the most illness during the season. This year’s vaccine contains three new virus strains: A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus and B/Brisbane 60/2008-like antigens.

The government says it is believed the 2009-10 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.

For those choosing not to get the shot, most methods of fighting and containing the enemy involve keeping your hands and surroundings clean and lying low when you know you’re not well and can infect others. The good news for the planet is that none of the hygiene practices require harmful chemicals to kill the enemy.

1. Hand Washing

Discovered only 150 years ago, frequent hand washing is the most effective way to keep germs from making you sick and spreading to your pals. According to Every Day Health, it doesn’t matter what kind of soap is used as long as the water is warm and the soap lathers and spreads over the hands sufficiently to trap the germs. Soap and water works best (meaning you don’t have to use a chemical-doused sanitizer that can actually lead to worse viruses). Here are the steps recommended by the CDC:

– Wet your hands with clean water – warm, if available – and apply soap.
– Lather by rubbing hands together; be sure to cover all surfaces.
– Continue rubbing hands together for 15 to 20 seconds – sing “Happy Birthday” twice in your head.
– Thoroughly rinse hands under running water to ensure removal of residual germs.
– Use paper towels or an air dryer to dry hands and then, if possible, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.

2. Sponge Duty

Sponges used to wash dishes and wipe down counters harbor massive amounts of bacteria, at times even salmonella.  While we are urged to replace them often to keep our kitchens clean, many sponges are made from plastics which means even more petroleum waste in our environment.

According to Living Green, the added environmental danger with many synthetic sponges is that they often contain Triclosan, an antibacterial and antifungal agent banned by Canada in household products this past August. Even though it’s registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as being a pesticide, it is frequently used in many antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpastes and cosmetics. The chemical is linked to health problems and harms fragile aquatic ecosystems and waterways.

While replacing sponges regularly is a good hygienic practice, stick to buying ones made from cellulose fiber (cellulose is sourced from plantation forests or recycled). Read the label carefully as some cellulose sponges are impregnated with polyester, a form of plastic. Keep your green cellulose sponge as dry as possible between uses, to avoid bacteria.  Sterilize them by soaking for a few minutes in boiled water, or try a dilute bleach/hydrogen peroxide solution.

The U.S. Dept of Agriculture also recommends killing bacteria and mold by microwaving a damp sponge or dishwashing a sponge with a drying cycle (the method my family uses).

3. Stay Home When you are Sick

Take cover when you are sick (just like covering your cough) by keeping away from other students, workers and friends. State health departments urge employees to stay home when they are infected for good reason. It’s the right thing to do for you and your community. Ask a friend or a loved one to make a nice pot of organic chicken soup, crank up the vitamins and heal thyself. Work can added undue stress that undermines a quick recovery. Work can wait.

4. Resist Sharing Personal Items

You don’t share brushes to avoid lice. And you don’t share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal items if you want to avoid flu and colds. While sharing is a good gesture, there is a big exception when it comes to hygiene.

5. Love Yourself More

An excellent reference guide by Our Home Remedies follows the non-nonsense Farmer’s Almanac approach of boosting your immune system with rest, healthy foods like fresh leafy veggies and organic fruit, Vitamin C, garlic and thyme, and beneficial teas. We know when we are not loving ourselves because we don’t sleep and become run down, dehydrated and tend to reach for high sugar foods to revive us, rather than what we really need.

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So you think beauty is only skin deep? It actually goes much deeper; beauty has a lot to do with your diet, too. Although topical creams and oils can help your skin and hair look more radiant, the best way to glow is from within – and that means eating right. So think twice about filling up that beauty drawer with ever more cosmetics and spend the money on these delicious foods instead.

Requirements for Radiant Skin

Antioxidants. These protect your skin from the damaging effects of UV radiation and may help prevent skin cancer. Foods high in antioxidants include green tea, citrus fruits, cacao, blueberries, prunes and leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach.

Hydration. If you’re thirsty, so is your skin! It’s essential to drink plenty of water (filtered or spring water) every day, but juicy fruits and vegetables (like apples, strawberries, watermelons and celery) help with your hydration needs.

Selenium. This mineral is used by your body to create a protein with antioxidant properties. The absolute best source for selenium is a handful of brazil nuts. If you can’t find those, other nuts will do. Fish, turkey, whole wheat pasta and brown rice will also help, but nothing compares to nuts!

Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Omega-3’s maintain healthy cell membranes to keep your cells hydrated and free of toxins. Hemp, flax and chia seeds are excellent sources of Omega-3’s. Wild salmon, walnuts and sardines can also give your skin cells a boost.

Handbook for Healthy Hair

Vitamins A and C. These vitamins help your body produce sebum, the oil secreted by hair follicles that serves as a natural conditioner. (Beware shampoos that strip away too much oil and leave your hair dry!) Spinach, broccoli, kale and Swiss chard are great sources for both of these vitamins.

Protein. Your hair needs plenty of protein to grow. Beans, lentils and other legumes are great sources of protein, iron and zinc.

Snacks for a Super Smile

Avoid Processed and Refined Carbs. Chewy carbohydrates like bread and crackers tend to get stuck under the gums and promote bacterial growth. Drink plenty of water with meals and snacks to wash all those little food particles away.

Polyphenols. Found in black and green teas, polyphenols prevent plaque and reduce the chance of developing cavities.

Cranberries. These tart berries have a compound that prevents bacteria from sticking to teeth and gums, but make sure your cranberry juice isn’t loaded with extra sugar or else, what’s the point?

It makes sense that balance in your body shows up as beauty on the outside, and whole, healthy foods will keep you looking and feeling fantastic. The emphasis here is on whole foods, not supplements. Although supplements can be good for people who have a particular deficiency, it’s always better to get your nutrition from the best foods you can find. Eat well and be beautiful!

Read more at the State.

SEE ALSO:

20 Foods to Give You Energy

20 Foods To Supercharge Your Brain

20 Foods for Increased Energy and Better Sex Drive

20 Foods To Boost Your Metabolism

20 Foods To Help You Sleep Better

20 Foods To Banish Belly Fat

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Back in March, I was trying to organise a wedding for 110 guests from the other side of the world and slim down to look great in my bridal dress, as well as doing my day job. I was one stressed-out bunny!

At the time I wrote about the steps I was taking to manage stress and why. When we are busy, looking after our mind and body can get sidelined – right at the point where it’s more crucial than ever. I believe that the stress we put on our body is a metaphor for the stress we put on the planet. For me it’s a practical mirror as well – I’m far more likely to look for the easy, not-so-green solution when I’m stressed.

As well as using my common sense and listening to what my body needed, I went to a workshop on understanding stress at Neal’s Yard Remedies in London to try to learn more about it. In this post, I’ll share with you the highlights of what I learned – and how effective it was when I put it into practice.

At the workshop we were told that 90% of illnesses today are caused by stress, from headaches and backaches to insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome. Stress is cumulative an one major stressful event is enough to tip you over the edge. If you reach 300 on the Holmes-Rahe scale, it leads to ill health, and divorce is worth 73 points just on its own. So it’s important to manage stress well in your daily life – if your underlying stress levels are low, then you are physically, emotionally and mentally equipped to deal with the ups and downs of life.

Understanding stress is a personal journey – your stress triggers and how it manifests itself in your body will be different to mine. We were advised to keep a diary to track our stress levels, rating it from number 10 as maximum stress and number one as the least stressed. The diary should record what we’ve eaten, how we were feeling emotionally and physically, whether we had slept much the night before and what had been going on during the day, while women should also note their menstrual cycle. We were told to keep the diary for two to three weeks to give it enough time for patterns to emerge.

As I thought, a healthy diet is extremely important. However, dietary changes should be gentle and aimed at nurturing rather than punishing the body. Interestingly, we were told never to do a detox in the cold months – if we want to detox, then it should be in spring and for a maximum of three or four days. Otherwise, we were told the odd glass of wine was fine when managing stress – and even helpful because it can help with relaxation. Treats, such as wine, chocolate, or a treatment such as massage and acupuncture, are highly effective in alleviating stress. Yay!

I learned that Vitamin B – found in brown rice, eggs, some red meat, bran, sesame seeds and brewer’s yeast – is crucial in the fight against stress. Vitamin C – found in citrus, kiwi, strawberries and other fruit and vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage – is also important. As well as the dietary sources, both Vitamin B and C can be taken as a supplement. If the digestive system is not working properly, then fibre is especially useful, while warm water with a slice of lemon can help get things moving again.

Exercise is great because it burns up adrenaline and cortisol and produces endorphins to help you deal with stress. Again, it’s important not to overdo it, especially if you are not already physically fit, instead aiming to do a little every day, including cardiovascular exercise such as walking or jogging but also activities such as yoga and pilates, with a focus on breath. Meditation can also be useful in calming the mind and promoting overall well being.

I rarely have problems getting a good night’s sleep, but for some people stress manifests itself as insomnia, which can obviously compound the problem very quickly. The workshop advocated “sleep hygiene” – trying to leave the bedroom uncluttered, without televisions or computers that emit energy. I love to read before I go to sleep but if you have trouble sleeping, it’s apparently a good idea to restrict this to the living room to trick the brain into thinking that bed means sleep. We were told never to take work to bed and to keep a notepad next to the bed so we can jot down things that worry us to get it out of our head. Drops of lavender essential oil on your pillow or in an oil burner before you go to bed can also help you sleep.

We talked about complementary remedies for stress relief – herbal tinctures and teas, flower remedies, essential oils and homeopathy. This part of the workshop was a useful eye-opener into the range of treatment available, although it comes down to personal judgement what is useful for you. For example, I am sceptical about homeopathy since the scientific evidence consensus does not support it and I’ve never personally had success with the treatment, but I love the herbs, aromatherapy and flower remedies. Also, we were advised that anyone who is taking conventional medication needs to approach complementary medicine with care, since some herbs can interfere with some drugs. If in doubt, it’s best to check with a qualified herbalist first.

Since that didn’t apply to me, I decided to try a selection of treatment. I bought a herbal supplement called rhodiola rosea that is meant to be good for stress relief and emotional support. I also took home a herbal tea blend of chamomile, passiflora (passion flower), lemon balm and rose, which I drank two or three times a day. I felt immediately soothed when I drank the tea but apparently the effects also build up over time.

I found the flower remedies especially useful – I’m sure scientists would tell me it was a placebo effect, but I really felt like I could feel them working immediately. Bach flower remedies or Australian bush flower remedies both work int the same way – the flower essences are infused in an alcohol solution and you take drops directly under the tongue, or dilute it into a glass of water. Some have a strong immediate effect, while others are slower and cumulative, but we were told not to take them for longer than 12 weeks if they weren’t working.

I took the Focus blend – larch, elm, white chestnut, hornbeam, gentian and clematis – to help me concentrate on specific tasks during the day. I’m usually a big procrastinator but it really helped my productivity. Then when I needed to relax, I tried Unwind – vervain, impatiens, agrimony, rock water, walnut, aspen and white chestnut – which helped me let go of tension knots. I was so impressed with the results that I made sure I had some Rescue Remedy (also known as S.O.S. blend) on hand for my wedding day in case I had an attack of nerves.

I also tried the dual approach with aromatherapy – buying basil essential oil to help me concentrate during working hours and lavender to help me unwind at night. It’s best to invest in an oil burner but you can also get effective results by dropping oil in a bowl of boiling water or on tissue paper to sit on top of the radiator.

At the end of the workshop I bought a copy of the booklet Understanding Stress: Natural Solutions that Really Work by Susan Curtis for £2.50. It’s also on sale through Amazon Canada. It gives a clear, concise summary of stress, looking at why it happens, what the symptoms are and how to overcome it through supporting your body, emotional balance and spiritual health.

Through the workshop and my follow-up reading and experimentation I discovered a lot about complementary medicine and what works for me. I’m interested in continuing this journey further. I am grateful that I live in a world with modern medicine and that I personally have access to that. However, the health system is more about treating illness and I’m interested in going beyond that to promoting wellness.

Managing the symptoms of stress is important if you want to prevent it damaging your body, mental wellbeing and relationships. However, equally important is exploring the underlying causes. I believe chronic stress and environmental damage are both symptoms of our modern lifestyle. If we can get that back in balance, our health and the planet will both benefit.

Image: Vincent Boiteau

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Not in the mood to choke down yet another gritty serving of Emergen-C? Boost your body from the inside out with powerful foods that help your immune system function optimally. Just incorporate these healthy foods into your diet to strengthen your immune system in a way your taste buds can appreciate.

Oysters

Packed with selenium, this tasty shellfish helps boost your body’s production of cytokines, a protein that’s known to ward off illnesses.

Yogurt

Yogurt that contains live cultures is rich in lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium lactis (read: good bacteria), which fight bacteria that cause diseases and raise your white blood cell count.

Green Tea

Green tea is a great source of L-theanine, an amino acid that triggers the release of germ-fighting compounds from your T-cells. (Green tea also helps to boost your metabolism.)

Oranges

One of the best sources of immunity-boosting vitamin C, oranges cause your body to produce higher levels of antibodies and white blood cells.

Crab

Like oysters, crab meat is rich in selenium, a nutrient that strengthens your immune system.

Garlic

Garlic is loaded with ajoene, allicin and thiosulfinates, compounds high in sulfur that ward off diseases and help battle infections.

Carrots

Carrots are crammed with beta carotene, a phytonutrient that increases your body’s production of T-cells and natural killer cells.

Spinach

The high amount of antioxidants found in spinach help boost your immune system.

Sweet Potatoes

Like carrots, sweet potatoes are loaded with beta carotene, which boosts your body’s T-cell and NK-cell count.

Mushrooms

Rich in compounds called beta glucans, mushrooms boost the production of NK-cells and T-cells in your body to help prevent infections.

Salmon

Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids, which cause your body’s phagocytes to fight bacteria more effectively.

Kiwi

Like oranges, kiwis are high in vitamin C, which helps protect your body against infections.

Bell Peppers

Bell peppers are packed with vitamin C, which prompts your body to produce more interferon. This antibody covers the surface of cells and fends off viruses.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a great source of glucosinolates, phytonutrients rich in sulfur that stimulate the natural antioxidant systems in your body.

Barley

Like mushrooms, barley contains a high amount of beta glucans, known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Like what you’re reading? Learn the best foods to boost your metabolism and the top foods to improve your brainpower.

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Something as simple and natural as a daily apple may help in the fight against breast cancer.

According to research scientist Rui Hai Liu, M.D., Ph.D., of Cornell University, the results are favorable. His research program at Cornell University focuses on diet and cancer, and the effect of functional foods on chronic disease, cardiovascular disease, and aging.

In a recent paper published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Liu’s study demonstrated that whole apple extracts effectively inhibited mammary cancer growth in rats, therefore leading him and his team to believe that apples may very well be an effective strategy for cancer protection. Especially good to learn as apples are major contributors of phytochemicals in human diets.

In an interview with the American Federation for Aging Research, Liu said he and his colleagues were able to show that phytochemicals in fresh apples could greatly inhibit the growth of liver and colon cancer cells.

Specifically, his research showed that 50 mg of apple extracts taken from the skins, inhibited colon cancer cells by 43 percent. And apple flesh extracts inhibited the colon cancer cells by 29 percent.

The same dosage of apple extracts with skins, he said,inhibited liver cancer cells by 57 percent, and the extracts inhibited liver cancer cells by 40 percent.

Liu’s team also treated rats with a known mammary carcinogen, and were able to block mammary cancer formation. This is the first study of the effects of apples on cancer prevention in animals.

Liu said that while there is a good chance it will work in humans, they still have to confirm this premise with additional tests. But why wait for the results? An apple a day is a healthy way to get a head start.

Image: Energetic Spirit

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Can drinking coffee reduce your risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease? According to a study at the University of Kuopio, Finland in collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland, the answer is yes.

The January 2009 issue of The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (Volume 16:1) reported that the coffee drinking participants involved in a 21-year study had significantly lower incidences.

The consumption of coffee was assessed in three groups: those who drank 0-2 cups; 3-5 cups; and more than 5 cups per day. The study found that coffee drinkers at midlife had lower risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease later in life compared to those drinking no or only little coffee. The lowest risk (65% decreased) was found among those drinking between 3-5 cups of coffee a day.

Perhaps that morning jump-start, afternoon buzz and late night jolt is doing more good than you’d imagined.

Publication: Marjo H. Eskelinen, Tiia Ngandu, Jaakko Tuomilehto, Hilkka Soininen, Miia Kivipelto (2009).

Image: DeaPeaJay

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