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15 quick cures for this common Christmas problem
21st December 2008
At this time of year I usually do my 'best of'
selection.
I seek out my favourite natural health tips from a
year's worth of Good Life Letters and compile
them into a festive issue.
But this year I'm doing it slightly differently.
What with the constantly depressing financial
news... doom and gloom in the press... reminders
of economic disaster, economic mismanagement,
scandal and recession... I'm worried that my merry
band of readers could be a little depressed.
Add this to the usual Christmas stress and you've
got a heady brew of worry to drink down with your
roast dinner.
So I thought I'd find the year's bests stress
relieving, moodenhancing tips... and offer them
up as a stockingfiller for you.
Here we go....
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Five natural aids for stress relief
• Up your intake of B vitamins, especially B6, B3
and B12. They help regulate the body's response
to stress and maintain a healthy nervous system.
• Calcium, magnesium and zinc as well and C
supplements can help calm the nervous system
and so help treat insomnia.
• Valerian is well-known as a natural sleep aid and
sedative. Recent trials have found it can work as
well as drugs like Valium, without the side-effects.
(Try and find a standardised extract.)
• Some studies also suggest that Passion Flower
can lower anxiety that leads to sleeplessness. If
you get your hands on a herbal remedy that
combines Passion Flower and Valerian extracts,
this will be more even more effective.
• Chaste Tree is a herb that is said to increase
your body's natural production of melatonin. This
helps you have a more restful sleep
• L-theanine, an amino acid derived from Green
Tea, reduces anxiety. Some people report that it
works as well as prescription medications, without
being addictive or habit-forming
• Seditol is a branded product that was acts as an
anti-stress and anti-anxiety formula. But it's made
of two entirely natural herbal ingredients, magnolia
and ziziphus. Users have reported that improved
sleep, too.
The top 5 nuts for fighting depression, heart
disease and bad cholesterol
It's well worth considering nuts as a healthy and
tasty part of your diet. Or to seek out alternatives if
you're allergic.
Nuts are now seen as a powerful way to control
cholesterol. Here's what CBC News in the USA
reported in October last year.
Nuts in general contain as much as 80 per cent
fat. However, the type of fat found in
nuts is unsaturated fat - specifically
monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat.
Both of these unsaturated fats are known for their
ability to reduce low-density
lipoprotein (LDL), also called 'bad' cholesterol,
when consumed in moderation.
In the same month a survey examined the diets of
more than 31,000 Seventh Day Adventists.
It found that those who ate nuts more than four
times per week experienced 51% fewer heart
attacks compared to those who ate nuts less than
once per week |
Here's a quick rundown of the top 5....
Pistachios - can produce a 10 point drop in your
triglycerides and a 16 point
decline in your LDL (bad) cholesterol, according to
the Journal of the American
College of Nutrition.
Walnuts - Contains omega 3s which may help
ward off depression and heart
attack, according to Harvard research.
Brazil nuts - contain selenium, a mineral linked to
prostrate cancer protection,
according to scientists at the University of Arizona.
Pecans - have the most antioxidants of any nut.
Could help reduce the risk of
cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer'sdisease.
Hazelnuts - a handful daily boosts HDL (good)
cholesterol levels by 12 percent,
according to a study in the European Journal of
Clinical Nutrition.
How celery can relieve in insomnia
It's strange but true: celery has been shown to
have a calming effect on the central nervous
system. In fact, celery seed is often used as a
herbal remedy for nervousness, insomnia and
anxiety.
So if you're suffering sleepless nights, try this:
User a juicer to extract the celery juice. Now mix it
with your favourite fruit juice to create a tasty
drink. Add some manuka honey to sweeten. The
honey will also help you sleep.
Sip this half an hour before you go to bed. It
should help you relax and get to the land of nod
before you can say 'I can't believe I've just drunk
a nightcap of celery!'
Some early studies on animals are also linking
celery to low blood pressure.
Why could this be?
Well, celery contains 'pthalides', compounds which
could not only give you a good Scrabble score, but
which help relax your artery muscles. With more
room in the arteries, the blood can flow at a lower
pressure.
The same compounds also reduce your levels of
stress hormone, which also help keep your
blood vessels relaxed and open.It's still early days
for this research, but there's no harm in trying to
add some celery to your diet. |
Could coffee be an answer to your bad mood?
As you know, I'm a fan of coffee, and dislike the
general bad press it gets.
Years ago it was an evil as bad as nicotine,
causing headaches, mood swings, bad breath,
heart palpitations and stress.
Yet as a regular Good Life reader, you'll know that
there's mounting evidence in support of our old
friend.
The caffeine in coffee is said to lower your risk of
diabetes, Parkinson's disease, headaches and
even cavities.
It stimulates your brain and - yes - can RELIEVE
mood problems. Studies have shown that caffeine
can improve your attention span and boost
brainpower.
So your morning cup of coffee not only helps wake
you up, and tastes bloomin' marvellous, but it has
health benefits too.
I'm not suggesting for a minute that it's a new
health drink, to be guzzled wantonly throughout
the day. I'm merely saying that a little bit of what
you fancy can be
good for you.
In a way, that's the motto of The Good Life Letter!
Enjoy your Christmas. I'll take a short break and
be back with some tips for having a very happy
New Year, the natural way! |
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