Making SENSE!

I'm reading a very interesting book at the moment called the Cortisol Connection by Shawn Talbott which bluntly lets you know that if you have too much stress and anxiety in your life, you will eventually experience serious health problems. Talbott does however offer solutions to combating stress with the SENSE program:

S: Stress Management: Talbott explains that it is best to avoid all stressful situations in the first place. Although this is unrealistic, Talbott is accurate in saying that we can avoid some of these stressful situations with proper planning. For example, if one knows they are likely to be in rush-hour traffic we can plan to bring a book on tape. However, stress is unavoidable so the only thing to do is to better manage the stress. Managing stress is highly individualized and what works for someone may not work for another. Yoga and meditation are great ways to manage stress but boards games, X-word puzzles, etc can also be ways to manage stress. The key is to determine what works best for YOU.

E: Exercise: The physiological effects of exercise, increased endorphins and lowered stress hormones are natural "stress fighters". However, in those with very high stressed lifestyles fitting in exercise can seem impossible, therefore start small with manageable bouts of exercise. Again, exercise is a highly individualized process and one needs to determine what activity best suits them.

N: Nutrition: Stressful events can trigger un-healthy eating and Talbott describes that a few small changes in diet can have dramatic effects. Eating a Breakfast that combines a blend of carbohydrates and protein and a little fat is a great way to start your day. Furthermore, Talbott explains that each meal (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) should be made up of one fist sized helping of carbohydrates (pasta, bread, cereal), one fist sized helping of protein (fish, poultry, tofu, legumes) and one or two fist sized portions of fruits and vegetables.

S: Supplementation: Talbott lists many supplements throughout the book which may help in fighting stress. Again, taking supplements is highly individualized. Talbot does say that a good multi-vitamin is essential.

E: Evaluation: We must continue to re-evaluate the ways in which we manage stress and determine what approach works best.

Hope this helps.