November 2009 Archives

The upcoming holiday season is full of reasons for good cheer, but the added demands of the season can also stress the capacities of our bodies.

Research shows that stress and unhealthy behaviors contribute to some of our country's biggest health problems such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. This stress can also build up inside the body and manifest as back pain, neck pain or headaches... making matters even worse.

Doctors of chiropractic are experts in spinal adjustment and other manual therapies that can relieve the aches and pains caused by holiday stress. They also provide nutrition counseling, exercise recommendations, ergonomic tips and other advice to promote good health year-round.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), in an effort to promote health and wellness this holiday season, offers "12 Days of Health and Wellness," a campaign designed to give consumers tips on ways to manage the holidays more healthfully. Each day focuses on a different topic such as choosing nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and stretching after tree-trimming or gift wrapping to help ease back pain.

"The holidays are synonymous with frenzied activities, parties, shopping and stress, so it is imperative that people take steps to address these issues in healthier ways," said ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. "It's the perfect time to use ACA's tips to take control of your health and to discover chiropractic's natural approach to wellness. A doctor of chiropractic can customize a wellness program that's right for you."

Look for fact sheets, audio public service announcements and additional links to helpful information at www.acatoday.org/12days.

SOURCE American Chiropractic Association

Samuel Gladding is no Scrooge, but he is on a mission to redefine what it means to be "happy" during the holidays. As a licensed professional counselor with a specialty in family counseling and chair of the Department of Counseling at Wake Forest University, Gladding says research shows that it is the pressure to be happy that often leads to sadness and even depression during the holidays.

That's why he's challenging the traditional view of happy holidays by pointing out that the higher our expectations, the less likely we are to actually be happy. He shares five tips for more realistic holiday expectations, and a redefinition of what it means to have a happy holiday season.

* Don't idealize the holidays. We see the Norman Rockwell painting of all the people gathered round the table, and the turkeys just perfect and everyone's smiling. But in real life, that doesn't happen nearly as often as imperfection does. It's paradoxical that the more you try to live up to that kind of expectation, the more frustrated, disappointed and unhappy you are likely to be with yourself and others. Remember, people can't read your mind and know what you want. So don't put too much pressure on yourself to make everything just right.

* Accept people for who they are. Just as we idealize the holidays, we also have an ideal of how we think people should behave, from their table manners to the way they dress. But unless they're doing something totally unacceptable, it's better to enjoy people for who they are instead of who you want them to be.

* Tell stories: Talking about good times and good memories with others is inspiring and gives us a great feeling, whether the people we talk about are with us anymore or not. Certain memories may make us more melancholy, but more thankful as well.

* Take unilateral action: It's always hard to stop family feuds once they have started, but the holidays are a perfect time to call a truce. Just as nations take unilateral action during conflicts, sometimes we as individuals have to take unilateral action as well. We can tell ourselves that no matter what someone says, we're not going to react. We can also decide to have peace on earth or at least in our house -- or with these particular people -- for a few hours.

* Don't stew in your own juices: Your holiday meal is the only thing that should be stewing this holiday season. So if you find yourself at home and depressed, think of ways to help someone else. There's always a need for volunteers at homeless shelters this time of year or other opportunities to give back to the community. If your family is far away or you don't have much family, remember that family is who you decide to make family and reaching out to others is one of the keys to real happiness.

SOURCE Wake Forest University

Health care costs and heightened public health concerns have consumers focused on staying well in 2010. That's according to a recent MamboTrack(TM) study by Mambo Sprouts Marketing, the leader in natural and organic product marketing and promotions, which surveyed the organic buying and wellness habits of 1,000 natural product consumers to get an outlook for the coming year.

Nine in ten (88%) consumers took additional steps recently to promote their family's health and wellness. With the economic recovery in slow mode, consumers are going "back to basics" to bolster their health, with 7 in 10 or more taking vitamins (84%), eating the recommended fruits and veggies (73%), and choosing organic foods (68%).

These same consumers plan to increase their commitment to health and wellness behaviors including fitness and exercise (64%), getting enough sleep (63%) and eating fruits and veggies (61%). More than 1 in 2 reported adding more "raw" and "whole" foods into their diet (57%), eating organic foods (53%) and meditation and relaxation (52%) would be more important in 2010.

Consumers identified more health/wellness product coupons (93%) and a wider selection of health/wellness products (62%) as the retailer and natural product company strategies they would find most helpful.

Most (59%) expect to buy more organics in the coming year, albeit cost conscious consumers are seeking ways to make organics more affordable by shopping sales (53%) and using coupons (51%). Interest in buying local is on the rise with consumers shifting natural and organic dollars away from local gourmet markets (16%) and discount stores (15%) in favor of farmer's markets (52%) and local food co-ops (43%).

Consumers rated produce (69%) as the category most important to purchase organic. Other organic purchasing priorities include milk (54%), meat and poultry (54%), children's food (53%), cheese and eggs (50%). Respondents were least likely to identify beer and wine, (7%), desserts and snacks (21%) and pet products (23%) as very important to buy organic.

Notably, most survey respondents had already adopted basic "green" habits including recycling (82%), and using energy saving light bulbs (75%), environmentally friendly cleaning products (61%), and energy efficient appliances (52%). Apart from energy efficient light bulbs, those same tools ranked highest in green priority for 2010 along with eco-clothing and "green" restaurants.

SOURCE Mambo Sprouts Marketing

As the economy crisis continues, many individuals may feel more stress and anxiety during the upcoming holidays.

"The holidays can be a wonderful time for many people, but they can also bring about pressure, stress and anxiety," said Dena Cabrera, PsyD, staff psychologist at Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders. "Many news outlets have reported the recession is over, but people across the country may not be feeling the reprieve. They hear one thing, but their bank account says something different."

Because many people are struggling with lay offs and financial loss, they may have trouble enjoying pleasurable activities, particularly during the holidays. This can bring about lots of stress, and for some, anxiety.

"When stress is poorly managed, it can interfere with functioning," adds Cabrera. "Excess stress can manifest itself in a variety of emotional, behavioral and physical symptoms."

People with stress can experience sleep disturbances, headaches, muscle tension, stomach problems and fatigue. Additionally, people who experience anxiety can experience excessive worrying, to the point where it interferes with daily life. They may also engage in unhealthy behaviors such as substance abuse, overeating and mood changes.

Cabrera offers the following tips to help enjoy the holidays:

• Set realistic expectations. Holiday excitement also brings demands. Between shopping, baking, feasting, crafting, parties and entertaining, it can get quite overwhelming. By setting realistic expectations, we don't set ourselves up to become stressed because we overextended ourselves.
• Stay balanced. As we become busy with holiday tasks, activities and demands, we can lose ourselves. Sleep, eating and exercise can become compromised. Stay consistent and don't neglect healthy living.
• Find meaning in the season. The holidays can be difficult and challenging for many people. Many emotions can come into play. For those who struggle with the holidays, they should reach out for support and recreate meaning in the holiday season that's comfortable for them. Prepare to take care of yourself emotionally and physically.
• Prepare ahead. Time goes fast. Make a list and check it twice. Don't wait until the last minute, this only creates more stress.
• Learn how to deal with stress. Learn to talk to yourself with positive thoughts such as, "It's temporary, I've been through things like this before, etc."
• Seek help when things are stressful. Just talking about it with someone you trust helps.
  

Remuda Ranch offers Christian inpatient and residential programs for individuals of all faiths suffering from eating or anxiety disorders. Each patient is treated by a multi-disciplinary team including a Psychiatric and a Primary Care Provider, Registered Dietitian, Masters Level therapist, Psychologist and Registered Nurse. The professional staff equips each patient with the right tools to live a healthy, productive life.

SOURCE Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders