Unusual Stress Busters that Work
Stress is a common phenomenon in modern life. Every day, people are greeted with deadlines, hassles, frustrations, and demands that often results to health complaints, such as headaches, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and even depression. While a small amount of stress is good, chronic stress can lead to serious health consequences if not addressed. If listening to relaxing music or watching happy movies no longer seem to work for you, here are additional stress busters that can work wonders in your already busy life.
Indulge in Garlic Bread
A lot of people, when stressed, usually go for a cup of steaming coffee or tea, but studies at Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation reveal that the aroma and flavor of warm garlic bread can help lessen stress levels by as much as 39 percent. According to lead researcher Alan Hirsch, M.D., who is also the author of What Flavor is Your Personality?, garlic’s essential oils stimulate the olfactory nerve which then signals the brain to produce less stress hormones, adrenalin and cortisol.
Sniff Coconut Scent
A small study at Columbia University examined people who breathed in coconut fragrance and found the participants’ blood pressure recover more quickly after a demanding task. The researchers theorized that inhaling a pleasant scent, as that of coconut aroma, can improve alertness while at the same time soothing people’s response to stress.
Get Your Regular Dose of Vitamins B and C
Vitamins B and C are found to help regulate the mood. You can get them either from supplements or food, such as red berries, kiwi, tomatoes, broccoli, milk, cheese, potatoes, bananas, fish, eggs, spinach, fortified cereals, and green leafy vegetables — to name a few.
