Susan Lark, MD, noted medical researcher, clinical nutritionist and women's health practitioner, shares her top 5 tips to help deal with the added stress caused by the volatile economy.
Potomac, MA (PRWEB) October 30, 2008 -- Susan Lark, MD, noted medical researcher, clinical nutritionist and women's health practitioner, shares her top 5 tips to help deal with the added stress caused by the volatile economy.
"Without a doubt, these tough economic times can have a lot of negative effects on your body and mind, including stress, insomnia, tension, anxiety, depression, weakened immunity, and illness," says Dr. Lark. "You may be nervous about your future because your retirement accounts have lost value. Or maybe you're concerned about your income or job security. Certainly, there are a lot of scenarios that can cause a great deal of worry right now. That's why it's more important than ever to take a step back, take a deep breath, and focus on what you can control -- your own health."
Here are five Dr. Lark's tried-and-true tips for managing stress:
1. Make sure you sleep soundly at night. Anxiety and depression can lead to sleep disturbances, and without enough sleep, your body and immune system can't function properly. To help you relax and fall asleep every night, Dr. Lark recommends taking 1-1.5 mg of melatonin each evening about two hours before bedtime, although you may see results using as little as 300 mcg.
2. Boost your energy reserves. If you're feeling sluggish and worn out, there are several nutrients that can boost your energy. Dr. Lark recommends taking 250 mcg of vitamin B12 a day, 250 mg of L-tyrosine a day, and/or 1,000 mg of L-carnitine a day in divided doses.
3. Build resistance to illness. Stress can lead to weakened immunity, therefore making you vulnerable to colds, sinus infections, the flu, and other illnesses. You are better off boosting your resistance to illness while you're healthy than trying to build it back up when you're sick. Dr. Lark recommends taking a high-quality multinutrient along with mineral-buffered vitamin C (1-2 grams in divided doses).
4. Reduce stress by exercising. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress-not to mention lose weight and improve your overall health. Dr. Lark recommends going for an hour-long walk every day outdoors in the fresh air. While walking, take your mind off your worries and instead, focus on your breathing and enjoy your surroundings.
5. Stay positive. Having a positive attitude can be tough, especially when everything you hear in the news is negative. But, keep in mind, maintaining a positive belief system is crucial in creating your own reality, even in the midst of a greater reality like the bad economy. So try to identify at least one positive thing every day-even if it has nothing to do with the economy. You also may want to recite upbeat affirmations to yourself, such as "I am a strong, positive, upbeat woman." In addition, nurture your relationships. Financial security may be important, but love is the true currency that you can depend on each and every day without fail.
"The more negative things seem to get, the more crucial it becomes to focus on the good in life-such as love, relationships, and even your health, says Dr. Lark. "I simply won't let worries about the economy affect my health. If you nurture yourself and stay healthy, you can weather any storm. And I tell my patients the same thing."
Potomac, MA (PRWEB) October 30, 2008 -- Susan Lark, MD, noted medical researcher, clinical nutritionist and women's health practitioner, shares her top 5 tips to help deal with the added stress caused by the volatile economy.
"Without a doubt, these tough economic times can have a lot of negative effects on your body and mind, including stress, insomnia, tension, anxiety, depression, weakened immunity, and illness," says Dr. Lark. "You may be nervous about your future because your retirement accounts have lost value. Or maybe you're concerned about your income or job security. Certainly, there are a lot of scenarios that can cause a great deal of worry right now. That's why it's more important than ever to take a step back, take a deep breath, and focus on what you can control -- your own health."
Here are five Dr. Lark's tried-and-true tips for managing stress:
1. Make sure you sleep soundly at night. Anxiety and depression can lead to sleep disturbances, and without enough sleep, your body and immune system can't function properly. To help you relax and fall asleep every night, Dr. Lark recommends taking 1-1.5 mg of melatonin each evening about two hours before bedtime, although you may see results using as little as 300 mcg.
2. Boost your energy reserves. If you're feeling sluggish and worn out, there are several nutrients that can boost your energy. Dr. Lark recommends taking 250 mcg of vitamin B12 a day, 250 mg of L-tyrosine a day, and/or 1,000 mg of L-carnitine a day in divided doses.
3. Build resistance to illness. Stress can lead to weakened immunity, therefore making you vulnerable to colds, sinus infections, the flu, and other illnesses. You are better off boosting your resistance to illness while you're healthy than trying to build it back up when you're sick. Dr. Lark recommends taking a high-quality multinutrient along with mineral-buffered vitamin C (1-2 grams in divided doses).
4. Reduce stress by exercising. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress-not to mention lose weight and improve your overall health. Dr. Lark recommends going for an hour-long walk every day outdoors in the fresh air. While walking, take your mind off your worries and instead, focus on your breathing and enjoy your surroundings.
5. Stay positive. Having a positive attitude can be tough, especially when everything you hear in the news is negative. But, keep in mind, maintaining a positive belief system is crucial in creating your own reality, even in the midst of a greater reality like the bad economy. So try to identify at least one positive thing every day-even if it has nothing to do with the economy. You also may want to recite upbeat affirmations to yourself, such as "I am a strong, positive, upbeat woman." In addition, nurture your relationships. Financial security may be important, but love is the true currency that you can depend on each and every day without fail.
"The more negative things seem to get, the more crucial it becomes to focus on the good in life-such as love, relationships, and even your health, says Dr. Lark. "I simply won't let worries about the economy affect my health. If you nurture yourself and stay healthy, you can weather any storm. And I tell my patients the same thing."
Dr. Lark has devoted her career to raising awareness of women's health issues, such as PMS, obesity, hormone replacement therapy and osteoporosis. She pioneered the use of women's self-care treatments based on diet, nutrition, exercise and stress management, and has penned twelve books on women's health and healing. Her most recent title is Hormone evolution.
Her monthly newsletter, Women's Wellness Today, and her web site, www.drlark.com, are dedicated to educating and empowering women to make the best choices for optimum health and beauty. Online visitors may sign up for Dr. Lark's free biweekly e-newsletter, which presents breaking health and beauty news along with lifestyle tips, easy recipes and simple exercises for health and beauty.
Healthy Directions, LLC is the recognized leader in providing authoritative health and beauty solutions to consumers. In addition to producing online resources and publishing newsletters, Healthy Directions, LLC encompasses its subsidiary, Doctors' Preferred, Inc. (DPI), a vitamin and nutritional supplement business that markets primarily through direct mail. Located in the Greater Washington, D.C., area, Healthy Directions, LLC (www.healthydirections.com) is a leading publisher in America. The company provides quality products and services for the health and beauty marketplaces.
No comments:
Post a Comment