Reduce Your Christmas Stress!
Between massive lines at the post office and not being able to find a car park at the shopping centre, the Christmas period can be a stressful time! This is why it is important to be making sure you are taking care of yourself and not ignoring your health and wellbeing.
There are a few things that you can do over the Christmas period to try and keep the stress levels from going sky high;
● Moderation: Try to do everything in moderation. Over the Christmas period we have a tendency to overindulge. While at the time most of us justify it to ourselves by saying things such as, “I will run an extra 20 minutes tomorrow”, or “it’s just a once off so it doesn’t really count”, in reality too much food and alcohol is harmful. So try to keep everything in moderation- your body will thank you for it!
● Sleep: It is important that your body is getting enough sleep. A few late nights and you will start to physically function a bit slower and you won’t be able to think as quickly. It is important that you don’t start believing that your body will get use to working on less sleep, because it won’t! Instead you will build up what is known as ‘sleep debt’. So try to get as many early nights as possible. For more information on sleeping well please see last week’s health article.
● Keep active: Regular exercise will help give you the stamina you need to get through the Christmas period. Over the holidays many people stop exercising as they get busier. This is understandable, however it is best to reduce your amount of exercise rather than stop it all together. If you stop all together it can make it that much harder to get back into exercise and back to where you were at before you stopped. So try to keep moving over the holiday period, you will feel better for it!
A vitamin B supplement could also be helpful for those that are perhaps not getting all the nutrients they require through their diet and are feeling low on energy. These vitamins are water-soluble and are easily destroyed when cooking or preparing food. The vitamin B group helps the body utilise carbohydrates, fat and protein for energy and fuel. They also have a role in the nervous system and can help with anxiety and stress. During times of stress the body can require more vitamins and in particular the vitamin B group.
There are other vitamins that may be beneficial in times of stress, such as vitamin E and C. These vitamins are high in antioxidant levels; this means that they help to protect the body from free radical damages. When the body is stressed it produces more free radicals than normal. Free radicals are needed for the body to produce energy, maintain immunity, transmit nerve signals, produce hormones, and contract muscles. However they may also contribute to the process of aging which may explain why when you are tired and stressed you feel like you look as though you have aged. Antioxidants may stop oxidation reactions that produce free radicals by becoming oxidized themselves and thus sparing cells and tissues from damage. They also help to strengthen the immune system, which can be compromised during stressful times.
For more help with reducing stress levels, speak to our friendly staff in-store. Happy Holidays to all and have a wonderful stress free time!!!
Discount Drug Stores – More Than Just Low Prices!
