Recipes For Health Bliss

The following excerpt is taken from the book RECIPES FOR HEALTH BLISS: Using NatureFoods & Lifestyle Choices to Rejuvenate Your Body & Life by Susan Smith Jones, Ph.D. It is published by Hay House (June 2009) and is available at all bookstores or online at: www.hayhouse.com.

1. Get moving! Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress in your life because it relaxes muscles and eases tension. Want proof? A study at the University of Southern California showed that patients who took a vigorous walk and raised their heart rates to more than 100 beats per minute reduced the tension in their bodies by 20 percent. This effect was greater than a second group of patients who were given a tranquilizer! So go for a walk, hit the gym for some weight-bearing exercises, or give yoga a try. Studies have shown that those who practice yoga have lower stress hormones than those who don’t.

2. Meditate and breathe deeply. Don’t worry—you don’t have to be a Buddhist monk to know how to meditate. Really, it’s simple! Find a special, quiet space in your home. Spend at least 15 minutes here first thing in the morning and before going to bed. Sit and close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Inhale and exhale slowly and deeply, focusing on the sound and rhythm of your breathing. Mentally visualize peace and calmness. Your day will start and end on a stress-free note.

3. Eat a stress-relieving diet. Can your diet really help in this area? You bet. Take stress off your digestive system by getting at least seven servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. They’re high in water content and easily digested. Especially beneficial are antioxidant-rich leafy greens, such as romaine lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, and collards. Choose an array of colors when it comes to produce in order to benefit from an array of antioxidants.

4. Keep your body hydrated. Our bodies are 70 percent water, our cells are 70 percent water, and our planet is 70 percent water. That’s no coincidence. Each day we need to drink at least 8 glasses of water—even more (10 to 12) when it’s hot, when we’ve been exercising, or in a dry climate or atmosphere such as in an airplane. At a cellular level, dehydration makes us as droopy as neglected violets. Lack of moisture in faces causes wrinkles the way lack of moisture in grapes causes raisins. Drinking "liquids" won’t do. Although herbal tea, freshly extracted vegetable juice, and diluted fruit juice can count in the water tally, coffee, tea, colas, and alcoholic beverages actually dehydrate the body. They’re wet, but they’re not water; in fact, they’re anti-water. We need to maintain proper fluid balance for brain and kidney function, to rid the body of waste material and toxins, and to maintain radiant health. Water is also a safe, cheap, and effective appetite suppressant. Often when we think we’re hungry, we’re actually thirsty. Get into the habit of carrying a bottle of water when you walk or drive. If it’s there, you’re more likely to drink it. You can refill it from your filtered or purified supply at home.

5. Catch plenty of Zzzs. Lack of sleep undermines your body’s ability to deal with stress. That’s why it’s important to get eight hours of rest per night. One way to tell if you’re getting enough shut-eye is to see if you wake at a regular time without an alarm. If you require a buzzer to get out of bed in the morning, you’re not getting enough sleep.

6. Laugh a lot. Worried about something? Maybe you’re stressed out about a relationship with a loved one, the monthly bills that are stacking up, or the poor grades your son or daughter is suddenly bringing home from school. Whatever it is, one way to mollify this stress is to make sure your life is filled with laughter. According to researchers, laughter releases endorphins into the body that act as natural stress beaters. In fact, a good belly laugh gives your heart muscles a workout; improves circulation; fills your lungs with oxygen-rich air; clears your respiratory passages; stimulates alertness hormones; helps relieve pain; and counteracts fear, anger, and depression, all of which are linked to illness and stress. So be sure to schedule time to be with friends and family members who make you smile and laugh, and go to movies or read a book that tickles your funny bone. Just make sure you’re finding plenty of things to giggle about in your life.

7. Be thankful—and reap the health benefits. Each and every day, take a moment and be grateful for all you have in life. Gratitude, after all, is a great stress buster. What you think about consistently brings more of the same into your life. So focusing on the positive, even during difficult times, is the best way to reduce and alleviate stress and transform your life. As you experiment with many of the recipes in this book, I also hope that you’ll also take heed of many of the lifestyle suggestions on how to create vibrant health that are sprinkled throughout.