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Stress
When you are going through a stressful period, you need foods that
calm you down, rather than aggravate the situation. Whether the
stress is physical or emotional, it alters the way your body absorbs
nutrients.
Some tips to fight stress
When your body is under stress, you need more Vitamin C than
usual. Start the day with a refreshing glass of orange or lime juice.
Drink lots of water and juice throughout the day.
Bananas are high in Vitamin B6, which your metabolism requires
when it is running at higher speeds.
Your digestive system will feel the effects of stress, so eat
a lot of fibrous foods.
Stick to one cup of coffee and avoid coffee and soft drinks the
rest of the day. Caffeine causes anxiety and reduces mineral absorption.
Avoid a high fat diet. Especially all fried foods, sweets and
butter. Eat whole grain foods, pastas and sprouts instead. When
the body is under stress, it produces a lot of stress hormones.
One of these causes these sugar cravings.
Instead of having alcohol, go for a walk or play a game of basketball.
Alcohol might seem to reduce stress, but it actually puts more stress
on the body. Exercise burns up stress-causing chemicals in the body.
Also it will take your mind off the things that are stressing you
out.
How to overcome Insomnia?
Get up about the same time everyday, regardless of what time you
go to bed.
Go to bed only when you are sleepy.
Establish relaxing pre-sleep rituals like taking a warm bath,
watching television, or reading.
Take a walk or stretch two or three hours before going to bed.
Organise your day, setting regular times for meals, naps and exercise,
to keep your internal clock running smoothly.
Avoid caffeine within six hours of bedtime.
Use sleeping pills with caution. If you are on pain medication,
ask your doctor before taking any over the counter medication.
Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking at bedtime.
How do you cope with exam pressure?
In every household, the period from January to March witnesses stress
time. No parties, late evenings or outings. What is the reason for
this? Well, it's exam time! Children and parents are stressed out.
One wonders about what causes stress in parents when it is actually
the child who is appearing for his or her exams.
Listed below are some of the causes of stress in parents:
Parents' high expectations from their children.
Poor disciplining, leading to poor study habits in children.
Discrepancy between the ability of the child and parental expectations.
Exam phobia and other anxiety symptoms in the child. Remember that
children are very tense during this period. Therefore, parents
need to be extra sensitive to their needs during this time.
The following tips could ease the tension for both children
and parents
Make sure you are at home in the evenings. Avoid going to parties
and other social gatherings.
Even if your child is intelligent, self-sufficient and studies by
himself or herself, it is still important that the parents are
at home while the child studies.
It would really help to tell her/him to get back to her/his books
and that you will help her/him with the respective subject.
Get involved with the child's studies. It could be helping
her/him organising his/her study pattern. But never show over-involvement.
When the child is studying make sure that the other members of
the house do not get into heated arguments or joke and laugh loudly.
This tends to distract the child considerably.
Make sure that the child has nutritious food to eat. Reward
the child with some delicacies, because the child is forgoing other
pleasurable activities during this time.
Do not be negative in your statements to the child, saying
things like "I know you are going to do badly this time". Rather,
be positive while speaking to the child.
Do not allow your anxieties to be perceived by the child. On
the other hand, show the child that you have complete confidence in
her/his abilities.
In general, during this period, a lot of stress can be avoided if
we redefine our attitudes and reflect on what issues are of concern
to us with regard to the child. But your expectations need to be
realistic. |
