If the constant talk about Co-Vid 19 and all of the variants have you stressing out,
or if you’re just overwhelmed with the planning of the upcoming Christmas
holiday and you need some relief, try some natural remedies before asking
a medical professional for some kind of pharmaceutical.

The Natural Remedies:
1) Read or Listen To a Book-
Reading a book that grabs your attention, (Action-packed or an inspirational
story) reduces stress, but if you can’t read and are stressed while driving,
listen to an audiobook.
Researchers say that hearing a story triggers vivid mental images (called
narrative transport) and it can reduce stress even more than reading.
Plus, the spoken word grabs all of your attention, making your worries
fade away as you engross yourself in the story.
The Rx for lowering stress levels: 30 minutes of listening to an audiobook.

2) Hum Along-
Singing is usually recommended to lower stress levels, but now, you can
actually hum and get even better results. The inner-ear vibrations produced
by humming prompt the formation of soothing brain waves.
The Rx for lowering stress levels: Since it’s almost Christmas, hum along to
O’ Holy NIght, White Christmas or SIlent Night.

3) Aromatherapy-
If you believe that certain scents can heal, you’re right. To lower holiday
stress levels take in the scent of pine trees or pine-scented candles.
Unique compounds in pine (called pinenes) that give evergreens their distinctive
scent emit calming effects on the central nervous system, instantly helping
you feel more relaxed and less stressed.
The Rx for lowering stress levels: Buy a scented candle (or two) and place it
on a table, sit about 1 or 2 feet from the candle and just sit there and relax.
Do this for about 15 to 20 mins. at night, when everyone has gone to bed.

4) Sweet Treat-
If you’re a fan of citrus and you need to lower the holiday stress, head to the
store and pick up a bag of clementines. This fruit is in season right now and
reasonably priced and it, (clementines) boost your levels of vitamin C, and the more
vitamin C in your system, the lower your stress levels will be. Plus, vitamin C
soothes the adrenal glands, quickly reining in the stress hormone (known as cortisol)
The Rx for lowering stress levels: Eat a clementine or two each day or if you need something
more substantial than a small piece of fruit, use that fruit to make a cake.
One more tip: Bell peppers and berries are also high in vitamin C.

That’s right- make this Upside-Down Banana Clementine Cake!
Ingredients:
2 Tbs. of Olive oil
1/4 cup of maple syrup
Juice from 1 lemon, (vitamin C) and use some of the peel (zest)
2 blood oranges (or Clementines) cut into 1/4″ thick slices
1 package of yellow cake mix, gluten-free or regular
5 day old or two day old bananas, Mashed
To make- turn the oven on to 350*F. In a bowl, pour in the olive oil,
syrup, and lemon zest and juice; spread onto bottom of 8″ parchment-lined
cake pan. Top with orange slices.
In a separate bowl, combine the cake mix and bananas; transfer to the cake
pan. Bake for 20 to 25 mins. Let cool completely and flip over onto a large
platter or serving dish.

That’s it- Your guide to lowering the holiday stress levels.

Good Luck, Good Eating and Good Health!

Sources:
* British Researchers
* American Family Physician
* A Taste of Home, Magazine
* Journal of American Nutrition
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One last tip: Head to our store, (click on the buy button at the top of this blog )
and look for our latest E-Doc. The E-Doc, The Procrastinator’s Guide To Buying
Last Minute Gifts For $100 or Less. Also available on Amazon.com/the kindle store.