(KUTV) Salt Lake City – There’s a fair share of stress during The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Dr. Shawn Talbott joined Kari & Caitlin on Fresh Living to share tips on how to cut back the detrimental side effects of holiday stress.
Watch the video HERE
http://kutv.com/features/fresh-living/5-ways-to-limit-holiday-stress
Well, here we are again – Halloween and Thanksgiving are behind us and the rest of the Holiday season is upon us – the MOST stressful time of the year!
Stress, as we all know, can come from a variety of sources – and at this time of year, turkey with the in-laws, hanging Christmas lights, and opening your post-holiday Visa bill are just some of the many sources of our escalating stress levels.
During the holiday season, research surveys routinely show that more than HALF of us feel overwhelmed by the stress of Thanksgiving or Christmas or Hanukkah – meaning that all this holiday-cheer causes us as much stress as do dentist visits and speeding tickets!
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), more than half of all women (51%) and men (43%) in the United States experience heightened stress during the holidays – enough stress to put them at increased risk for physical and mental health effects.
Juggling work and added family responsibilities, such as planning for holiday gatherings, shopping for gifts, and cooking for extra guests, leave many of us feeling like we can’t take time to relax while we’re struggling to get everything done for the holidays.
Survey findings show that added holiday stress, on top of already high stress levels associated with work and the economy, makes it hard to relax. Cited as “multiple stressors” in the APA research are lack of time (69%), lack of money (69%), and pressure to give or get gifts (51%).
In addition, men and women who experience elevated levels of stress, rate their psychological and physical health lower than those who are not experiencing stress – and are more likely to experience a range of health ailments and symptoms such as sadness (59%), sleep problems (56%), and lack of energy (55%).
I hate to sound like a Scrooge (because I truly love the Holiday Season), but it’s interesting to note that when New Year Day rolls around, “reduce my stress levels” is second only to “lose some weight” among the most popular New Year resolutions. This is encouraging, not only because stress is associated with a higher risk for many diseases, but also because of the many very effective, very easy-to-follow strategies that can help control stress and improve Mental Wellness.
The link between stress and disease is partly due to the fact that stress generally encourages us to eat more and exercise less – which is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing when we’re under stress. It also appears that these higher stress levels also cause a direct change in the body’s metabolic machinery – so brain cells shrink, immune cells shutoff, and both mood and energy levels plummet. Think about it – this means that holiday stress is making us feel moody, fatigued, bloated, confused, irritable, and sick – not exactly the type of “holiday cheer” you’re probably looking for in your stocking…
A key culprit in these metabolic changes appears to be an imbalance between body’s microbiome, immune system, adrenal (stress) system, and gut-brain-axis. The latest science is showing us that imbalances between these vital systems appears to be at the heart of the epidemic of depression and fatigue that we see (in men and women) across all parts of our modern society.
Luckily, we have a lot of options for controlling stress. Stress management, regular exercise, and a balanced diet can all help to control the stress response and keep metabolic balance right where it should be – but, what else can you do to help maintain metabolic balance during the Holiday Season?
Here are my “Top 5” ways to resist the detrimental health effects of Holiday Stress:
- Love Yourself First – Have an “outlet” (a hobby or some diversion outside of work) that brings YOU joy…
- Practice Gratitude – be thankful – can lower your stress hormones by 25%. Learn to tell the difference between “big” issues and “little” issues… and learn to “look on the bright side” (really) – as simplistic as it sounds, the fact that you can look to “what is improving” in a given situation can help to psychologically buffer the stress in others areas of your life…
- Connect with Others – Hang out with friends (avoid social isolation) – tough times are always easier when you’re around other people – and the Holidays are the perfect time to get together with family and friends…
- Give Back – altruistic behaviors release endorphins – giving a gift feels better than getting a gift!
- Supplement Strategically…
- Kanna (from South Africa) has been shown to provide a 70% reduction of stress related symptoms, a 20% decrease in feelings of sadness, and a 42% decrease in feelings of anger.
- Guayusa leaf (from the Amazon) provides energy and endurance without the jitters or crash from other high-stimulant or high-sugar energy drinks.
- Ginger & Artichoke (from India) reduce feelings of discomfort and bloating after eating a meal and improves overall GI function by 24%.
- Corn Grass (from North America) helps you fall asleep 33% faster while increasing REM rejuvenating sleep by 24% and overall sleep quality by 40%.
In bringing this physical and mental balance into our Holiday Seasons, we’re better able to resist the detrimental health effects of stress and less likely to suffer the “Bah-Humbugs” that so many of us succumb to each year. By maintaining metabolic balance during the most stressful time of year, we’ll all be happier and healthier in the New Year. Happy Holidays!
About the Author: Dr. Shawn Talbott received dual Bachelor’s degrees in Sports Medicine (B.S.) and Fitness Management (B.A.) from Marietta College, his Master’s degree (M.S.) in Exercise Science from UMASS, and his Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from Rutgers. His research is focused on natural products to support human performance and psychological vigor (physical energy, mental acuity, and emotional well-being).
Dr. Talbott’s recent projects include two academic textbooks, an award-winning documentary film, and several best-selling books translated into multiple languages. His work has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, the TED stage, and the White House.
[…] This would be a somewhat “unusual” weight loss program because it would run from November 1 to January 1 – which is typically the time of year when people gain the most weight (due to both Holiday Cheer and Holiday Stress). […]