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STRESS RELIEVERS:

I was reading an article in Heart Healthy Living, Fall 2007, entitled Stop Stress (in 60 seconds). A few suggestions include:

1. Sit in a quiet place for a moment and imagine yourself lying on a beach. Feel the sunlight on your body, hear the sounds of the ocean waves, smell the surf. Research has found that the same parts of the brain are activated when people are imagining something as when they're actually experiencing it.
2. Hug and kiss someone. Touch can help reduce stress-hormone levels and boost the immune system.
3. Put on some Beethoven or Bach. One study found that people who listened to classical music after a stressful task had significantly lower blood pressure than those who heard no music.
4. Chew a piece of gum. Studies show that chewing the stuff can actually change brain waves, improving alertness and concentration and reducing stress.
5. Eat yogurt. A study found that people suffering from exhaustion and stress improved after taking a probiotic supplement for 6 months. Probiotics contain the good bacteria found in yogurt.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: "It is better to give others a piece of your heart than a piece of your mind." (Author unknown)