Stress is quite an inconvenient feeling. You need to get a lot of things done, but you don’t want to do anything when you’re stressed. Different people react differently to stress, such as with anger, anxiety, depression, or fear. But reacting in these ways without release of the tension can result in illness. Stress can cause muscle tension, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, digestive disorders, psychological problems, and even cancer and heart disease. Stress can also cause weight gain or weight loss, depending on how you react to it.

Stress is mainly the result of emotional or psychological situations. The mind affects the body and the body the mind. If your mind is constantly worried or agitated, the body becomes tense. If the body is tense, then the mind reacts by altering hormone and chemical levels. The body then gets exhausted from adapting to the stressful situation and its day to day functioning begins to suffer. There are various ways you can deal with stress:

Physical exercise is one of the best ways, in my opinion, to relieve stress. It oxygenates body tissues and the blood, dissipates stress hormones, and relieves tension. Regular exercise helps the body relax by releasing tension buildup. I always feel a whole lot better, and less stressed, after I’ve exercised.

Deep breathing also helps oxygenate the body. It also helps still and calm the mind. Meditation and Yoga are also very helpful.

Make sure you are getting your vitamins. During stressful times, make sure you are getting enough Vitamin B complex (regulates nerves), Magnesium (muscle relaxant) and Vitamin C (supports immune system). It is important to take Vitamin C regularly and in divided doses (best after meals) because urinary excretion of the vitamin increases during times of stress.

Certain foods help stressful conditions: Fresh fruits and vegetables (uncooked), shitake mushrooms, potatoes, onions, yam, pasta, oats, whole grains, legumes (like lentils, peas, beans), fatty fish, salmon, sardines, albacore tuna, seafood, honey, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, cold pressed organic canola oil

Fruit and vegetable juices, especially carrot, are also good in times of stress.

As far as herbs go, chamomile and spearmint have relaxant properties. Chamomile or spearmint tea with honey once or twice a day when you’re stressed can help you relax. Passion flower tincture (1 dropperful a few times a day) reduces stress. Ginseng is also good to strengthen the organs of the body.

Aromatherapy is also very helpful in promoting relaxation and relieving stress. I find lavender and chamomile to be the most effective. Rose, bergamot and other citruses are also good for relieving stress.

Getting a massage once a week or two during times of stress is very helpful. Massage increases blood circulation and removes toxin buildup within the muscles. It calms the body and the mind, especially combined with aromatherapy.

Last but not least . . . just do what you have to do as fast as you can without affecting quality, stop volunteering for more hours or special projects when you know you have enough to do as it is, take a night or two during the week to go out with friends, spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, brother/sister, and turn that darn T.V. off when you know you have things to do . . . it sucks up your time and attention; put on some music instead.

Asparagus, specifically green asparagus, is beneficial to one’s health. Green asparagus cleanses the kidneys and is used to treat various kidney problems, however, in the case of kidney inflammation, one should not eat asparagus.

Green asparagus also contains a lot of Vitamin A, which is important for vision and maintaining the health of the mucous membranes that line the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts. Vitamin A also helps cells reproduce normally.

Note: Steamed asparagus with lemon, fresh ground pepper, a bit of garlic, and olive oil is very good.

I love spinach, and I loved watching Popeye while growing up (coincidence?), but is spinach really as good as Popeye says? Well, it might not make you strong enough to break out of cement, but it is definitely good.

The iron and chlorophyll found in spinach builds blood, and if you suffer from an iron deficiency, eating spinach is a good way to build it back up. It also cleanses the blood of certain toxins (skin related).

Spinach can also be used as a laxative . . . if you suffer from constipation, try eating some spinach. Spinach helps with the bowel and urinary movements of the body, and so spinach would be beneficial for those with urinary difficulty as well.

To eat spinach plain, you could steam it, or you could sautee it in a little butter. But a lot of raw spinach makes just a little cooked spinach, so don’t be afraid of how much spinach you have before you start cooking. If you are baking with spinach, it is best to steam it first.