Got The New Xanax In Your Garden?
By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. Take two dozen roses. Inhale, and call us in the morning. It might take your stress level from "on the brink of losing it" to "cooler than the ice hotel."
Turns out that roses -- as well as lavender, basil, orange, grape, mango and lemon -- all contain a special compound called linalool. Its smell helps induce calm. In animal studies, blood cells called neutrophils and lymphocytes, which change in response to stress, were brought into equilibrium by this aroma. In fact, the scent of linalool even appeared to favorably affect the way your body is programmed to handle stress on a genetic level. (It turned on genes that cause antistress effects.) And flowers are cheaper than Xanax, and look far better on the kitchen table.
A perpetual flower garden can be a beautiful thing, but we recommend lowering stress levels (and flower-shop bills) by figuring out what's stressing you so much and tackling that. No surprise that jobs and money are two of the most common sources of stress in North America. So develop a backup de-stress strategy -- deep breathing and listening to music are good ones -- when calming scents just aren't around or aren't enough. And leave the cookie jar for collecting quarters. Stress is easier to manage when your general health is great than when your sleep and physical activity habits and your blood sugar are out of whack.
========
The YOU Docs, Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen, are authors of "YOU: The Owner's Manual." Want more? See "The Dr. Oz Show" on TV (check local listings). To submit questions, go to www.RealAge.com. (c) 2009 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Read more about By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. at ArcaMax.com.
|
Advice from Carolyn Hax Advice columnist Carolyn Hax is famous for her ability to get to the root of people's problems -- not just what they say, but who they are and what they're thinking.
The resulting advice is often ruthless, sometimes controversial, and always hilarious.
See for yourself what great advice Hax has to offer. Subscribe to ArcaMax's Carolyn Hax ezine, and receive her witty, helpful advice free by e-mail!
Subscribe to the Carolyn Hax ezine instantly.
Find out more before subscribing.
-- From the ArcaMax editors
|
No comments:
Post a Comment