ANTI-STRESS DIET

ANTI-STRESS DIET
Milk - It contains vitamin B2 and B12, milk also contains antioxidants that help destroy free radicals associated with stress.Fish -It contains iron, B vitamins and zinc. Fish contains protein of high biological value, essential minerals, vitamins and fats. Shellfish and salt-water fish are rich in iodine and fluorine, in addition to appreciable traces of cobalt, and for that reason make a valuable contribution the diet.
Fish is also a satisfactory source of magnesium, phosphorus, iron and copper. Shellfish generally have a higher calcium and iodine content that fish. Herring and oysters are exceptionally high in zinc.
Fortified breakfast cereal - breakfast cereals are fortified with a slew of essential vitamins and minerals, so they can be a great one-stop source of stress-fighting B vitamins, folic acid, vitamin C, and fiber.
Your diet plays a crucial role in your overall well-being and specifically your level of stress.
1) Poor nutrition is a major contributor to stress reactions and the premature aging of your face! Eat small meals low in sugar and fats so your body doesn't work overtime on digestion. Especially eat fresh foods, fish, brown rice, legumes and whole grains for stabilizing nutrients.
2) Sea greens are also loaded with minerals and essential fatty acids that improve skin texture and tone, and strengthen nails and hair.
3) Add more potassium-rich foods like potatoes, salmon, seafood and avocados to your diet. Potassium helps reduce stress-related high blood pressure, and regulates blood sugar. Intake should be about 3 to 5 grams daily. Cut down on high sodium foods which dehydrate the body. Drink plenty of water, too because dehydration can cause dry, sullen skin, and dark under-eye circles and sunken eyes.
4) Avoid stimulants like hard liquor, tobacco and excess caffeine which tax your adrenals.
5) Avoid trans-fats from fried foods, red meats and highly processed foods. These foods are high in chemicals that overburden the body's elimination systems.
6) Make an adrenal boosting mix: Adrenal nutrients: essential fatty acids, amino acids, pantothenic acid, vitamins E, A, C, fat soluble vitamins D and K, bioflavonoids, the minerals zinc, selenium, potassium, manganese, chromium and magnesium.
TENSION RELIEVERS for extra stressful situations.
-Deep breathe. When you’re stressed, your breathing becomes shallow. But, deep breathing activates relaxation centers in the brain, reducing overall body stress and increasing creative mental energy. Try this simple exercise for quick stress relief and rejuvenation.
Filling a Balloon:
Improve your sex life diet
Many foods can help boost your sex life by improving the look and feel of skin, aiding energy and increasing feelings of well-being.
Zinc in particular can help a flagging sex life. In addition to increasing fertility, heightening the senses of taste and smell, and regulating his sperm function, this 'sexy mineral' plays a part in the healing processes of the body.
This sample menu combines a variety of foods with different benefits that can all boost your libido and sexual well-being.
Bananas and strawberries can improve sexual stamina and berries can aid in fertility.
Serve with a small salad of avocado and tomato, good sources of vitamin E for healthy, soft skin.
Red wine
Red meat, brown rice and almonds are excellent sources of zinc, and asparagus provides vitamin E, an antioxidant that also contributes to healthy skin and cells.

CARING, HEALTH AND LONGEVITY

CARING, HEALTH AND LONGEVITY
BY
PROFESSOR BOLUWAJI AYOKUNLE REUBEN FAJEMILEHIN
B.N.Sc, M.Sc.N, Ph.D. FWACN.

Longevity
Longevity or growing old is a process and product of several factors such as genetic, active physical state, life styles, health behaviour and self management techniques that takes place in the human body even when the individual does not seem to be aware, which is concerned not only with the biological process of ageing but also with the socio-cultural and economic factors influencing it. Hence, old age cannot be linked with ill-health or disability, although it is a period of increased health problems to many due to changing economic ability, living arrangement and post modernization role changes (Ekong, 2006). Several studies (Fajemilehin, 2000; and Giddens, 2001) reported that females, with a few exceptions all over the world outlive their male counterparts- sometimes as much as 9-10 years longer on the average.

• Influences on longevity
  The longevity of Adam and some of his descendants who their ages range between 365and 950 years (Genesis chapter 5) was explained to be as a result of the following perspectives:




• Human race being genetically purer




• Provision of water which were above the firmament and shielded people from environmental factors that hasten ageing (Genesis 1:7)




• God-given so that man would replenish the earth (Genesis1:28) and later to 70-80 years because of man courting God’s wrath through his iniquities (Ps.90:7-9).




• World –wide, there tends to have been a marked improvement in longevity and life expectancy. This according to Fajemilehin (2000) and Fajemilehin and Odebiyi (2009) could be linked to: Socio-cultural factors (truthfulness, contentment and experience of self-fulfillment in or successful culmination);




• Education and the general awareness of the leading causes of diseases;




• Improved nutrition;




• General improvement in socio-economic factors that affect health including the environment;




• The global positive change of attitudes toward women who reproduce and care for the society;




• Technological breakthroughs in drug research and manufacture (Immunocal); v Breakthroughs in methods of diagnosis, disease prevention and cure of infectious and parasitic diseases;




• Expansion in recreation and leisure;




• Advances in communication, transportation and enhanced mobility;




• Institution of democratic governments and the rule of law as a universal ideology; andThe growing perception and acceptance of development as being more than growth in GDP but embracing human development and holistic grow.

Health promoting factors

• Truthfulness
• Contentment
• Patience
• The use of the tongue (watch what one says) and observation of traditions
• Familial care and support
• Exercises in form of unrestricted daily activitiesAdequate and proper feeding in line with other traditional habits- i.e. low intake of cassava products, sugary sweet and refrigerated food items. (jeun to dara nitori ohun ti eye ba je ni eye maa gbe fo)
• Satisfaction with life past experiences (period of culmination)
• Compliance with home training e.g. respect for elders (in my days , young ones were made to respect the elderly person but today a boy of ten will willfully knock down a man of 50 without any mind of pity) . It is believed that those disrespecting elders will incur the wrath /curse of the elders and such action will result in ill-health.
• Hardworking spirit (nitori ise sise kii pani aise re gaan ni abuku)
• Taking life easy with the fear of God(sise jeje pelu iberu Olorun)The broad analysis of the highlight above on health promoting factors and growing old were well corroborated issues in 1ST Timothy 6 verse 6 and 11 which expressed that ‘there is great gain in Godliness, truthfulness with contentment’, while the verse 11 says “aim at righteousness, godliness, fight the good fight of the faith, love and patience. The health point of view agreed with the various analytical positions , since both truthfulness and contentment not only prevent fear, anxiety, and stress of life but also promote peace of mind, thus preventing cardio-vascular, diabetes and other stress induced disease conditions. Of importance is “exercise” in form of unrestricted daily activities which provides for active state of musclo-skeletal function and alert state of the individual. Traditional habits (such as, use of chewing stick, restriction on starchy, sugary, and sweet as well as refridgerated food items) prevent, teeth, eye, and other systemic health problems. Virginity was a major traditional requirement for marital union in the olden days. Observation of this tradition not only prevents sexually transmitted infections, but enhances lasting love in marriage. The need to maintain all stages of marriage was also stressed as this will ensure successful marriages as unhappy marriages can negatively impact on the health of those concerned. Finally, Fajemilehin (2000) posited that longevity is a product of several bio-socio-cultural factors.
  
  The positive effects of ageing
  To an individual, living to old age
• May be an indication of possessing genetically strong disposition to have withstood the ravages of time;
• May offer Opportunity to retire and free oneself from the constraints of work;
• May bring honour, respect or high esteem in societies where experience and wisdom are ascribed to age;
• May bring personal satisfaction where the life had been a fulfilled one. In other words, the opportunity to eat the fruits of one’s labour and see the progress of the next generation is a function of how long one lives;
• May be the time to travel, learn new skills or pursue further education which one could not while in active service and/or carrying full parenting responsibilities.

Need further details of this article? Contact fajemilehin@yahoo.com