My friends, the past month has been one of the most stressful periods in memory. Not “too-much-work” stress (the kind you can dig your way out of) but just “life-circumstances” stress (the kind you can’t usually solve–you just have to slog through it).
You know what I’m talking about. You’ve been through stuff too, huh.
So the very worst thing you can do is eat SUGAR. You burn out your adrenal glands quickly that way. (The vast majority of us have stressed, overworked, even partially destroyed adrenal glands. And you really need those puppies to keep your mood stable through trials.)
So guess what we want when we’re stressed? Comfort. Sugar.
Vicious cycle.
This winter, the “liquid coconut macaroon” has been such a godsend. I discovered this healthy hot cocoa that is so nutritious, at the beginning of the winter. My kids loved it so much, and I loved it AND its superfood ingredients so much, that I put it here in the store:
All I knew when I first ordered it was that it had no refined sugar (just low-glycemic unrefined coconut palm sugar) and non-dutched cocoa. I was ecstatic, though, when I got it, that it also contains four different types of mushrooms that are used as superfood medicine in China for immune system repair, cancer treatment/prevention, and much more.
If I feel the need for a treat, I make a mug of cocoa. The coconut milk powder is low in calories, delicious, and high in lauric acid and other compounds that are anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. The cocoa contains the mushrooms and chocolate. The whole mug is about 100 calories.
I seriously love this stuff and just went to make myself a mug, writing this–it’s been my treat almost every day. Not just because it’s yummy and healthy, and not only because it’s chocolate (which has chemical properties women sometimes downright NEED), but also because there’s something very comforting about a mug of something hot.
I am blessed to report that through some difficult times this winter, I have still never gotten sick. There was one day I felt about 50% and didn’t go to the gym, but otherwise, that’s it.
Stress we cannot always control. But what do you do to remedy it? Yoga is another way I’ve gotten through the past 18 months–also prayer, time with good friends, and “me” time doing things I love (tennis, skiing). Melatonin before bed so my racing brain doesn’t keep me awake. Essential oils like peppermint. (The DoTerra people will probably pipe up making recommendations–the first one to read this, go ahead and I’ll approve it!)
Tell us your ideas. What natural things do you do, when you’re stressed? Let’s avoid “solutions” like Zoloft and Xanax that just cause other problems.
Chanting always helps ! :))
There are plenty of alternatives out there to prescription drugs IF you are seeking a supplement that will aid you during those trying times in life.
GABA
Korean Ginseng
Rhodiola Root
Schisandra Berry
Reishi Mushroom which has MANY AWE*Some purposes
Yohimbe Bark
Catuaba
LEMON BALM another goodie !
Skull Cap
Bugbane
Betony
Absinthe
Jiaogulan
Astragulus Root
Catnip
Rooibos Tea
Bee Pollen
Graviola
Nutmeg
Artemisia
Kava Kava (potent, not intended for long term use)
Lavender
Wheat Grass has a high Chlorophyll content helps to swiftly recover one from stress or illness
Suma Root
Pulsatilla
Bacopa Monnieri
Wormwood
Green Tea
Chamomile
Muirapauma
Recommend all persons interesting in adding ANY supplement to search constituents, benefits and Contraindications (precautions) in case there are any interactions or warnings which need to be realized.
From what I have been learning many times the signs (red flags) are indicative of a possible dificiency in our bodies which causes a “reaction” and manifest in many ways (one of which is stress) Stress can cause many ailments but prolonged stress unresolved or unattended to can cause serious dis-ease(s)
Bee Well ;)
Ahava
Try eating food with the green drink. The nutrition is very powerful and can cause cleansing reactions (your body is doing good things, but it can make you uncomfortable).
You can google on EFT; I believe there’s a free manual on how to do it, online.
1) pray
2) breathe deeply
3) exercise
4) laugh
5) eft
6) 15 min of sunshine
Robyn,
This is a wonderful community with such helpful tips. Robyn, ‘maybe you weren’t aware of the feedback you would be receiving – and the benefits we readers could reap from engaging in this blog, but you started something from the heart and look how it’s grown! I have not met you personally, but I love you already.
“Conventional”, “Western Medicine” is not necessarily bad. I have firsthand seen the benefits in patients and experienced it myself during an arrhythmia attack). What’s more, medicine (especially general anesthesia is a blessing when given by a competent MD). This, I appreciated when I opted for surgery to deal with cancer.
Ellen
Pharmacist & Advocate of Alternative Medicine (one can be both)
I was just wondering if the “liquid coconut macaroon” is safe during pregnancy & safe for little kids as well. I know even some “natural” things are harmful during pregnancy.
So enjoy your website! Thank you!
Over the past year and a half our family has made some huge transitions. It all started because of the Greem Smoothie girl and we are very appreciative. I started feeling so good after changing our diet that I took a leap of faith and went off of Wellbutrin which I had been on for 5-6 years. In my family, 6 out of 7 sibblings are on some form of medication for depression. I had suffered from it my entire life. It is sooooooooooooo amazing to be free of the medication and feel good naturally. I attribute most of the anxiety and depression to my poor eating habits. Lots of sugar, white flour, etc. We now drink green smoothies every day, stopped dairy and meat and eat so much healthier.
As far as stress relievers go, eating better has decreased the anixiety but adding walking, swimming and biking have been huge helps. I wish I had know about the green smoothie lifestyle 25 or 30 years ago. Thanks Robyn!!!!!
I will definitely start looking in to EFT and some of the other ideas posted here. They sound amazing.
Thanks Everyone!!
Hi Robyn,
I’m a friend of Rex and Brent’s. Great blog post.
Stress is one of the biggest health concerns going right now. People don’t realize that it is one of the major contributing factors to obesity, strokes, heart disease, respiratory disease, memory loss. Also, if you get stuck in stress too long, the stress chemical cortisol destroys your brain cells and adrenaline forces you to focus your attention on the stressor, which only causes more stress. If you get stuck in stress, the blood leaves the part of your brain you need to imagine a brighter future, plan how to create a brighter future, and see yourself as capable of achieving your brighter future. You even get locked out of the part of your brain that allows you to feel joy.
I’ve tried EFT, EMDR, Yoga, meditation, TAT and more. These all provided some benefit, but they didn’t seem to provide the lasting type of change I was looking to find.
After a 30 year personal quest to eliminate the stress of past traumas and difficult life challenges I found something that really worked, Neuroscience. Specifically, Neuroplasticity, the brain science that understands how to make lasting changes to your brain.
After years of research and testing, I found that if you make very specific changes to the neuropatterns (not brain wave patterns) stored in your brain that your emotions, your thoughts and your life change for the better.
Hope this doesn’t seem to self serving, since I pioneered this technique, but my mission is to give people the tools to free themselves from the debilitating neuropatterns that keep them in stress and keep them from manifesting their dreams.
Check it out http://brainpowercoaching.com
Sincerely,
Don
Meditation, exercise/yoga, prayer, super nutritious foods, talks with friends, good reads like Green Smoothie Girl support (thank you, all!) loving on my doggies! Really want to try the healthy hot cocoa…..yummy!
Robyn,
This is a very expensive product! I need to know how many ounces/how many servings I’m going to get out of it. Enlarging the view (in order to attempt to read the label) does me no good. I just get a window with the same size view of the packaging.
I’m a little leery of processed foods, too (Michael Pollan calls them “edible food-like substances”). I want to know what the process was for making this product. Your ad needs to give more info, please. :-D
Thanks so much!
Lindy
to Kim on march 11: Just today a friend wouldn’t try my green smoothie because he didn’t know what was in it. so: isolate each item in your green drink and take only one item each day to determine which food you are having an allergy /rejection to. I do not use a green powder and i vary the ingredients by whatever produce is in the fridge. Ideas: I always start with soaking whatever 3 seeds I’m going to use like chia, sesame, flax, or hemp seed, maybe 2 tb each. After 15 min the seeds become gelatinous and I add it at the end of ingredients. My fav green is kale (nutrition dense) but any green will do, even lettuce. An apple, always a banana (I freeze to keep them handy), orange, and to sweeten the kale I like a frozen coconut juice from Thailand called “Queens Diamond Brand”, but any coconut will do, fresh or canned.
I too don’t feel satisfied with only liquid, so I eat raw almonds and/or raw cashews with it. Good luck, sis, keep experimenting. ps also consider using a pure water, not tap water.
Nicki, most things (even whole foods and superfoods–but also drugs and herbs) are not studied for their use by pregnant women, because of the obvious ethical issues, but the ingredients are just food, not chemicals, etc. Very safe for little kids!
Lindy, we will get that info posted on the item in the store.
To counteract stress I form daily habits of journaling in my gratitude journal right when I wake up and right before bed. After journaling I do a Sahaja Yoga Meditation. This helps me clear my mind and keep my thoughts focused on the positive: what is good and what is going well in my life. About 4 times a week I go for a walk/ jog for an hour on a wooded trail near our house. while jogging I stop and do yoga stretches about half way through. I also use the reflexology points on the bottom of my feet while jogging.
I quit eating sugary desserts and candy last November 09 and I seemed to have a lot less inflammation as a result.
Since I started drinking the Green Smoothies exactly 1 month ago I have no more inflammation in my stomach. I have a list of other positive benefits that I’ve journaled in my gratitude journal; i.e. no more constipation, no abdominal pain, I’m thinking more clearly now, I’m getting along better with people, my muscle tone is improving, I have high energy. That definitely relieved a lot of stress for me. Thank you Robyn !