"stress" news and stories

The holidays tend to stress us out. Stress makes it hard to sleep. The best thing for you when you're stressed? Sleep. Evolution FAIL.

Everyone knows about tryptophan, that magic amino acid present in turkey that totally knocks you out after Thanksgiving. There's actually quite a lot of it in egg whites, soybeans, and parmesan cheese, too.

It probably doesn't occur to you to get up and eat some turkey in the middle of the night to help you sleep. That's because the protein in turkey and many other tryptophan-rich foods gets your mind ticking. If you awaken from a turkey-induced slumber, you'll find yourself thinking clearly and unlikely to fall back asleep. Conclusion: Turkey is the perfect nap-food.

Here are eight foods and drinks that help you sleep, naptime and/or nighttime:

1. Turkey - the classic nap food.
2. Rice cakes - a food with a high glycemic index eaten about four hours before bed can cause the perfect crash.
3. Milk - also has tryptophan, and is very soothing when warm.
4. Yogurt - dairy foods without a lot of protein are ideal.
5. Wine - don't overdo it; one or two glasses is relaxing; more can disrupt your sleep patterns.
6. Bedtime Tea from Yogi Tea - this tea is serious business.
7. Chamomile tea - your grandmother's version of the same thing.
8. Oatmeal - melatonin, people.

I dare you to have them all in one sitting just to see what happens. Thank you and good night.

It's Monday morning, and if you have a lot of work to catch up on or a deadline to meet, consider popping a piece of gum.

There's a new study from Australia that found chewing gum not only raises alertness, it also reduces stress and anxiety. Study participants were subjected to a test called DISS (Defined Intensity Stressor Simulation). The gum chewers also had "significant improvement in overall performance on multi-tasking activities."

The study was done in conjunction with Wrigley, and their Wrigley Science Institute. I'm not discounting the study results, but I also think that's something to keep in mind. What do you think about this study?

In the Philippines, there is a restaurant that allows you to vent your frustrations by throwing plates and televisions at a stress relief wall. In Nanjing, China, there is a bar than lets you vent your frustrations by throwing punches at the staff. The Rising Sun Anger Release bar is a concept that the owner, Wu Gong, said was inspired by his experiences as a migrant worker. There was no place for him to vent any anger or frustrations, but his clients won't face the same problems.

The bar employs 20 specially trained men who are outfitted with protective gear. Customers can ask them to dress up as the person they'd like to attack, whether it's a teacher, ex-boyfriend or an employer. Gong says that most of his customers are women who work in the service industry and nearby bars.

If the idea of hitting a stranger or throwing a glass doesn't sound constructive, Wong also offers the services of psychology students from local universities to customers who just want to talk.

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Some sort of aptitude testing is done in just about every school in the country, mandated by the city or state government, to check on the progress of the educational system. This testing time can be stressful for students because, though they are not actually "graded" on their performance, they still have to sit through many long days of math and reading comprehension tests. Having to concentrate for such an extended period can be very challenging for students, particularly young ones. Schools try to perk them up by offering snacks, but a Washington State school found something very interesting this year when they decided to give the kids fruits, instead of muffins or granola bars. They found that the students were quieter, less stressed and more focused.

This was by no means a scientific test, but anecdotal evidence from people who spend their lives observing children is not something to be taken lightly. The principal and teachers surmise that not only did fact that the fruits were less sugary than other snacks play a role in helping the children to concentrate, but the fruits were more satisfying and more filling than alternatives.  It if happened to one or two students, it would be harder to believe, but a positive change - no matter how small - in such a large group of children as a result of healthy snacking is something worth looking into.

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On those days where you are simply so frustrated you want to throw something, all you need to do is hop on a plane and fly to the Philippines. There is a restaurant just outside of Manila where, for a small fee, you can hurl plates at a wall to relieve stress. The wall is covered in writing with common aggravations, like "ex-boyfriend", "boss" and "perennially complaining customers." According to the owners of the restaurant, the three most popular targets are "boss", "wine, women and gambling" and "loan sharks." A plate costs about $0.30 and, for a mere $25 more, patrons can toss an old TV set at the wall, too. It's a small price to pay for the privilege of smashing up someone else's stuff, rather than your own.

[Image via Reuters]

 

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