Here we are in the midst of the holiday season…  the season of giving.  Unfortunately, as we know, with the “pressure” of needing to purchase gifts for all of those on our list, it seems that the holidays have become more and more about commercialism and consumerism than actually connecting and sharing in a meaningful way with those we love.  

In this day and age, we are distracted and bombarded with tv, movies, video games, cell phones, computers, as well as just “things” in general, not to mention our attempts to connect through social networking.  As a result, it seems that we, as a society, have lost perspective of what is real and what is important in life.  I think back to my childhood and life was so simple.  We didn't have much money so “things” weren't an obsession and because there were only landline telephones at the time (and no answering machines), you really appreciated being with someone when you were with them.  Our interactions with those we loved were more quality than quantity since the distractions of today's times were non-existent.    

In this holiday season when you find yourself stressed about which gift to get for someone you care about, remember that the true gift you can give is your time, love and undivided attention.  That means more than any gift you could ever buy.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, heart-filled holiday! 

Lisa Brisse & State of the Heart Fitness
For more thoughts from Lisa, check out her blog at www.stateoftheheartfitness.com/blog

The holidays present a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, to name just a few. With these practical tips, you can minimize the stress that goes along with it.

• Acknowledge your feelings. It's OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season.
• Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.
• Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones.
• Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all of your expectations. Be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they're feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression, too.
• Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don't try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Instead: Donate to a charity in someone's name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.
• Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. That'll help prevent last-minute scrambling to buy forgotten ingredients.
• Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can't participate in every project or activity.
• Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a free-for-all. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and physical activity.
• Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do.

Ultimately the key is to take it one day at a time.  Overwhelm only comes when we're outside of the moment at hand. 
Stay present! 

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

It's that time of year when everyone seems to be sick. There's no better time than the present to talk about immune-boosting myths -- from colds to allergies.

1. MYTH: Vitamin C will help ward off a cold. It won't. Vitamin C has long had a reputation for helping prevent colds and people often gulp megadoses when they feel cold symptoms coming on, but clinical studies have shown no effect for vitamin C in cold prevention in normal situations. However, research has shown that doses of 200 mg or greater (more than twice the 60-75 mg current recommended dietary intake for adults) may help reduce the duration of colds slightly. The likelihood of success seems to vary with the person -- some people improve after taking vitamin C supplements, others don't. Try it and see for yourself, but don't exceed 2,000 mg per day as it can cause an upset stomach.

2. MYTH: Honey will cure allergies. The theory is this: Honeybees gather pollen from the very plants that cause your itchy eyes, so consuming a small daily dose of the local honey -- and subsequently these pollens -- may stimulate your immune system and reduce allergies, explains Miguel P. Wolbert, an allergist at the Allergy & Asthma Care Center in Evansville, Ind. But the pollens that cause sneezing and congestion -- such as ragweed -- are windborne, while the pollens bees collect are too heavy to fly in the breeze. Windborne pollens can fall onto flowers, get picked up by bees and end up in honey, says Wolbert, "but it's likely to be a very, very small amount." Not enough to make a difference. And, so far, no clinical evidence shows that honey alleviates allergy symptoms.

3. MYTH: Dairy will make you more congested. In a blind test using a soy-based drink with similar sensory characteristics as milk, subjects reported the same changes in mucus production as they did with cow's milk. So go ahead and have that glass of milk-the vitamin D in it may help boost your immune system. In a study of more than 300 Japanese children, those who took daily vitamin D supplements (1,200 IU) were 40 percent less likely to get a common flu virus than kids who took a placebo. Studies indicate that the nutrient may help immune cells identify and destroy bacteria and viruses that make us sick, says Adit Ginde, a public health researcher at the University of Colorado. Don't skimp on yogurt, either -- it contains good-for-you probiotics that may actually stimulate your immune system.

4. MYTH: Vitamin-packed drinks will stop you from getting sick. Airborne contains Vitamins A, C, E, zinc and selenium, which are among the vitamins and minerals that our immune systems need to function efficiently. According to a 2002 report in the British Journal of Nutrition, deficiencies of any of these nutrients can depress immunity. But the key word is deficiency; most of us -- save for smokers, pregnant women, breastfeeding women and the elderly -- meet our needs for these nutrients with the foods we eat. A daily multivitamin/mineral supplement might come in handy this time of year.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

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