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Five Relaxation Enhancers

Five Relaxation Enhancers

Relaxation and meditation techniques can do wonders for your mind and body, especially if you take time to make a few other changes in your life. Here's a look at five things you can do to enhance your sense of inner peace, according to Robert S. Eliot, M.D., director of the Institute of Stress Medicine in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and author of From Stress to Strength: How to Lighten Your Load and Save Your Life.

Stomp out the smokes. Besides increasing your risk for heart disease and lung cancer, smoking triggers the release of stress hormones in the body. Quitting is the most important thing you can do to feel less stressed and more relaxed.

Curb the caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that can trigger the fight-or-flight response to stress, so avoid coffee, tea, cola, chocolate and other foods and beverages containing caffeine.

Calm down with carbs. Eating grains, vegetables and fruits loaded with complex carbohydrates, such as spaghetti, baked beans and apples, can trigger the release of hormones that will help relax you.

Work up a sweat. Regular exercise is a fundamental part of any relaxation program. It can lower anxiety, fend off depression and help increase a person's self-esteem. Try walking for 15 to 20 minutes a day.

Make time for a daily chuckle. Humor is a powerful ally in your quest for relaxation. A good laugh triggers the release of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that produce feelings of euphoria. It also suppresses the production of cortisol, a hormone released when you're under stress that indirectly raises blood pressure by causing your body to retain salt. So try to find humor in daily life.

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