Tag: happy

Is Change as good as a Holiday?

Todays post is about Change or Holidays, a continuation on the topic of mental health.

We have all heard or used the saying ‘ a change is as good as a holiday’, or as Winston Churchill said, ‘a change is as good as a rest’.

Well is it? I decided to do some research and see if there is any scientific basis for this theory.

It turns out that a couple of studies have been conducted and a few scientific papers have been written on the subject.

So I have put together some of the facts for you.

First there is stress

Now stress is actually a process, not a diagnosis. We all experience stress when there is an imbalance between the demands being made on us and whether we are able to cope with those demands.

The level and extent of stress a person may feel depends a lot on their attitude to a particular situation. An event that may be extremely stressful for one person can be a mere hiccup for another person.

Stress is not always a bad thing. Some people thrive on stress and even need it to get things done. When the term ‘stress’ is used in a clinical sense, it refers to a situation that causes discomfort and distress for a person and can lead to other mental health problems,

Generally, continuing stress in the work place has a detrimental effect on people’s health. It is well recognised that sufficient recovery is necessary to counteract negative stress reactions.

Is a holiday the answer?

One study concluded that a holiday for at least seven consecutive days provided an efficient recovery strategy. Another study conducted in 2017, supports this theory. The results indicated that one single short-term holiday, has a large, positive and immediate effect on perceived stress, recovery, strain, and well-being. Interestingly, escaping daily routines and the usual environment do not seem to be crucial for recovery.

For the study participants, the effects were still detected at 30 days (recovery) and 45 days (wellbeing and stress) post-holiday.

Or is change the answer?

Research conducted by New York University; found that daily variability in physical location, along with new and diverse experiences is linked to enhanced happiness. The results suggest that people feel happier when they experience variety in their daily routines.

However simple the change, there’s a neurological reason why variety makes us happy.

Two parts of our brain, essential for mood, are stimulated by change.

The hippocampus, which is a part of the brain that is involved in forming new memories, emotions and learning, is also sensitive to the novelty of new environments.

Another part of the brain, called the striatum, helps us to evaluate our environment and processes reward.

The activity in these areas of the brain tends to be more synchronised in people who explore new things daily. This has a stronger influence on their mood.

Something as simple as introducing a little bit of variety into our day may be enough to increase our sense of well being.

So, it seems that a far as our physical reaction to stress is concerned, science does support the adage that a change is as good as a holiday. Either option has the ability to improve our mental health.

I hope you found this information interesting.

Till the next post,

 

Live clean n prosper.

(Sources – National Library of Medicine –New York University publications– CNBC Make It – )

Cold Water Therapy

Today’s topic is Cold Water Therapy.

A friend of mine commented that after reading my post on the Brain – Body connection and Set Point theory, he had started using ‘Cold Water Therapy’ to reset his metabolism.

I had not heard of Cold Water Therapy being used in this way. So it was time for some Internet research.

I was amazed at what I learned.

Hydrotherapy (the use of water for treatment) has been around for thousands of years. It is one of the most basic forms of treatment used in natural medicine. It has many names – such as water therapy, aquatic therapy, pool therapy, and balneotherapy.

According to a research article published on the US National Library of Medicine site, the use of water in various forms and temperatures can produce different effects on different system of the body. Cold water immersion induces significant physiological and biochemical changes in the body such as increase in heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism.

Here are the most researched benefits for cold-water therapy.

Cold water for sore muscles

Researchers did find that cold-water baths were better than resting or doing nothing, reducing muscle soreness by about 20%. This is because the cold water lowers the damaged tissue’s temperature and constricts the blood vessels. This helps reduce the swelling and inflammation, and even numbs the nerve endings to bring immediate relief to any pain.

Improved Immune system

Cold-water immersion causes your lymph vessels to contract, forcing your lymphatic system to pump lymph fluids throughout your body, flushing the waste out of the area.

This then triggers the immune system’s white blood cells to attack and destroy any unwanted substance in the fluid. In a way, it’s sort of a domino effect — the cold water affects the lymphatic system, which in turn affects the immune system, which ultimately keeps you healthy.

Improvement in Circulation

Exercise and diet are two well-know ways to improve cardiovascular circulation. However, cold-water immersion can also stimulate blood flow. When you immerse your body in cold water, the blood rushes to surround your vital organs. Your heart then is forced to pump more efficiently, pushing blood through all your vessels and supplying every part of your body with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Do this on a routine basis and you can help promote healthy blood circulation, and, ultimately, a healthy body.

A way to feel happy

A 2007 research study found that cold showers can help treat depression symptoms, and if used on a routine basis, may be more beneficial than prescription medications. The reason for this is that cold-water triggers more mood-boosting neurotransmitters in the brain, which make you feel happy.

And finally, Cold-water therapy can boost the body’s metabolism.

Cold showers and other types of cold-water or ice therapy may also help boost your fat-burning abilities.

According to a 2009 study, cold water can promote healthy brown fat. Brown fat is the good fat our bodies generate to keep us warm and is activated when exposed to extreme cold, and helps eliminate the white fat. White fat is the body fat that piles up around our waistlines and thighs when we consume too many calories.

Sources : www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov  & www.tonyrobbins.com

Always use common sense when engaging in cold-water immersion. Listen to your body and work up to the more advanced ice therapy techniques gradually.

Of course, cold-water immersion should not be considered a substitute for diet and exercise, though it would make an excellent addition to our daily routine.

Till the next post,

Live Clean n Prosper