17 · October 20, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER BEAVER · | www.insideHALTON.com 15 | Thursday, Friday, July 15, 2016 | OAKVILLE www.insideHALTON.com Digestive health is essential to your overall well-being. Poor digestion can affect your energy, mood, and concentration, as well as compromise your immune function. Regular exercise, as well as maintaining a healthy weight and diet, are just some of world the ways nurture a healthy gut. The workers of the are to working more. So says an · Manage time effectively. One of the problems with an However, proper food choice is important as certain foods annual study of employee benefit trends from MetLife. In increased workload is the time in the day to complete that can cause discomfort like bloating, gas, or constipation. 2010, 40 percent employees admitted workload had work does not simultaneously increase. This reality makes it Fortunately, foodsof can also be a weapon their for improving your increased compared with the previous year. easy to become overwhelmed with stress. But a few time digestive system. While there are many reasons that can account for a management techniques can help. Prioritize certain tasks, "The truth is, many people don't have to suffer from diheavier workload at the office, heavy layoffs in countries ensuring projects that are time-sensitive get done ahead of f gestive issues if they're willing to make the right adjustacross and the globe has, in many instances, those who those that aren't. When setting a schedule for work, be realments adhere to them," says Jessica left Tong, a regisweren't laid off based with extra work. And "With companies be istic. If a schedule isn't realistic, that will only cause more tered dietitian in Vancouver. somemight simple tweaks to to your lifestyle and much diet, you can be on the way to surprised know just how this approach isn't workstress. a healthier gut in no time." Try these tips for of improved ing. TheMetLife study also found that top 68 percent employdigestive health that can finally you yourwork gut pain ees surveyed reported that therelieve quality of of their had · Maintain a personal life. Effectively managing stress at and get you back to enjoying life. suffered and that fear of losing their jobs played a significant work involves having a personal life away from the office. All 1. in Eat nutrient-dense Avoid empty calories. Pick role how well they did foods their . jobs. work and no play is a recipe for stress. No matter how big a food that is high in vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. workload awaits you at the office, be sure to make time for Keep in mind that not stress all healthy foods are created equal din, a natural digestive enzyme which improves digestive Good and bad stress enjoyable activities away from work. Spend time with friends -- many nutrients can only be particular Whileessential employees might not be able tofound quell in their fears of comfort by increasing the breakdown of proteins, including and family, plan a weekend getaway or simply relax at home. foods. For example, kiwifruit is the only food with actinione day being laid off, there are things they can do to reduce those found in meat, milk, legumes and cereal. Such time, even if it's not as often as you might like, makes the stress that often accompanies such fears. Stress is a part dealing with stress at the office that much easier to handle. of most professions and can even be a good motivator. However, when stress is prolonged or excessive, the results · Remain physically active. Exercise is a great remedy for can be very unhealthy. Men and women with high stress stress. In fact, the American Psychological Association notes levels are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and that studies have suggested physically active people have cardiovascular disease. When faced with prolonged or exces- lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people. sive stress at the office, men and women can take the follow- While research is ongoing, some researchers feel exercise ing approaches to avoid succumbing to stress. enhances the body's ability to respond to stress. In addition, exercise seems to give the body practice at dealing with * Determine what is causing the stress. Stress triggers stress. While exercising, the body's physiological systems are vary depending on the individual, so men and women who forced to communicate with one another. These same sysare coping with excessive stress should write down anything tems must also communicate with one another when that causes them a negative response, whether that response responding to stress. Regular exercise helps the body comis physical, emotional or mental. After a week, sit down and municate more efficiently, something that helps when the look at the various things that triggered these negative time comes to respond to stress. responses. Choose one and work to resolve it. Determine if there is a way this trigger can be avoided. Do this with each Stress at the office is likely always going to be a concern trigger one by one. It might not be possible to successfully for working men and women. However, there are ways to address each trigger, but it's worth the try and it is likely that effectively cope with stress no matter how daunting a workDr. Steven Solomon & Dr. Jonathan Kazdan certain triggers can be successfully avoided. load might be. (MNS) Five tips tohelp build and maintain healthy digestive Tips to you cope a with stress at system work Extra work k load l d takes k its toll ll on the h mental l health h l h of f employees l 2. Keep a routine. Variety is the spice of life, except when it comes to your gut. Try to eat at roughly the same time every day so that you can train your body to know what to expect when it comes to digestion. 3. Get enough sleep. Your digestive organs are replenished and restored as you sleep. Catching some z's is also important for maintaining hormonal balance, which affects digestion. Aim for seven to eight hours of good, restful sleep every night. 4. Focus on fibre-rich foods. Foods that are high in fibre stimulate the churning in your stomach. Zespri Kiwifruit are a great source of soluble and insoluble fibre, a rarity in fruit, and help retain water at a higher capacity, which helps promote more comfortable and regular bowel movements. 5. Know your triggers. Food intolerances and sensitivities are often some of the biggest culprits when it comes to digestive health issues. Eliminate certain foods for three to four weeks, then slowly reintroduce them and monitor your symptoms for possible reactions. This will help you to know your triggers and to make any necessary dietary adjustments. (NC) O A K V I L L E P L A C E D E N TA L · Intra-oral cameras See what we see! · New modern dental facilities including TVs in each room · Mercury free fillings available · Several convenient payment options Heavier workloads have left many workers dealing with elevated available levels of stress. · We bill insurance companies directly · A specialist available in Periodontics (Dr. Nasser Derakshan) Cosmetic & General Dentistry DIAMOND · Tooth whitening · Veneers · Bridges · Dentures · Digital X-rays · Custom-crafted same day in-office Cerec crowns · Root canal therapy · Implants, wisdom tooth removal and sedation (Dr. John McIntosh, Oral Surgeon) We Welcome New Patients and Emergencies Mon.-Thurs. 8aM-9pM, Fri. 8aM-3pM, saT. 8aM-4pM Convenient Hours! Open Evenings & Saturdays!Oa akv kville e Be Beaver eaver www.dentistoakville.com 240 Leighland ave. 20 010 Gold Aw ward W inne er Oakville Place Mall 905.842.6030