In the past week or so, I’ve been getting a huge volume of email about palpitations.  I don’t know why there is this sudden surge of interest in the topic.  I’ve been talking about how I fixed my palpitations now for about three or four years.  It’s true I once suffered very badly from palpitations – having several episodes per day.  I contemplated giving up my job because I was afraid to go out of the house.  I had to give up all of the things I loved… until I finally figured it all out.

This week, we’ve been discussion stress a fair bit.  In about twenty of the recent emails, peopled talked about the elevated stress levels in their lives.  There are some heart breaking stories that hurt so much because there is little I can do to reduce the individual stress.

What I can do, however, is talk about a little secret that I discovered about stress.  I have my dear friend Dr. Jim LaValle to thank for this one.  There is no doctor anywhere that I respect more than Dr. LaValle.

It is becoming very clear that an increasing number of individuals appear to be developing symptoms of stress and adrenal fatigue.

An number of surveys – including a recent Northwestern National Life study – indicate that approximately 40% of the American work force reports that their job are either “very stressful” or “extremely stressful”.

According to the “National Commission on Sleep Disorders“, one in five Americans suffers from stress related sleep disturbances. In addition to work stress are the added burdens of parenting, financial strain, parental death in the family, traffic jams, work deadlines, career politics, and just too much to do in too little time.

All psychologists will tell you that even positive changes, like a move or a new partner, can be stressful. Research has always shown that all of this takes a major toll on our health in the form of fatigue, burnout, weight gain, heart palpitations and often general ill feelings.

Sixty percent of medical visits are connected to stress. Moreover, due to the negative impact of stress on our immune systems, our bodies become increasingly vulnerable.

PEOPLE ARE STRESSED OUT

• Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects due to stress.
• Seventy-five to 90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related complaints or disorders.
• Stress is responsible for more than half of the 550,000,000 workdays lost annually because of absenteeism.
• Forty-seven million Americans exhibit excessive abdominal fat due to
• stress-related eating.

A friend of mine was introduced to Dr. Jim LaValle, of the LaValle Institute in Cincinnati. My friend has weight and health issues by dozen!  After being under the guidance of Dr. LaValle for almost a year, and after using of Relora, a revolutionary dietary supplement, my friend told me that her life had been transformed. She lost 23 pounds, wakes up in the morning before the alarm, has regained her sales personality, and most importantly, she can now play soccer and basketball with her boys!”

Among the many formulas investigated for stress, Relora has been the clear leader.  It appears to help individuals not only manage their stress, but also improves their quality of sleep and may help cut stress-induced sugar cravings by normalizing the stress hormones responsible for these cravings.

WHAT IS RELORA?

Relora is an all-natural proprietary blend of a patented botanical extract from Magnolia officinalis and a proprietary extract from Phellodendron amurense. The barks of these two trees have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 1500 years.

By combining these two extracts, researchers at Next Pharmaceuticals discovered a synergistic effect. In two studies, Relora has been found to help control stress. In one research trial, 50 stressed adults took Relora two to three times daily for two weeks. At the end of the study, 82 percent agreed with the statement that it “helps control irritability, emotional ups and downs, restlessness, tense muscles, poor sleep, fatigue and concentration difficulties.” After reading that last statement, 92% of my friend insisted I take it!  Lol….

A full 74 percent indicated that they had more restful sleep. There were no adverse side effects noted during the trial and Relora was reported by 94 percent of the participants to be gentle on the stomach. Relora has also been shown, in a small pilot study of 12 stressed individuals, to normalize elevated cortisol levels and depressed levels of DHEA, two hormones that play a significant role in the symptoms and conditions associated with excessive stress. Cortisol levels are elevated in stressed patients.

DHEA levels are correspondingly lower in the presence of stress. In an additional research trial, 49 stressed adults were given Relora. The findings were similar to the earlier study demonstrating that Relora helps control stress, as well as improve the quality of sleep. But another component was added to this study: determining if Relora would have a positive impact on the sweet cravings that frequently accompany stressful situations.

Since the hormones cortisol and DHEA are related to such cravings, and Relora was shown in an earlier study to normalize the levels of these hormones in stressed individuals, the researchers at Next Pharmaceuticals wanted to know if Relora would actually change eating behavior in stressful conditions. The number of people that indicated they ate sweets such as ice cream, cake, pie or cookies in stressful conditions dropped by 76 percent after using Relora for a two week period.

This could be an added benefit to stressed individuals looking for a natural product to help them manage their stress. In an ongoing open-label trial conducted at the Metabolic Research Institute In Cincinnati, Ohio, more than 1200 subjects have taken Relora and have been asked to rate the supplement on its effectiveness on a 5-point scale after two weeks.

Ninety one percent (91%) of the subjects reported Relora helped them relax. Ninety percent (90%) reported Relora helped them have a restful sleep.  Eighty six percent (86%) reported Relora helped prevent stress related eating. Not surprisingly, Relora was rated lower in managing weight, although seventy two percent (72%) of the subjects rated Relora as effective.

SIDE EFFECTS

With over 80 million doses of Relora distributed in the U.S., there have been no reports of significant side effects. Approximately 20 percent of the individuals studied reported some drowsiness. While allergic reactions are possible, as with any plant based natural product, none have been reported. Relora should not be used during pregnancy or while nursing.

If you are currently taking a prescription drug, consult your health care provider before taking Relora.

CONCLUSION

Stress in our lives is inescapable but excessive stress, or “distress,” can be managed before it exerts its detrimental effects on our health. Here are some key components that you should consider incorporating into your stress management plan:

• Get sufficient sleep.
• Exercise—aerobic, resistance-training, stretching.
• Maintain a healthy diet with minimal sugar, caffeine and alcohol.
• Take relaxation breaks throughout the day, even if it’s a few minutes of deep breathing.
• Have realistic expectations of what you are able to accomplish.
• Obtain a good support network of friends and family.

In addition to these key ingredients to stress management, you might want to consider Relora as part of your overall stress management plan.

I have personally been using Relora now for 2 months.  I can attest to the sleep benefits, the relaxation benefits but not so much the appetite suppression. Lol.. And THAT one would have been a biggie for me.

Putting up with Liberals really stresses me out.  I’m much less hostile toward them with Relora in me.  And that’s always a good thing!