Feel better in 5 Simple tips to improve your health

When it comes to your health, be ahead of the game – your body will thank you!

How to sidestep stress

Reclaim control of your health and happiness with these top tips from Dr Joanna McMillan Stress is a fact of life, especially when you’re close to someone, or are someone, who is living with a physically, emotionally and financially challenging condition such as diabetes.

“The trick is just to keep that stress at a manageable level for you, and to recognise when the balance is tipping in the wrong direction,” says nutritionist and Diabetes Australia ambassador Dr Joanna McMillan in her new book Get Lean, Stay Lean ($35, Murdoch Books).

So if your stress levels are spiralling out of control over a bad day with your blood glucose levels (BGLs) or a looming deadline at work, take the pressure off a little with these simple solutions:

PUT THE KETTLE ON “Tea contains an amino acid called L-theanine that has several effects on the brain, including to induce relaxation and relieve feelings of anxiety,” Dr McMillan says. Time for a cuppa!

LAUGH ABOUT IT “Laughing is good for us physiologically and psychologically. Your brain chemistry shifts, your blood pressure comes down and stress is well and truly busted.”

BREATHE IN One particularly effective technique during an acute feeling of stress is to focus on slowing your breathing. “Look for a nice quiet spot to do it and give yourself five to 10 minutes.” Namaste!

PHONE A FRIEND “We are, at our roots, pack animals that need others around us at least some of the time,” says Dr McMillan. “Spending time with friends, family or loved ones is essential for keeping life’s worries in perspective, sharing problems and finding solutions.”