Less stress! Sounds good, doesn't it?

Here are a few tips to help you ease your stress and lower your blood pressure.

Lower your voice and you slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure, which in turn will ease the tension in your body. The Journal of Behavioral Medicine reports that this single step can make you feel up to 20% calmer in minutes. Makes sense, doesn't it.

Drink 3 to 4 cups of green tea a day. According to Japanese research, green tea has tranquilizing credentials. Volunteers who drank 3 to 4 cups daily had their stress levels drop up to 30%. Apparently tea leaves have L-theanine, an amino acid found exclusively in tea leaves. They lower the out-put of worry trigger beta waves. I may not understand the science to this, but it worth a try. What do you think?

And my favorite! Hugging! The University of North Carolina has proven that hugging immediately increases levels of oxytocin which is a "bonding" hormone. This hormone reins in the physical signs of stress. Women are more sensitive to touch than men, so we reap an even bigger benefit from hugs than men. I get great hugs from my grandson and granddaughter!

Speak softly, enjoy a cup of green tea and give yourself a hug!

Here's hoping you have a stress free day!