The most wonderful time of the year?

Not so for everyone.  Although I'm one of those people who begin looking forward to the next Christmas season the day after this Christmas, not everyone concurs.

Some find the holiday season to be one of the most stressful times of the entire year.  Why so?  Perhaps work gets busier, finances get leaner, bills stack higher, family visits more often...who knows?

But according to an article at www.usatoday.com, studies suggest that high levels of stress can lead to obesity and trigger a raft of diseases- from heart attacks to ulcers.  These and other stress-related diseases sicken millions of people each year in the USA, says brain researcher Bruce McEwen at the Rockefeller University in New York.

So, while your eating Christmas cookies and all the trimmings of a Christmas dinner, try not to stress about it-doubling your chances of gaining weight over the holiday season. 

January 1 brings a brand new year.  We get to start over.  New beginnings are a wonderful opportunity to welcome change.  Make a list of ways to improve your health this coming new year.  Start by taking every available opportunity to 'chill.'

Merry Christmas, and have a safe, happy, and prosperous New Year!