Whether you’re a student with semester exams looming or someone who is feeling the full effect of the hectic holidays, stress can build up quickly this time of year (I know I’ve been feeling a bit)! Well, a few recent health findings can help to put your stress into perspective, as well as give you tips for how to alleviate some!

Makes me Want to Pull my Hair Out!

After examining hair samples of ancient Peruvians, scientists have discovered that humans have experienced significant amounts of stress for years and years—and our species lived to tell the story. Anytime we encounter a threat, our body releases cortisol all around our bodies: the bloodstream, saliva, and yes, hair. (This is the same stress hormone that has been linked to belly fat. Certain weight loss drugs even target cortisol receptors).

While a large amount of stress was detected near death, these ancient people felt rather stressed at many points during their lives. So when you’re feeling “Under Pressure,” take comfort in the fact that generation upon generation of our ancestors have experienced the same phenomenon, and we turned out OK, right? (Although I do admit, the stress was probably a bit different. I can’t imagine a Peruvian from 550 A.D. worrying about grabbing the last Nintendo Wii for their kids ;) ).

(Image from Say No to Crack)

Best that Test

College students can greatly reduce stress in a method that involves one word that we all love: “FREE!” For a simple solution, try the no-cost activity of meditation. Twenty minutes of “restful alertness” each day can ease all kinds of ailments: anxiety, depression and distress, according to Maharishi University researchers. If you can clear your mind during the practice, yoga could be a wonderful example of this. As a bonus, blood pressure decreases and stress coping ability (like during exams) increases with meditation!

Meditation: an idea for a future college course?

(Image from The Joy of Tech)

Life is Like a Box of ‘Em

Saving the best news for last (or dessert if you will), did you know that chocolate can ease feelings of stress? Eating 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate each day for two weeks lowers the levels of stress hormones coursing throughout your body. To quantify that, about nine Hershey’s dark kisses, or one Hershey’s dark chocolate bar, equal one and a half ounces.

Be sure to save room in your overall daily calorie goal or make this your main splurge for the day to avoid weight creeping in with the joy!

(Image from I Used to Have Hair)

Water cooler conversation starter: TIME magazine has compiled a list highlighting the “year that was” in health. Just in case you’re still feeling a bit stressed, check out this heartening news about smiling!

How do you alleviate stress? Any choice habits, activities, foods? I’m an exercise girl :)