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  • Got stress? With 75% of adults reporting moderate to high levels of stress in the past month ,there has to be a solution.

  • So what are the best scientific methods to deal with stress and anxiety?

  • How can you genuinely relax your mind and body? They say laughter is the best medicine.

  • Turns out it's also the stress medicine, when we laugh, our oxygen intake increases, stimulating the release of endorphins.

  • Studies even show that simply waiting to see a funny movie can increase beta endorphin levels by 27% and

  • decrease stress hormone levels in the bloodstream. After a hilarious film, participants had lower levels of the stress hormone

  • Chromogranin A in their saliva, and while you're at the movies, why not make out with someone?

  • It decreases cortisol and increases oxytocin from the pituitary gland in the brain creating feelings of attachment,bonding, contentment and security.

  • Study participants who kissed their partners regularly over six weeks had lower blood cholesterol levels.

  • Of course some chewing gum might help your breath,

  • but a japanese study also found that those who chewed twice a day for two weeks

  • increased their feelings of well-being. Other study participants who chewsed gum while being subjected to a stress inducing

  • task also showed lower levels of cortisol in their saliva than those who didn't have gum and

  • not because of the ingredients in the gum,

  • but simply from the act of chewing known as mastication.

  • This repetitive motion is directly related to increased activity in the cerebral area of the brain and relaxation.

  • Time spent in Nature or even a simple house plant can lower stress levels too.

  • In 1982, the Japanese government started a Shinrin Yoku or forced baiting campaign

  • promoting the benefits of spending time in the forest for this purpose. In just one short visit to the forest,

  • cortisol levels, heart rate, and blood pressure have all been shown to decrease.

  • Even hospital patients who have a view of nature tend to have better pain tolerance and faster recovery rates compared to those who faced only a blank wall.

  • Speaking of leaves, even though relaxation from tea may simply be a placebo,

  • it turns out that the anticipation of a ritual linked with relaxing emotions may very well be a self-fulfilling prophecy

  • In other words if you're mentally preparing yourself to relax with your favorite calming tea or relaxing scented oils,

  • our brain is primed to slow down and can actually influence well-being.

  • The amygdala in the brain is responsible for emotional control,

  • and is directly connected to our olfactory system.

  • inhaling a candle scent reminiscent of a happy childhood time like warm apple pie may very well help us relive those memories, creating a better mood.

  • Music can have a similar effect. Songs with 60 to 80 beats per minute

  • but no lyrics have been shown to reduce stress, even in patients who have undergone various types of surgeries [and]

  • If you can get or be near a pet, do it. Having a dog correlates to lower scores on anxiety tests.

  • 12% compared to 21% for those without one, and

  • being in the presence of a friendly dog has been shown to lower cortisol levels and increase oxytocin.

  • Finally, some people relax and focus by fidgeting which is why we made another video on

  • fidget spinners, the new toy craze and whether or not they actually work.

  • Head over to that video by clicking the screen or using the link in the description and subscribe for more weekly science videos every Thursday.

Got stress? With 75% of adults reporting moderate to high levels of stress in the past month ,there has to be a solution.

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