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Anne Mahoney
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Treat Yourself Better During “Stress Awareness Month”
Nonni’s Biscotti and Stress Management Expert Provide Quick Stress Solutions

Tulsa, Okla. (April 15, 2008) – Today, most Americans are so busy multi-tasking that they forget to set aside time for themselves to take a break from the hustle and bustle, and it can be costly to their health. April is “Stress Awareness Month,” so in partnership with Mimi Donaldson, author of “Bless Your Stress: It Means You’re Still Alive!” Nonni’s Biscotti is issuing a simple task: “Treat Yourself Better” by setting aside ten minutes during the day to relax and reflect, to help ease the symptoms of stress built up from everyday chaos.

“Most of us encounter stressful situations every single day,” said Mimi Donaldson. “There are many types and causes of stress, but it can be broadly defined as any external or internal event that lessens or depletes the energy we typically have available to conduct our daily lives. While there is no magic cure to make this stress vanish, there are ways to counter it, such as by taking a break with a low-calorie, all-natural biscotti paired with a cup of herbal tea.”

According to The National Institute of Mental Health, roughly one in three people suffers from moderate to severe stress on a daily basis. A survey conducted in October 2007 by the American Psychological Association confirms that three out of four Americans are stressed out by money and work. What’s worse, prolonged distress has also been shown to compromise health including damage to memory cells and increase the risk of heart disease, cancer and other illnesses.

These symptoms are severe, but equally alarming are the daily signals our body sends us, telling us that we are not doing enough to combat the gradual mounting stress. Stress accumulates over time, from your first morning coffee spill to being late to pick up the kids at school, and often goes unrecognized. The following is a list of “stress signals:”

• Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge
• Being easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
• Irritability
• Muscle tension, such as a chronic stiff neck and painful shoulder
• Sleep disturbance: difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless, unsatisfying sleep

“We decided to launch the “Treat Yourself Better” campaign to help remind people that a 10-minute break is enough to help re-charge their
batteries and reduce daily stress,” said Matt Duffy, marketing manager
for Nonni’s Biscotti. “Our research demonstrates that people prefer to eat biscotti while taking a break from the day, and enjoy the delicious taste without any distractions.”

Stress presents itself in countless big and small ways during our daily lives. While some types of stress are unavoidable or impossible to control, talking simple steps to reduce stress is not. Below are tips developed by Mimi Donaldson for Nonni’s Biscotti to help educate Americans on how to reduce stress and increase overall productivity and happiness.

“Treat Yourself Better” Stress Relief Tips

• Focus on the things you truly can control:  what you think, what you say, what you do, what you put into your mouth, and what you do to your body.
• Give up your unofficial and ineffective hold on the forces of the universe - the control you never really had.
• Use your all-purpose PAUSE Button before you go bananas over a long slow line or traffic jam.
• Do something nice for yourself. Relax and enjoy a portion-controlled snack, like a Nonni's Biscotti with a cup of herbal tea or coffee, and while you are doing that incorporate the following two tips:


• Take some moments of reflection time.
• Practice the fine art of WAIT LIFTING - the fine art of patiently hanging out while waiting for the toaster or coffee maker to do their thing.


• Make sure you move your body and exercise.
• Practice doing NOTHING. Investigate meditation and how it might help you.
• Do something nice for someone. Let that impatient driver into your lane. What a grateful look you will get! And that grateful look can relieve your stress!
• Read your GRATITUDE LIST daily.

About Nonni’s Food Company

Founded in 1988, Nonni’s Food Company is also home to other premium quality brands including Nonni’s Biscotti, New York Style and Old London. The Nonni’s Biscotti brand uses the original family recipe including real eggs, butter and gourmet bittersweet chocolate that gives the biscotti a light, crunchy texture that is delicately sweet. The New York Style snack line includes Bagel Crisps and Pita Chips; wholesome snacks that capture the tastes found in traditional New York City’s bakeries. Old London serves up great snacks and light lunches with its core Melba toast products. More information can be found at http://www.nonnisfoods.com.

This research project was conducted in order to assess people’s need to take a break. The survey was conducted online with a random sample of 1,018 people - all members of the CyberPulseTM Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel has been carefully selected to closely match US population demographics. Research was conducted in January 2007. The overall sampling error for this survey is +/- 3% at the 95% level of confidence.

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