Home   >   Health   >   Your Body and Stress: What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You

Maria Losseva-Malho

By on March 31, 2014
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By Maria Losseva-Malho

Stress is a normal part of life. It is the body’s reaction to any change that requires a modification or response.  Our bodies always respond to these changes with physical, emotional and physical reactions. Many events that happen around us and many things we put ourselves through can put stress on our bodies. That includes the environment, our thoughts and our day to day activities, such as exercise.

Dating back to caveman time stress was meant to be a positive reaction to help us avoid danger.

Let me explain. When we encounter a perceived threat such as coming face to face with a lion our brain sets off an alarm…picture blaring sirens with all the flashing lights. This prompts our body to release adrenaline and cortisol hormones. Adrenaline increases our heart rate and boosts energy supplies…we all heard about amazing things people are able to do when the adrenaline is pumping in the face of danger. Cortisol’s function is different, it increases glucose to be able to give you that extra energy while at the same time shutting down the bodily functions that are non essential for fight or flight response. Those functions include the digestive and reproductive system as they are non essential while “running away from the lion”.

Looking at the above we need to be thankful that our bodies are equipped with such an amazing alarm system. However, it becomes a major problem when you are “running away from the lion” on a daily basis…and there is NO lion.

When we are constantly having a negative stress reaction and the stress never goes away, our brain cannot distinguish where that stress comes from; whether it’s from having a bad day at work or running out of a burning building.

When the stressors are always present and we are constantly feeling under attack, our bodies’ internal fight or flight reaction stays turned on. When that occurs on a long term basis, the overexposure to the stress hormones becomes disruptive to almost all functions…and that leads to increased risk of numerous health problems. Some of the issues are: depression, anxiety, heart issues, sleep issues, weight gain, infertility, and much more.

According to WebMd, 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress, and 75-90% of all doctor’s visits are for stress related ailments and complaints. Those are pretty staggering statistics that should make you think twice next time you want to scream at the driver ahead of you in rush hour. Is it really worth your health?

 

Personally, I think not. That is why I want to equip you with solutions that most doctors won’t give you…and it’s not medication.

  • First and foremost, you have to learn to manage the stress. Let’s face it, it’s not the stress itself that causes issues, it’s the way we deal with it. After a normal stress reaction, our body gets back to normal within a short period of time. The hormones go down, the pulse gets back to normal and blood pressure stabilizes. However, if we keep thinking and thinking about the stressful issue (which we usually have NO control over) these responses never shut down. What you need to do is change the way you think about the negative issue and try to find a way to turn the negative into the positive. Yes, it is possible with simple mindset changing techniques.

 

  • Consume a balanced diet packed with antioxidants on a daily basis. When our bodies are well nourished, everything is in balance. That helps us keep the hormones and nutrient levels in check which in turn helps to deal with stress easier.

 

  • Use supplements to ensure optimal nutrition. Most people do not consume enough fruits, veggies and grains that are recommended by the health food guides, let alone eat enough to support optimal nutrition. For example, studies show that lack of Vitamin D plays a contributing role in depression. That is just one supplement that is super important to get adequate amounts in order to help us deal with stress. However, there are many more. This is why it is vital to your health and well being to have proper nutrition at ALL times.

 

  • Get 7-8 hours of sleep EVERY night. Sleep is crucial in reduction of stress. Our bodies regenerate during sleep and when that doesn’t happen we are much more prone to anxiety, irritability and a whole bunch of other health issues. Chronic sleep deprivation is no laughing matter and there are many consequences to pay as a result. Short term effects are decreased performance, lack of concentration and disruption of day to day activities due to exhaustion. Long term effects include high blood pressure, heart attacks, mental impairment, obesity and stroke. So next time you think about skimping on your sleep, think again.

 

  • Exercise and meditation are great ways to reduce stress. During exercise our bodies produce endorphins which give us that great happy, energized feeling and a more positive outlook on life. If you ever worked out, you know exactly what I’m talking about; that amazing feeling like you can conquer the world. So exercising on a regular basis goes a long way in reducing stress. Meditation goes hand in hand with the exercise as it helps quite and calm the mind, which also significantly decreases your stress levels.

 

  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water DAILY. Our bodies are comprised of more than 50% of water and dehydration affects every cell. So when we don’t drink enough everything is affected. As I previously mentioned about the importance of nourishing your body, hydration works the same by keeping our body and all the functions in balance.

 

When all the above fails and you are faced with a stressful situation…as long as it’s not being face to face with a lion…take three deep breaths to calm down and believe that the universe has got your back. As a great anonymous quote I once saw states, “When stressed, ask yourself if you can fix it. If yes, no need to stress about it. If it can’t be fixed then there is no need to stress, just move on”.

 

In health and happiness,

Maria Losseva-Malho, NWS

updated iphone pics 194Maria Losseva-Malho is a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Specialist and is currently finalizing her certification as a Nutrition and Weight Loss Specialist. She is a leading Lifestyle Coach, Speaker, Author and a founder of The New Healthier You.ca and a creator of “30 Days To The New Healthier You “program. She is incredibly passionate about educating people on the importance of healthy, nutritious eating as means of prevention of potential health ailments, both for adults and kids. Maria’s mission is to empower people to become healthy by simplifying nutrition and providing the necessary tools to seamlessly implement a healthy lifestyle. www.thenewhealthieryou.ca

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