Stress Less

Stress and nutrition are closely intertwined. A nutritional deficiency is a stress in itself, since depleted amount of one or more nutrients places a strain on the entire metabolic processes dependant on that nutrient. For example, a slight iron deficiency results in reduced oxygen supply to the tissues and brain; in turn the oxygen starved tissues leave a person feeling tired, irritable and unable to concentrate. Likewise an inadequate intake of vitamin C or beta-carotene (beta-carotene is the pigment that gives carrots there strong orange colour) weaken the bodies antioxidant defences which increase the tissues risk of damage and disease.

Stress also affects your nutrient needs by reducing absorption, increasing the amount excreted from your body, altering the use of and increasing the daily requirements for specific nutrients. Yet it is in these times of stress that peoples eating habits are often at their nutritional worst. This leaves a person more vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies than at almost any other time in life.

Any type of stress may upset the nutritional balance, from the physical stress of disease or surgery to the emotional stress of losing a loved one or a breakup to the mental stresses of work, school and family life. One thing is for certain, emotional and mental stress suppress the immune system just as strongly as physical stress if not more so.

Stress can bring out the nutritional worst in a person. At a time when nutritional needs are at an all-time high, people forget to eat or eat all the wrong things. They often eat to fast or infrequently. They choose food because it’s handy or they are hoping for a quick pick me up.

The two worst offenders are caffeine and sugar. Although manufactures would love you to believe that anything sweet or caffeinated will give you an energy lift, in reality it is these foods that only add fuel to the stress fire. At a time when you need your mental, physical and emotional reserves, sugar and caffeine can leave you with plummeting blood-sugar levels and brain chemistry is disarray. In short, sugar and caffeine only make stressed matters a whole lot worse.

Have you ever caught a cold after a big event? Have you had to call in sick the week after a big deadline at work? Did you come down with the flu after burning the candle at both ends? Have you partied all weekend only to be sick all week? If you answered yes to any of the above questions you have experienced firsthand the direct line between stress and your immune system.

As your heart starts racing and the sweat appears on your brow, the stress response suppresses your immune system. Even minor troubles such as loud noise, bright lights, or sleepless night can affect your body’s natural defences. Depression, loss of a loved one and other stresses also suppress your immune system by as much as 50%  in some people, consequently, the more a person is stressed, the greater likelihood of developing a cold, infection or a more serious illness.

For more information on how to reduce stress or the effects of stress

Or to book an appointment please call Courtney on 0421125517

Or email courtney@vitalianaturalhealth.com.au