Did you know that a chronic stream of stress hormone causes 80% of health problems?

Our bodies are pumping out hormones and chemicals 24/7. Stress starts in the Amygdala, which is located in the limbic system. The Amygdala is responsible for the response and memory of emotions as well as survival instincts. It’s kind of like a smoke detector or alarm which instructs our bodies to release different mixtures of chemicals and hormones in response to what is going on emotionally.

To put it simply stress is fear! When we experience fear the brain will initiate a physiological stress response, also known as the fight-or-flight response. When we are stressed our digestion shuts down. The textbook example is that if a lion was chasing you after lunch you wouldn’t be concerned about digesting your sandwich. Your brain would act effectively to shut down digestion, direct blood flow away from your belly, out to your arms and legs for quick moving and up to your brain for quick thinking.

This is a wonderful mechanism in place for our survival! However, while most of us do not encounter lions on our lunch hour, we DO experience stress. The problem is that on a physiological level your body doesn’t differentiate between a lion chasing you, a traffic jam or even common negative emotions like fear, anger and guilt. One is life threatening the other is not, but guess what…..on a physiological level they are the same! They both trigger the body to shut off digestion and store fat.

This means that if you feel stressed and just ate the healthiest salad in the world with tons of vitamins, healthy fats and protein you won’t actually be able to absorb all of those wonderful nutrients. Without essential nutrients your body may trigger a feeling of hunger. Not because it actually needs more food but because it is unable to access the nutrients that are available. WHOA! Did that sink in?

Even if you just ate a full meal you may still feel hungry because your body is in a stressed state and unable to access those nutrients!

Some of the Effects of Stress on the Body:

What increases with stress

Increased cortisol production: Associated with weight gain (especially in the belly), inability to lose weight or gain muscle, premature aging.
Increased nutrient excretion: Urinary loss of calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, chromium, selenium, and various microminerals.
Increase in salt retention: Can lead to high blood pressure.
Increase in blood cholesterol: Stress by itself will raise LDL levels.
Increase in blood platelet aggregation: A major risk factor in heart disease.
Increase in inflammation: The basis of many significant ailments, including brain and heart disease.
Increase in gastric emptying time: Can lead to constipation; also a risk factor in diseases of the colon.
Increased swallowing rate: A fast swallowing rate is a likely factor in digestive upset.
Increased food sensitivities and allergies: Plenty of anecdotal evidence, most likely due to decreased immunity and leaky gut.
Increased hydrochloric acid production: Increases probability of ulcers.
Increase in insulin resistance: Chronic low-level stress may cause target cells to become unresponsive to insulin, a factor in diabetes, weight gain, heart disease and aging.
Increase in erratic function of LES: Lower esophageal sphincter opens inappropriately, causing gastric reflux (also known as heartburn).
Increase in oxidative stress: Prematurely ages the body; a precursor to numerous diseases.
Increase in risk of osteoporosis: Bone density has been shown to decrease in stressed and depressed women; stress increases urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium and boron.

What decreases with stress

Decreased nutrient absorption: Due to decreased enzymatic production from the stomach, pancreas and liver, decreased bile flow from the gallbladder, decreased oxygenation and gastrointestinal blood flow.
Decreased gut flora populations: Healthy intestinal bacteria are destroyed by stress, which can lead to immune problems, skin disorders, nutrient deficiencies, and digestive distress.
Decrease in thermic efficiency: Your ability to burn calories is diminished.
Decrease in thyroid hormone: Can lead to a decrease in metabolic activity throughout the body.
Decrease in sex hormones: Can mean lower sex drive, low energy, decreased muscle mass.
Decrease in gastric emptying time: Can lead to diarrhea and larger food particles prematurely entering the small intestines, a probable factor in food allergies, sensitivities, and various disease conditions.
Decrease in growth hormone: A key hormone in growing, healing and rebuilding body tissues; helps to burn fat and build muscle.
Decrease in mitochondria: These are the energy powerhouses of the cell; when the number of these tiny cellular organelles are diminished, we literally produce less energy; can lead to chronic fatigue.

Wow! Now you have a deeper understanding of stress and how it may be affecting you. You can see that reducing and coping better with stress is a huge step in the direction to better health. Helping you to lose weight, lower the risk of stress related diseases, feel better both mentally and physically and create more balance in all areas of your life.

In the following blogs I will share with you more information on reducing and coping with stress in many areas of your life, as well as easy tips and techniques to implement so that you can experience the amazing and empowering benefits of a life that is less stressful and more enjoyable.

To your health!

Terra