Sep

Stress and Nutritional Therapy

In an ideal world, none of use would ever suffer from stress. Unfortunately, modernliving can be very stressful at times and we can need some help in dealing wtih this both physically and emotionally.

Stress increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. It can cause either over- or under-produciton of acid in the stomach.

Over production can cause inflammation of the stomach lining leading to acid reflux and ulcers. Under production of acid can result in nutrient deficiencies through malabsorption and an increased risk of food intolerances.

Stress can also aggravate conditions such as food sensitivities, PMS, insomnia, asthma, IBS and migraines.

NUTRITION AND STRESS

During periods of stress it can be all too easy to forget about the nutritional value of the food we eat. This only make matters worse as sterss increases our need for certain vitamins and minerals which we aren’t getting in our diets.

The result is an increased need for the B vitamins to support the nervous system, but our ability to absorb these is may be reduced by the digestive disturbances caused by stress. This combination leads to deficiencies which causet he body to get even more stressed – it’s a viscious cycle.

Hormones released in response to stress increase the loss of magnesium from the body. In experiments, magnesium deficiency led to increased sensitivity to noise and overcrowding. And people who are more prone to stress have lower levels of magnesium in their blood than those who are relaxed.

Have you ever caught a cold, after a tight deadline or burning the candle at both ends? If so you’ve experienced the close link between stress and the immune system. Stress suppresses the immune system, reducing our resistance to colds and infections. We need vitamin C and zinc to boost our immune system, hence the need for both is greatly increased during times of stress.

Life is stressful! I know, tell you something you didn’t already know!

Unfortunately, at some point in our lives, we will get stressed. This can range from little stresses such as the supermarket not having exactly what you want for dinner, to the major stresses, such as work and relationships and illness.

I have put together some tips to help deal you with both the physical and emotional stress.

First, the not-so-good news. Stress increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

It can cause either over- or under-production of acid in the stomach. Over production can cause inflammation of the stomach lining leading to acid reflux and ulcers.

Under production of acid can result in nutrient deficiencies through malabsorption and an increased risk of food intolerances.

Stress can also aggravate conditions such as food sensitivities, PMS, insomnia, asthma, IBS and migraines.

NUTRITION AND STRESS

Now for things we can do to help our bodies cope with stress.

During periods of stress it can be all too easy to forget about the nutritional value of the food we eat.

This only make matters worse as stress increases our need for certain vitamins and minerals that we aren’t getting in our diets.

This leads to an increased need for B vitamins to support the nervous system, but our ability to absorb these is reduced by the digestive disturbances caused by stress.

This combination leads to a vicious cycle of deficiencies which cause the body to get even more stressed.

Hormones released in response to stress increase the loss of magnesium from the body. Magnesium is the mineral that helps us to relax. Without sufficient levels our muscles contract more and we find it harder to unwind.

Have you ever caught a cold, after a tight deadline or burning the candle at both ends? If so you’ve experienced the close link between stress and the immune system.

Stress suppresses the immune system, reducing our resistance to colds and infections. We need vitamin C and zinc to boost our immune system, hence the need for both is greatly increased during times of stress.

Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, especially citrus fruits, kiwi, and red and green peppers to boost your vitamin C level.

Shellfish, liver, wheatgerm, nuts, seeds, red meat and poultry are all rich sources of zinc.

Nuts, seeds, beans, pulses, brown rice and green, leafy vegetables provide magnesium.

Foods rich in complex carbohydrates, such as wholemeal bread, wholegrain pasta and rice, and potatoes encourage the brain to produce serotonin, can have a calming effect on mood.

For more nutritional guidance and information, sign up to my RSS feed.