Nutrition as Medicine and Other Musings

Stress less for your health..

Stress raises cortisol levels in the blood, therefore blood sugar levels go up putting strain on your body, as most people would know, diabetes is a disease affecting the blood glucose levels with many detrimental health effects. The effect stress has on the body is very similar.

No matter how healthy your diet or lifestyle, if you are constantly stressed you will not achieve optimum health. Health defined as overall mental and physical well-being, not just an absence of illness or disease.  

Excessive stress is linked to serious disorders. Managing stress through exercise, eating well, relaxation, a good sleep routine, and avoidance of conflict could help with alleviating stress levels. 

I personally handle stress very poorly, especially when i have chemistry exams and lots of assignments to write. Unfortunately due to my lack of stress management I managed to run my immune system down so low, I have a very low white blood cell count and can barely make it out of bed most days.. 

I live a very healthy  lifestyle, do not smoke rarely drink and eat a well balanced 90% vegetarian diet. Despite this I was always feeling ill, and run down - it seemed unfair as some people I know very rarely take care of themselves and they are always vibrant and full of life.

So until the blood tests come back with some definite anisewer of a infectious disease, I am going to put all this down to stress and burnout. 

I have neglected to exercise, being a small size I take for granted that my body needs it for its metabolic processes - not just to keep weight off! 

First step to stress recovery.

EXERCISE! I will take up yoga again. I had initially thought I would wait till I felt “better” but I believe its one of those situations where I won’t feel better until I actually do it!

Supplement with some calming herbs, I like rescue remedy, and 5-htp - a nutrient responsible for synthesising Seretonin. I hear magnolia supplements are quite effective too.