Stress

Stress

[ICON=stress.gif] The stress response in the human being developed so that one could either fight or flee from an animal or attacker. Under stress we need more energy so the body releases adrenaline and cortisol, hormones that release sugar from our body’s stores. This creates extra energy. Our eyes dilate, our senses are heightened, our vascular system opens up and our heart beats, more quickly. As energy demand is high, it is diverted from other systems in our body. We do not need to eat while fighting or fleeing, so energy used to support the digestion dramatically reduced. We also hold on to more fat around our abdomen so our reserves are there for us when we need energy quickly in times of dire emergency. The more fat accumulated around our middle is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer. Nutrients that are used up rapidly by our body when we are under stress are the B vitamins and magnesium. These are important to support our adrenal glands and nervous system. Other nutrients include Siberian Ginseng and L-Theanine which support adrenal function by ‘modulating’ our stress response.