During any given time our bodies are
experiencing stress. Some stress is necessary to function,
but of the stress that we feel is more that our bodies can handle.
Our jobs, our family situations, our own mental chatter and worry
can cause our bodies to be stressed and can have unwanted repercussions.
Chronic stress causes cortisol to increase in your blood, which
can increase blood sugar, increase hunger, and promote more fat
storage.
The body stores “stress fat”
in the belly to prepare for a crisis which was OK when
the tiger was chasing us. This stress increases the adrenaline
and cortisol to be excreted into our bloodstream and our body
responds to it by holding on to the calories. Then we ran and
distributed the adrenaline and cortisol and it didn’t hang
around, now it stays in our bodies and causes us to store extra
fat in our abdomens. This mechanism is
in action whether the stress is real or perceived so we remain
in this alerted stress state constantly.
Stress leads to adrenal imbalance and
exhaustion. Some of the symptoms of adrenal exhaustions
are:
- Feeling bone tired during the day, only to perk up at night.
- Nodding off at the movies, at meetings, or while reading during
the daytime.
- Snacking in the evening and frequently stay up late into the
night.
- Feeling hungry, confused, or shaky when under pressure during
the day.
- Habitually relying on caffeine and high-carb snacks to boost
your flagging energy.
- Have you noticed a “spare tire” growing larger and
larger around your waist each year?
- Eating modestly and exercising, but still not losing weight.
Supporting your adrenal glands is the
answer to recovering your energy level and staying your healthy
weight. Believe it or not, the best support is to eat.
Eating regularly and healthfully is very important. Eating your
larger meals early in the day when your cortisol levels are highest
and lighter meals when your body is trying to shut down for sleeping
will help your body maintain it proper level of blood sugar and
cortisol. Eating healthy foods is also important.
Foods full of nutrients will maintain
your blood sugar much more efficiently than high calorie,
low or non-nutrient dense foods such as refined sugars, sodas,
and caffeine containing beverages. The best way that I have found
to not eat these kinds of food is not to have them in the house.
Fill your cupboards and refrigerator with healthy wholesome foods
so that when you want something to eat, it will be good for you
to eat it.
Some supplements are known to be helpful
in combating stress. These are Vitamin C, Magnesium,
and the B vitamins. Herbs that help to calm the stress include,
Licorice, Ashwagandha, Eleuthero / Siberian ginseng, Wild Yam,
Sarsaparilla, Rhodiola, Dandelion root, Cinnamon. Oh,
by the way, these herbs can be found in my “Adrena
Tea”, which is available on-line and/or at my office.
Clickone of the links below to purchase Adrena Tea and other
herbal products on line:
www.BonnieTravisDC.com
or www.ArnicaFlower.com
If you have any questions that you would like me to address in
this newsletter, please email them to me at
drbontravis@gmail.com.
Dedicating herself to the total health and
well-being of each individual patient, Dr. Bonnie Travis
offers primary health care services through modern Chiropractic
healing methods.
Techniques include: gentle
and non-force according to the individual patient's needs. Services
include spinal manipulation, physical therapy modalities, diet,
nutritional, herbal and hormonal counseling.
