Sometimes we feel like our stress is unrelenting. Like we will be dealing with stress for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, to a degree that’s true. We will, more than likely, always have stress in our lives. But how we deal with the stress, or how our body deals with the stress is what really matters.
Stress kills. Stress has a profoundly negative effect on the body. The behaviors we tend towards when we’re stressed are frequently even worse. What if there were things you could do to mitigate the negative effects on the body? Fortunately there are.
First of all, don’t eat when stressed. That is difficult to do since, when stressed, we grab anything to make us “feel better”, generally the wrong foods. When stressed, we activate the fight or flight mechanism inherent in us to deal with stress. However, this mechanism shuts down anything not needed to fight or run from a perceived “danger” (the stressful event). This means digestion, the source of nutrients needed for health, your immune system, and many other bodily functions are shut down. This worsens the body’s healthy response to stress.
Secondly, certain foods inhibit a healthy response to stress. Sugar is top on the list, followed closely by coffee, alcohol, hydrogenated fats and certain food colorings. Watch labels and get rid of everything that has junk in it. Buy only real foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and organic meat and poultry. Nourish the tissues that help you combat stress.
Take some time out for yourself. Find a hobby, take up walking in the mountains, find something to do on a regular basis that makes you smile. Try relaxation classes such as yoga, Tai Chi or Qi Gong as de-stressors. Learn to breathe more deeply and make a conscientious effort during the day to do so.
Learn to eat at home more, where you can prepare healthy foods and relax more. Minerals, quality proteins and essential fatty acids are essential to healthy brain chemistry. Feeding the organs, glands and other tissues that help with the stress response are invaluable.
Speaking of invaluable, acupuncture is top on my list. Acupuncture has been extensively used for centuries for combating the effects of stress. It has an immediate relaxing effect, and by improving organ function it helps to assuage the effects of stress on the body.
Do get lots of sleep. Quality sleep, especially between the hours of 10pm-2am are essential in combating stress. If you can’t sleep, you need to find out why and address it. This is another area where acupuncture is very helpful. We all have stress, but how our body deals with it for the most part dictates how well we deal with it. A healthy body means a healthy stress response. By doing the things necessary for stress maintenance and not doing those things that aggravate stress go a long way in helping with the stress that will occur in our lives.
©2009 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
