Got Stress?!!

I know, I know, silly question....let me ask you this,when you are feeling stressed what do you reach for? Is your body screaming for a grilled chicken breast with a nice side of steamed veggies? Or are you on a rampage  to tear into the first bag of potato chips you can get your hands on, or perhaps you're diving head first into a quart of tin roof sundae? you know it, we both know it. The last thing we are after is something that would actually be GOOD for your body.

But why? is it your fault, are you just weak, do you you feel like a negative zero on the willpower scale? May I just share with you here and now before you go and start beating yourself up again. Food cravings come from two different sources Physiological and Psychological. This post we are going to address what happens to our bodies physiologically when we experience stress.

We have all heard of the fight or flight response to danger, we have all experienced it. Here's the scenario; your hiking out in the woods when, out of no where a bear appears on his haunches growling at you, with his huge paws exposing his ginormous claws! the next thing you know, you are five feet up a tree and you are not sure how you got there! congratulations, you have just experienced the fight or flight response!!

Our bodies are amazing machines. We have a conditioned protective response built in. When we are placed in a dangerous situation our Hypothalamus ( part of our limbic system) signals the sympathetic system and the adrenals ( two little half moon shaped glands that sit on top of your kidneys) that release adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones go to work very quickly flooding the nervous system and the blood stream.  Cortisol raises your blood pressure and increases the flow of glucose to provide quick energy and lightning response.


So here's the rub. When your body is stressed either physically or emotionally, it secretes cortisol as part of the fight or flight response. The problem is that our bodies cannot differentiate between immanent physical danger and mental duress. Whether your stress was emotional or physical, the stress response is identical, causing a spike in your appetite. This can cause a craving for comfort foods-foods high in fat and sugar.  So there you have it, our bodies are just doing what they are suppose to, they are responding to present danger and that is a very powerful hormonal response, a response  that leaves us with our hands caught in the cookie jar.

In our fast paced society, many of us experience a steady stream of stress, which means we are also undergoing a constant flow of cortisol racing through our bodies. Over time we are not only dealing with an uncontrolled appetite, but will be facing  more serious damage that comes with prolonged overloads such as: high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, type II diabetes, sleep disorders and depression just to name a few. 

Before you throw in the towel, let me tell you. . there is hope and much that can be done to mend, heal and control stress in our lives. lets just look at a few.

*First we must look at our " plate" so to speak. Is everything there necessary?  When you look at the risk of impending health problems, please seriously evaluate what is necessary and what can be set a side for a time or delegated. REDUCTION is your first task.

*There are of course some situations that cannot be changed. There are some things that are out of our control, focusing our energy on things that we can do something about, and re framing situations to find positives. Try taking a long view on whats going to matter a week, month or year from now. And letting go of anger, learning to forgive and love our selves. 

*Make time for yourself; an empty bucket has nothing to give. Find what you love to do, perhaps its a early morning walk, painting, pottery, or poetry. Whatever fills you up. make time for it, this will bring you joy that settles your soul. 

*Find time to meditate & pray, to expand your thoughts away from the present and see things in a more eternal perspective. 

* These  last three we will devote more time to discussing them in future posts. They include; getting enough sleep, regular exercise and eating nutrient dense foods in balance.

  As we implement these stress reducing techniques we can climb down out of that tree, remove the bear ( or at least De-claw him). One step at a time, be gentle with yourself.