Holistic Approach to Stress
It has been said that a painful blow and a passionate kiss can be equally stressful. Meaning that any event that requires the body to return to normal balance is a “stressor.” Stress is any physical, psychological or physiological force that disturbs equilibrium. Everyone reacts to stress differently, maybe one person will experience anxiety attacks, while another may develop ulcers.
- Fatigue
- Prone to allergies
- High or low blood pressure
- High or low blood sugar
- High cholesterol levels
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Exhaustion
- Stress usually affects the weakest organ or weakest link in a person’s biochemical makeup
- Hormonal imbalances
- Poor digestion and malabsorption problems
- Suppressed immune system-susceptible to cold and viral infections
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Cry for no reason
- Lack of concentration
- Abdominal discomfort
- Nausea
- Bad breath
Dietary and Lifestyle Applications
Eat whole, unprocessed foods (organic produce if possible).
Eat foods high in pantothenic acid (B-5) including whole grains, legumes, cauliflower, broccoli, salmon, liver, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.
Avoid foods high in sodium.
Select foods high in potassium, which is found primarily in fruits and vegetables.
Avoid refined foods, sugar, alcohol and caffeine, and limit dairy products and wheat if allergies are suspect.
Moderate exercise is beneficial.
Get sufficient sleep.
Practice some form of relaxation including meditation, deep breathing, biofeedback, yoga or an enjoyable activity.
Drink plenty of filtered water daily.
Recognize stressors and don’t ignore them. Find a way to adjust or eliminate them.
Enjoy natural sunlight.
Establish a social network, which serves as an immune safety net. According to Dr. Christiane Northrup, at some level, every human illness is connected with a lack of social support.
Seek a massage with essential oils.
Bottom line, it’s important the reduce stress as much as possible to to enjoy good health.
