The Effects of Stress

In line with our healthy living principles, this is just a reminder to do what you can to minimize stress in your life. Did you know:

• The adrenal glands secrete cortisol in response to high stress and a high cortisol level has been linked to weight gain, specifically around the abdomen. For this reason stress management is so important.
• The ph of your body should be close to that of water. A body that is overly acidic causes you to feel tired and prevents you from losing weight
• The concept of a "detox" is to help the body eliminate the toxins that have accumulated (from food, pesticides, various additives, stress, alcohol, pollution, etc) by eating fruit and vegetbles known for their detoxifying properties. After a detox you will feel better and should have more energy

Remember:

1. If you allow your body to be exposed to stress for a long time, it can lead to serious health problems;
2. Chronic stress can affect every system in your body;
3. Stress can raise blood pressure, which can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke;
4. Stress can speed up the aging process;
5. Stress can lead to long term anxiety and depression

I've found that the healthy living, diet and exercise principles we discuss each week, have helped me tremendously with effective stress management. While there may always be some degree of stress in our lives, its really how we handle it and manage it, that will make the difference. Betty Robinson