SELF CARE with ‘The WHOLESTIC Method’ Elements…

if you want to optimize your immune system, resiliency and energy levels.

Stress can also have an indirect effect on illness as it is associated with all manner of bad habits (coping strategies), for example smoking, drinking alcohol to excess, poor diet due to lack of time, lack of exercise for the same reason, lack of sleep etc. All of these are likely to have an adverse effect on a person’s health so could cause some of the ill-effects attributed to stress per se.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/stress-immune.html

What are you doing to take care of the WHOLE you right now?

You have a choice how to live your life each day… as getting out of bed, brushing your teeth, taking a shower, getting dressed and making your bed! You hopefully have a choice to stay hydrated (filtered water ideally) throughout the day and eat real nutrient dense food (ideally!).

Chronic stress can be a result from a combination of sources as financial stress, emotional stress, and environmental stress. Chronic stress can also come from the lifestyle habits as not sleeping enough, smoking, drinking too many alcoholic drinks, medications, eating too much sugar and processed foods.

Short term suppression of the immune system is not dangerous.  However, chronic suppression leaves the body vulnerable to infection and disease. Conclusion: Stress (of the exam) reduced the effectiveness of the immune system. Evaluation: Difficult to unravel the relationship for certain. Does stress cause illness or does being ill make you more prone to stress? Also many of the studies do not take into account for the other factors which affect people’s lives. These can be drugs, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, general health, diet, physical activity, sleep patterns, age and medication. Although many studies try to control these factors it is very unlikely to gain complete control.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/stress-immune.html

When stress is ON and doesn’t turn OFF… then we experience a domino effect of breakdown and burnout from the inside out.

If CHRONIC non-stop type of stressor continues…short term is okay but chronic stress can:

• Digestion system activity is inhibited…increased risk for poor nutrient breakdown, low stomach acid and digestive enzymes –increased risk for gastric ulcers
• Cardiovascular system is impacted by raised blood pressure, increased blood cholesterol levels and Increased hear rate… those with “Type A Personality” are at greater risk for developed CHD!
• Increases stress coping strategies as smoking, excess alcohol, poor eating habits, lack of exercise and poor sleep (and more!).
• Short term suppression of the immune system
• Chronic suppression of the immune system leaves the body more vulnerable to illness as with infections, viruses and diseases.
• https://www.simplypsychology.org/stress-immune.html

When STRESS is on….and what is it doesn’t stop or is chronic?

• Our blood sugar is elevated to respond to that “emergency” or “threat”
• When stress is on… our immune system is depressed (lowering SIgA levels)

What about CHRONIC Stress and weight gain?  I know when I “suddenly” gained 30 pounds of fat weight in around 2-3 months, I was eating low-carb, doing fasted workouts and training for Ironmans and more.  My weight gain was NOT eating too much and exercising too little…it was a results of CHRONIC STRESS.

Stress affects hormones

“The levels of these hormones affect insulin levels. Cortisol is commonly known as the stress hormone. It can also stimulate the production of glucose in the body and raise a person’s blood sugar. People with abnormal hormone levels may notice their waist-to-hip ratio increasing.”-Aug 30, 2019, Diabetes and stress: What’s the link? – Medical News Today

Does stress make you fat?

“The body has a system of hormonal checks and balances that may actually promote weight gain when you’re stressed out. … Therefore, chronic stress, or poorly managed stress, may lead to elevated cortisol levels that stimulate your appetite, with the end result being weight gain or difficulty losing unwanted pounds.” -Does Stress Make You Fat? – MedicineNet

You don’t know about your HIDDEN internal stressors that are contributing to your non-stop chronic stress unless you run well-chosen functional lab tests as we do as FDN Practitioners (“Health Detectives”) as the DUTCH Complete Hormone test, BiomeFX, GI Map, Vibrant Wellness Wheat Zoom, Food sensitivity tests and Organic Acids test.

Recently, I found out that I still have a pathogen (H. Pylori) in my stomach organ impacting my internal homeostasis and contributing to my overall CHRONIC stress as it also leads to leaky gut, gut biome imbalance and inflammation.  I have been doing “everything” to improve my external stressors with my new lifestyle habits, intermittent fasting, low carb or cyclical keto, and mixing up my exercise (less is more!).  BUT I still have chronic fatigue symptoms as fatigue when running as with my slow pace, exercise induced asthma, increased heart rate, fatigue, inflammation and poor recovery.

What are you going to do to improve your health from the inside out?

Start to optimize your health and transform the WHOLE you with ‘The WHOLESTIC Method” health detective coaching program with me, Debbie Potts.Contact me for a complimentary consultation to learn more about the best way to get started!