So the question for today is this . . . are you "Stressful" or "Stress-free"?
Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. And stress is the body's reaction to a challenge or demand. It can make you frustrated, angry or even nervous.
Stress can cause low energy, headaches, upset stomach including diarrhea, constipation and nausea, aches, pains and tense muscles, chest pain and rapid heartbeat, insomnia, frequent colds and infections, and loss of sexual desire and/or ability.
I think most of us knew all that . . .
But did you know that stress can also increase a person's "blood sugar" and glycated hemoglobin levels? Which can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes?
You see . . . stress blocks the body from releasing "insulin" and that lets glucose pile up in the blood. So the more stress you have . . . the more build up of blood sugar and ultimity now it becomes a health issue.
So let's explore stress and diabetes a little more . . .
As I just stated . . . stress blocks the body from releasing insulin, which in time can cause diabetes . . . but what if you already have diabetes and then become stressed?
Well . . stress aggravates diabetes. Stress will raise blood sugar levels, activate fat cells, impair glucose tolerance, increase insulin resistance and impact blood pressure.
So it only make sense . . . we need to focus on lowering our stress level to reverse the effects on our blood sugar and insulin sensitivity.
Okay . . . so how do we fix that???
Well . . . I'll tell you a little secret I discovered many years ago . . .
There's an specific anti-inflammatory amino acid that is vital in the pancreatic islets. And as long as it's present in the body . . . toxic white blood cells can be inhibited, thus increasing survival of the insulin-secreting beta cell (we spoke of this in a previous Health tip about diabetes).
Simply said . . . This amino acid dampens inflammation in the pancreas which is a key step in helping it produce insulin and keep blood sugar levels under control.
Now on a stress level . . . this same amino acid is considered an inhibitory neurotransmitter because it blocks or inhibits certain brain signals and decreases activity in your nervous system. This all produces a calming effect which can help with feelings of anxiety, stress and fear.
So it's kind of like which came first . . . the chicken or the egg? . . . stress or diabetes?
But no matter which one it was . . . this amino acid can help both . . . by keeping blood sugar levels under control and at the same time, block certain brain signals with a calming effect.
This is a win . . . win!
Now . . . what can cause low levels of this amino acid?
Well . . . that would be stress, lack of certain nutrition and "not getting enough exercise".
You see . . . exercise helps the body produce and increase the level of this amino acid for a healthier and calmer you.
So get moving people and eat a health diet.
As always, feel free to contact me here