Of course there is nothing wrong with a little bit of stress. But on the long term scale we can suffer serious consequences. Everything from depression to decreased sex drive, to the loss of hair and digestive problems can be caused by stress. Additionally, we will be producing more adrenaline and having a higher heart rate, increasing blood pressure and other related issues.
Adding to our basic lifestyle of work and responsibilities and no exercise are the stimulants we take in every day. No, this doesn't have to be drugs, alcohol and partying. Stimulants come in many forms in our everyday diets and have major effects on your body without you even realizing it.
What a stimulant does is basically give you a short term boost of energy by triggering a stress reaction. With this stress reaction your body will be more energetic in preparation for action, this is the common fight or flight response that was once put to use in our basic survival methods but is now largely without day to day applications on that scale. The fight or flight mechanism would cause us to then use our excess stress energy, returning our bodies to a more natural state of rest.
As mentioned however, the fight or flight mechanism is outdated. Today we don't have to run away from man eating animals. We are stressed when we are late for a meeting and stuck in traffic, and there is no effective way for our bodies to burn off the stress and energy.
One of the problems with stress is that your body shifts its focus toward the stress itself in these times and away from other, healthy and important functions. The result is that you will end up with a worse immune system and aging faster as a result of stress.
Sugar is actually a stimulant and can therefore lead to increased stress levels. Sugar is found today in so many of our foods it is really out of control. Check the labels and see for yourself, you'll be shocked at how much sugar is in foods that are not even sweet. Processed foods are the worst, so be sure to know what to look for. Different types and names of sugar include fructose, sucrose, glucose, lactose, maltose and sorbitol. Don't be mistaken, we do need glucose for our body energy supply, but we break it down from other foods and should not be ingesting it at concentrated levels.
In place of processed foods you should be eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables which contain complex rather than simple carbohydrates along with other vitamins and nutrients.
Too much sugar in your everyday diet can lead to many problems. Among these are getting fat and becoming obese, risking tooth decay and a lack of important vitamins and essential minerals. You can face serious heart problems from too much sugar in your diet, as well as blood pressure and cholesterol increased. You will even be at risk for strokes, heart attacks and other potentially fatal ailments.
Other diseases you will be at risk for include diabetes, certain types of cancers, liver and kidney problems and more. Even milder and more generic problems such as acne, PMS and fatigue can be worsened by too much sugar.
Alcohol is one of the worst things you can overindulge in. It contains sugar in the form of simple carbohydrates and is of course also addictive. It dehydrates your system and therefore gets rid of the vitamins and minerals you need too. Your immune system will also be weakened. So when it comes to alcohol limit yourself to a glass of wine a day, which can actually have healthy effects on your body.
Now is the time to take charge of your life and make yourself healthier, while also improving the way you look and feel. Sign up at your local gym, buy some equipment or join forces with the active people in your life and you will be on your way to a healthier, longer and more enjoyable life today.
Dan_Clay
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