What is Stress?
Stress is a state of mental and emotional strain that has come from a difficult or demanding situation. We all experience stress daily, but sometimes the stress is too much and has a negative impact on our overall nutrition and physical and emotional health.
Being able to manage stress is important in maintaining both physical and mental health.
.jpg)
What Happens to Your Health and Nutrition When Stress is Chronic?
Chronic stress or being constantly in “fight or flight” mode results in higher levels of hormones such as cortisol that can lead to unwanted symptoms and health problems.
Potential Side Effects of Stress on Gut Health and Nutrition
Stress can have numerous effects on how our gut functions and our nutrition in general.
Changes in Gut function
- Negative impact on levels of helpful bacteria (flora) in the gut
- Slowed digestion, absorption, and stomach emptying
- Diarrhea and constipation
- Heartburn, acid reflux, and stomach ulcers
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic inflammation
Nutritional Impact
- Excessive or inadequate intake of protein, carbs, fat, vitamins, and minerals
- Impaired ability to break down + use nutrients
- Excessive non-nutrient dense food intake decreases vitamins + minerals
- Excessive caffeine intake impacts hunger/fullness signals + increases anxiety
- Diet high in simple sugars like sweets + sugary beverages lead to loss of minerals such as chromium + magnesium that help with relaxation
Common Symptoms of Stress
- headaches
- changes in sleep patterns
- fatigue or tiredness
- decreased appetite
- changes in hormone levels
- unwanted weight gain
- low immune function
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- cancer
- depression
- nausea
- muscle and joint aches
- change in appetite
- decrease in antioxidants (these help fight harmful reactions in the body)
Want to know specifically where stress is affecting your life? Take my stress solver quiz here to find out how to get your life back, tell overwhelm goodbye, and identify what’s out of balance.
In addition, check out this post for actionable steps to reduce your stress.
