The Toll Of Stress On Your Overall Health
With our world in the midst of a pandemic and our lives at an unprecedented halt, it’s no secret that many of us are experiencing stress like never before. Every day we are faced with new health issues and circumstances that many of us have never had to navigate before. While anxiety induced by these changes is normal, it’s important to remember that too much of it can have a negative impact on your immune system putting you at a greater risk for health issues.
The Impact of Stress on the Immune System
Stressed out? Lonely or depressed? Don’t be surprised if you come down with “something”.
While we don’t know all of the implications of high stress on the body, we do have an understanding of some of them. Psychology Today states that “the brain and the immune system are in constant communication,” and that “this delicate balance…can be disrupted by any kind of physical and emotional stress.” Some believe that as many as 90% of diseases and illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer, have stress as a causative factor.
Protect Yourself From Colds, Flu & Other Viruses. Naturally.
A regional virus outbreak in China has morphed into a global scare that now threatens countries all across the world. Cases in America have skyrocketed, with 22 states now being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC is watching a total of 63 potential instances of the Wuhan virus across nearly two dozen states, CNBC reports.
In addition, for the week ending January 11th, The CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, found that:
All 50 regions of the country are seeing elevated levels of flu-like illness.
Activity is being caused mostly by influenza B/Victoria viruses, which is unusual for this time of year. A/H1N1 viruses are the next most common and are increasing in proportion relative to other influenza viruses in some regions.
CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 13 million flu illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations and 6,600 deaths from flu.
Fructose As a Weapon of Mass Destruction
Fructose, also called fruit sugar, was once a minor part of our diet. In the early 1900s, the average American took in about 15 grams of fructose a day (about half an ounce), most of it from eating fruits and vegetables.
According Harvard Medical School, today we average four or five times that amount, almost all of it from the refined sugars (sucrose) used to make breakfast cereals, pastries, sodas, fruit drinks, and other sweet foods and beverages.
Researchers point to the fact that the rise in obesity, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in our country parallels a significant increase in dietary fructose consumption
Could Histamine Be the Cause of Your Migraines?
Understanding histamine could be the answer to your migraines. There is a lot of confusion about histamine and how it can either cause or prevent migraines. Here’s a guide to help you figure out how to control histamine and thus reduce occurrence of migraines.
A Two-Edged Sword
Histamine is an amine (a chemical which is made from an amino acid) that is involved in tasks within the immune and neuroendocrine systems, neurotransmission, gastric secretion, cell life and death, and development. It is part of a local immune response to cause inflammation. It performs several important functions in the bowel and acts as a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger that carries signals from one nerve to another. It is able to affect the immune, digestive and nervous systems by affecting cells in many different parts of the body.
This is Your Immune System on Stress
Are you constantly struck down by colds, flu and other infections – no matter how well you look after yourself?
If yes, then perhaps your stress levels are to blame.
Stress is the body’s reaction to a physical, mental or emotional strain or tension. It is brought upon by physiological, psychological and environmental events that the body perceives as challenging, threatening or demanding. These events are called stressors.
When stressors are present, your body’s “fight-or-flight” reaction gets turned on. Your brain sends defense signals to the endocrine system resulting in an onslaught of stress hormones being pumped around the body. While these hormones are useful in acute situations, their ability to interfere with the immune system can result in inflammation, reduced white blood cells, and a higher susceptibility to infection and tissue damage.
Is It Possible to Prevent Dementia?
With 7.7 million new cases diagnosed every year and 47.5 million people living with it worldwide, dementia is a big concern. But, did you know that memory loss is NOT a normal part of aging?
What’s Normal and What’s Not?There is a difference between normal, age-related forgetfulness and a serious memory problem. Serious memory problems make it hard to do everyday things like driving and shopping. Signs may include:
Asking the same questions over and over again
Getting lost in familiar places
Not being able to follow instructions
Becoming confused about time, people, and places
Beetroot Juice Helps Lower High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a rising concern for people. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1,000 people die every day in the US from health problems caused by high blood pressure.
The Risks Associated With High Blood PressureIt can contribute to medical problems such as:
Coronary artery disease
Stroke
Blood clots
Obesity
Diabetes
Sleep apnea
Heart attack
These are a few of the health concerns you need to be worried about if you have high blood pressure.
Gut Bacteria Drive Autoimmunity
While autoimmune diseases have many unanswered questions, there is increasing evidence that gut bacteria is a driving factor in autoimmunity. A research group from Yale performed a study that has given us more evidence that gut health can lead to autoimmune diseases.
The Link Between Gut Bacteria and Autoimmune Disorders
The researchers discovered that when Enterococcus gallinarum was moved from one part of the gut to the liver or other tissues within mice, it triggered autoimmune responses.
In the study, they chose mice that were genetically susceptible to autoimmunity and found that as the E. gallinarum moved to other parts of the body, it causes inflammation. Also, they found that their bodies produced auto-antibodies. Both of these responses are signs of an autoimmune disorder.
They moved from testing mice to performing these same tests on cultures taken from human liver. These tests resulted in the same findings- gut bacteria played a key role in the development of autoimmune diseases.
How to Detox Your Life
When the subject of detoxification is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is cleansing the body through diet. While the foods you consume are crucial to your overall health, there’s more to the detox process than just what you eat. Think bigger.
What if you could detox your entire life?
Let’s start with what’s around us. Environmental toxins are everywhere—in the air, soil, water, food, and even our homes. While it’s impossible to escape pollutants entirely, the goal is to minimize our exposure.
So what can be done within the boundaries of our houses?
Science News: Migraines May Be Related to Nutrient Deficiencies
A high percentage of children, teens and young adults with migraines appear to have deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B2, folate, magnesium, and CoQ10 (a vitamin-like substance found in every cell of the body that is used to produce energy for cell growth and maintenance.)
Migraines — a recurrent throbbing headache that typically affects one side of the head and is often accompanied by nausea and disturbed vision — affect approximately 38 million men, women, and children in the U.S. and 1 billion people worldwide each year. Migraines are a neurological disorder, characterized by recurring headaches and considered to be the most common disorder of the nervous system.