Stress and its effect on the gut

S is for stress

Stress is the chronic health condition of the 21st century. Long periods of stress can present symptoms such as irritability, sense of humour failure, insomnia, poor digestion, muscle aches, headaches, constant thirst, constipation, dry mouth, frequent urination and feeling too cold or too hot.

If these symptoms are familiar it is important to slow down and rest else risk reaching ‘burn out’ or even worse, heart attack, stroke, leaky gut, auto-immune conditions leading to skin issues and osteoporosis.

The more indirect you are, the more stressed you become. Literally get things off your chest. Emotions held in for as long time will eventually cause a fuse to blow. If you feel suppressed emotions such as anger or sadness, try talking to a councillor or consider alternative therapies such as tapping (EFT).

Never underestimate just how much your diet can affect your stress levels, avoid any foods or drinks containing caffeine, alcohol or sugar. These will exacerbate the problem adding to your cortisol levels and cause the adrenals to overwork.

Eat small, frequent meals as when you are stressed protien gets broken down quickly. Magnesium and other vitamins are rapidly depleted in stress so consider taking a good quality multivitamin.