We suffer every day and we know it: stress, whether physical or mental, is part of our lives. Some of us can adjust better, some of us can’t. When stress becomes overwhelming, it sinks our hard-earned quality of life.
A cold day can cause physical stress, and the body, in response, alters circulation, breathing, and heart rate to adapt to the new situation. A similar reaction occurs if we come into contact with viruses, bacteria, or polluted air. The organism resists change and tries to maintain its previous condition.
Excessive workloads, schedules, accumulation of tasks… exert similar pressure on the human psyche and generate stress, which, when well-managed, is a force that drives people to change, grow, fight, adapt or give in. Not all stress is harmful then, the important thing is to assume it as a source of external energy that helps us take on the challenges that life imposes on us, whether from a family, work or intellectual point of view.
It is true that modern life, just as it has reduced the physical loads in some types of work, has multiplied the mental loads in others, and has made stress a frequent evil, but many of those who succumb to it had the other before them. Option.
Perhaps you don’t know how to explain the cause of his restlessness in the waiting room before his first interview with the new boss, at the doors of a doctor’s office or in front of his son’s teacher’s chair. In stressful situations like these, the flight or fight function is activated. Biochemically speaking, the adrenal glands secrete adrenaline, the stress hormone, which travels through the body raising blood pressure, accelerating the cardio-respiratory rate and putting the body on alert. Blood sugar rises and tissues “burn” larger amounts of fat tissue for the sake of increasing the energy available to the muscles. The stress response is a tense, excited state that prepares a person to face risk and danger. Once the stressful situation is over, the body relaxes and everything returns to normal.
Good diet against stress
A certain amount of stress can be helpful in activating organic functions. But to fight the battle that stress unleashes at the cellular level, it is necessary to be mentally prepared and well fed. To have a good body disposition, not only mental, but also nutritional, you have to eat well. Poor nutrition can upset the overall balance of the body and make it more susceptible to disease, which in turn increases nutrient demands and affects the body’s ability to respond to changes caused by stressful situations. To keep your body and mind healthy, first go through that of a well-nourished body and mind.
