In our crazy-busy world today, it seems like more and more of us are suffering from the physical effects of stress.  From symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, fatigue, depression and anxiety to irritable/spastic bowel conditions, hormonal imbalances and increased allergic responses.  We are bombarded with both physical and emotional demands, and sometimes it seems that, no matter how grounded we are, stress can get the better of us. 

 

Fortunately, we have some great tools to help our bodies cope with this seemingly ever-demanding world.  The primary aspect we will be dealing with here is how to cope with stress on a physical level.  Countless books and spiritual guides on working with stress from a psychological and spiritual standpoint are readily available to all of us.  Although we may touch on a few reminders herewithin, we will leave that incredibly significant job up to the individual. 

 

So, why is stress so hard on our bodies?  Well, both physical and emotional stress deplete our nutrients.  Stress can "burn" 5-7 times the normal body requirements of several essential nutrients.  Minerals and B-vitamins are usually the first to go.  The nervous system depends on those nutrients to function properly, leaving us feeling frazzled and irritable when we are undernourished. 

 

The adrenal glands are also overworked when we are stressed because they are trying to help us stay on top of things by producing adrenaline at levels higher than is necessary or healthy.  This also leads to over-production of cortisol...which can lead to belly fat if left unchecked.  Remember that the adrenals do not distinguish between physical (chased by a bear) and emotional (worrying about the economy) stress.  So, in our world, we can be on guard much of the time.  This often leaves us feeling "wired, but tired."

 

One of the best ways to reduce cortisol levels in the body is through exercise (not super high-intensity, though).  Also, essential to health and repair of the adrenals and nervous system is the replenishment of vital nutrients. 

But before we worry about supplementation, we need to reduce the stressors in our bodies that we can control.  First and foremost is the diet.  Sugar, caffeine and food allergies cause a tremendous amount of stress on our systems.  The frustrating thing is that we tend to crave these foods more when we are feeling stressed/depleted/fatigued.  Remember that "Desserts" is "Stressed" spelled backwards.  So, out with the double latte with vanilla cream!  Find substitutes that work for you and keep them close at hand so you do not have a weak moment and slip-up.  Instead of coffee, try Yerba Mate tea.  The tea is loaded with antioxidants and is nourishing to the adrenals, while giving you energy, stamina and boosting the brain.  Herbal teas with licorice root and eleuthero (siberian ginseng) are also helpful, but not for those with high blood pressure.  Use low glycemic sweeteners like stevia (we love Sweet Leaf flavored liquids), agave syrup and xylitol (avoid with corn allergy).  Make sure you have good, clean protein with every meal and avoid processed foods (white flour, white rice, white sugar...).  Focus on whole, organic fruits and vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, and some whole grains.  Avoid sweets and sweet drinks, as well.  If you feed your body the right things, you will be amazed with what it is capable of.

Our two most popular supplements, by far, for stress and anxiety have been Theanine Complex (for alert relaxation) and Gaba Plus (helps slow "busy-brain" and gives you the gumption to get things going).   

 

Sleep is also essential to replenishing the body.  Being in bed by 10pm, yes, 10pm, is ideal.  Our adrenals are repairing from midnight to 2 pm, so give them the chance to do so. 

 

Belly breathing is also very helpful.  Lay down with a book on your tummy.  Breathe so that the book goes up and down with each breath.  Do this for ten minutes everyday - you will be amazed at how helpful it is.

 

Get out in nature.  As the weather cools, go outside.  Teamed up with prayer and meditation and exercise, stress often dissipates.  Take the time to care for yourself.  Get a massage or take a long bath, go to a funny movie - whatever makes you feel better.  Nobody else is going to do it for you, as difficult as that reality is for some of us. 

 

And last but not least, keep a positive attitude.  Sounds silly and unrealistic, but pessimism goes hand-in-hand with stress.  Make sure you are not only thinking positive thoughts about others and life situations, but about yourself.  It is so painful for us to see so many amazing clients who do not come close to recognizing how wonderful they are and how much they have to offer.  Evaluate your thoughts and attitudes, you may be one of them... 

 

As we are entering a new school year, we are ever aware that our children will be more likely to be exposed to all kinds of nasty bugs.  The thing to keep in mind, however, is that it is not so much the bugs we need to be concerned with, it is the state of the immune system being exposed, the "terrain."  Unless we provide an environment in our children's bodies (and our own) where unwanted microbes can thrive, we should be mostly protected from these infections. 

 

So, how do we do this for our children?  Aside from basic hygiene practices, there are many things we can do to help keep our kids' immune systems strong and their bodies an unwelcome habitat for infection.  We will touch on a few of the ones I believe to be most important.

 

First and foremost, diet, diet, diet...Sugar, for one creates an over-acid condition where harmful bacteria and viruses tend to thrive.  It also provides no nutritional value (among other things I will not go into here) and usually will take the place of something that could feed and strengthen the body.  That is not to say that I don't allow my children to have an occasional treat, but we all need to make an honest and serious assessment of how often those treats are given.  Replace sugar with stevia (nutritive herbal sweetener) or xylitol (actually fights tooth decay and kills bacteria) or even agave syrup.  Buy unsweetened almond or rice or hemp milk and add flavored Sweet Leaf liquid stevia to it - kids love it.  You can make homemade ice cream with it, sweeten yogurt, and oatmeal with it.  You can bake with xylitol just like you would use sugar.  It had half the calories of white sugar and no effect on the blood sugar (it does not stress the body).  Eliminate hidden sugars in things like jellies and nut butters.  The flavor is almost the same without the added sugar.  Avoid, or at least dilute, juices.  Unless you are juicing yourself, bottled juice has virtually no nutritional value.  And more than anything, lay off the sodas.  These are tremendously acidic in the body, leach minerals from the bones, and have a tremendous amount of empty calories.  Try adding flavored Sweet Leaf Stevia to sparkling water, or use Ultima Replinisher electrolyte drink for a treat.  These are great ways to keep the kids hydrated.

 

On the other side of the pH spectrum as sugar are fruits and vegetables.  The more we can introduce these necessary foods into our kids' diets, the better off they will be.  If your child is not up to par in this area, try a whole food matrix supplement like Sunshine Heroes Whole Food Antioxidant to boost them up.  Just remember, the more our body's natural pH is out of the ideal balance, the more likely we will be to "catch a bug."

 

Next, focus on the gut.  Two thirds of the body's immune system is located in the gut, and if that is out of balance, the body's defenses are greatly compromised.  Antibiotics (among other things) paired with high sugar/acid diets have altered our children's flora balance in their guts.  We need to nourish this delicate balance if we want them to get the most nutrition out of their diets and have the strongest immune systems.  Probiotics are essential to this.  While eating fermented foods like yogurt and kefir is great, the majority of us need something a little stronger.  A probiotic blend with multiple strains of flora is ideal.  We love Sunshine Heroes Probiotic Power with 11 strains of probiotics and a great taste. Try to have the kids take their probiotics on an empty stomach, if possible, because the bacteria are more likely to reach the intestines alive. 

 

Third, make sure your children are getting enough sunlight on a daily basis.  Much research has been done to link Vitamin D (produced in the skin from sun exposure) to proper immune function.  In Houston, most kids only need to spend 20 minutes playing out in the sun to produce adequate D.  However, sunscreen will negate that ability and the darker the skin, the longer it takes to produce the vitamin.  Also, we need more sun in the winter months.  You may want to consider supplementing with 200-1000 IUs of Vitamin D, depending on your child's size. We typically use Sunshine Heroes Calcium with Vitamin D or BioEntopic Vitamin D creme. 

 

Now, in addition to the suggestions above, there is another essential factor to consider.  A happy child is more likely to be a healthy child, on so many levels.   There is an undeniable connection between health and happiness.  No doubt that we all support this concept and want this for our children.  But, amidst the whirlwind we live in, it can become less of a priority for us at times. 

 

We can all help show our kids how to be positive, optimistic people.  First, we all need to look closely at what kind of example we are being for our children, not just in our habits, but in our attitudes.  I, on occasion, catch myself saying or projecting something that I would be heartbroken if my daughters thought about themselves.  What kind of example are we setting them up to follow?  And we mustn't forget that loving words and gestures are equally as important as physical touch.  We all need hugs and we all need to hear that we are loved and appreciated and special. 

 

So, feed your children properly on the inside and out and you will help them develop strong, healthy immune systems for years to come.  And don't forget to take a look at our new line of kid's products, Sunshine Heroes!  They are the best-tasting, most nutritious supplements for kids I have found to date, and my kids agree!