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CellWellness: Product Information
Stress—more than you think
We often speak of being stressed out. The pressures of a job, of school, or of a relationship build up and we find ourselves on edge, nervous, losing sleep, and eating excessively. We are stressed out until the situation is resolved and our life returns to some degree of normalcy.
But stress goes beyond this—it encompasses much more than the examples given above and can harm us much more than losing some sleep or gaining a few pounds can.
Stressors
As long ago as 1956, Hans Selye, an endocrinologist, defined stress as “the nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it,” and termed the demands made upon the body as stressors. Stressors include physical and environmental factors, such as pollution, temperature extremes, and trauma; physiological factors, such as nutritional imbalance, gender, age, pain, lack of sleep, and chronic infections; and mental factors, such as emotional strain, anxiety, and depression.
These stressors can also be acute, intermittent, or chronic. Acute stress hits hard and quickly—being robbed, being in a car accident, or having a disagreement with a spouse. Intermittent stress lasts over a longer period of time and “builds up”—think of studying for an important exam, then having to pay taxes, and then being put in charge of an important project. When intermittent stressors continually reoccur, they can become chronic stressors. Chronic stressors are long term and become “part of life.” Examples include continuing in a job you dislike, eating a diet low in important nutrients, caring long term for a loved one, dealing with a degenerative disease, or experiencing a never-ending stream of intermittent stressors.
These are all stressors because they all trigger a physiological sequence of events in our bodies—a stress response mechanism (also called a stress adaption mechanism). If the stress is short-lived—an acute stressor—the body quickly returns to normal. However, if stress continues—as in intermittent or chronic stressors—the body’s stress response mechanism continues, and it may aggravate an existing health problem or trigger an illness for which you’re at risk.
This should not be taken lightly. Various surveys estimate that stress contributes to 80 percent of major illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, digestive diseases, mental disorders, injuries, nervous system and sensory organ diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, cancers, endocrine and metabolic diseases, skin disorders, and infectious ailments of all kinds.
More specifically, Selye has linked stress to angina, asthma, autoimmune diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease, common cold, depression, diabetes (adult-onset, Type II), headaches, hypertension, immune suppression, irritable bowel syndrome, menstrual irregularities, premenstrual tension, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and ulcers.
How?
How can stress lead to such serious health problems? This has to do with what the stress response mechanism can do to the body long term. And remember, stressors include living in an overly polluted area, having problems in a relationship, aging, or being malnourished.
Alarm
The first physiological stage is alarm. This is most noticeable in acute stress. When something sudden and dramatic happens, we produce something called catecholamines, which produce some of the familiar signs of stress—rapid heartbeat, loss of appetite, and so on. This reaction is normal and the body rapidly returns to normal.
Resistance
The second physiological stage is resistance. If the stressor is prolonged or uncontrolled, a hormone called corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulates the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). This signals your adrenal gland to release a class of stress hormones known as corticoids, which include glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Each of these plays a role in stress, and examining them points to why stress is a factor in so many health problems.
Glucocorticoids—especially cortisol—raise cholesterol levels and inhibit gastric secretions while facilitating colonic movement. This can result in peptic ulcers and the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. In some cases, glucocorticoids can inhibit insulin production, leading to the development of adult-onset diabetes.
Cortisol results in blood becoming thicker, which can result in higher blood pressure. In the long run, this can increase the risk for stroke or heart attack.
Cortisol can also inhibit macrophages and natural killer cells, two important components of the immune system. Intermittent or chronic stress may increase your susceptibility to upper respiratory viral infections such as the common cold or flu, and studies suggest that the incidence of bacterial infections such as tuberculosis and group A streptococcal disease may also increase.
Mineralocorticoids, such as aldosterone, can affect how the kidneys absorb and reabsorb sodium and water, which in turn can raise blood pressure.
This resistance stage may last for days, weeks, months, years, or longer. It can thus be involved in intermittent or chronic stress. Still, if the stress is resolved, your body does return to a normal state.
Exhaustion
The third stage of stress is exhaustion. In this stage, the stress response mechanism has continued for too long. The body has done all it can to fight the stress and is now exhausted. This stage can lead to degenerative diseases.
A role for DHEA and magnesium?
Stress does affect us on a physical level. But there is another physiological link: a connection between stress and the mineral magnesium and the hormone DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone).
When the body produces cortisol, it also produces DHEA. DHEA works with the cortisol both to bring the body back to normal and to buffer us from some of the negative effects of cortisol. However, if the stress continues, the cortisol continues to rise, but DHEA levels begin to decrease. This is because DHEA is converted into cortisol—in other words, DHEA is sacrificed for the cortisol. This results in a high cortisol to DHEA ratio and a loss of the buffer against cortisol.
If the stress is not eliminated soon, we experience the “exhaustion” stage. This ultimately results in a lower cortisol/DHEA ratio. The long-term consequences of this are degenerative disorders such as cardiovascular disease (stroke, heart disease, atherosclerosis), cancer, diabetes, arthritis, autoimmune disorders, collapse of the immune system, failing memory and concentration, depression, and other mental disorders.
Magnesium also plays a role in stress. According to a report in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (vol. 13, no. 5), when magnesium deficiency exists, stress increases the potential for health crises, and in the abstract, the authors conclude that stress increases the need for magnesium.
What to do
To combat stress and its negative effects, there are a number of steps we can take.
Start with nutrition. Inadequate nutrition is a stressor in itself, and if we are not “nutritionally fit,” any other actions we take to combat stress will fall short. This means eating a good diet—one high in simple carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables, and low in sodium, fats, and sugars. A good way to get good basic nutrition is through the AIM Garden Trio™.
Avoid stressors when possible. Although stressors are a constant in the world, we can take steps to eliminate as many as possible. This means avoiding pollution and toxins and dealing with the emotional stress found in life.
Exercise regularly. The natural decrease in adrenaline production after exercise may counteract the stress response. People who are physically fit handle stress better.
Find a friend and relax. Prayer and meditation can help you deal with stress, as can having someone to talk with. Focusing on hobbies, listening to relaxing music, getting a massage, or soaking in a bath can all help you relax. If you soak in a bath, AIM Cell Wellness Restorer is the ideal product to use.
Support DHEA and magnesium levels. One way to do this may be through AIM Cell Wellness Restorer.
AIM Cell Wellness Restorer
AIM Cell Wellness Restorer is desalinated seawater that has undergone special processing to concentrate minerals that are essential for the functioning of body cells. Preliminary research indicates that using AIM Cell Wellness Restorer supports both mineral and DHEA levels. The experiences of thousands of AIM Members with AIM Cell Wellness Restorer indicate that it provides a wide range of benefits.
Cell Wellness FAQs
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Prices and offers are subject to change without notice.
This page contains copyrighted materials and/or trademarks of AIM International, Inc. and is reprinted with permission.
All articles and information on this website are for educational purposes only. They are not to be regarded or relied upon as medical advice. The articles and information have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult your health practitioner if you have health problems.
AIM products are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, mitigate, or prevent a disease or illness. Results may vary per person.
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