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Stress and Sugar

By Joy Healey

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Published: 27Apr2009
Word count: 736
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Stress is among the top ten most common ailments suffered in this country. As many as 90% of visits to the doctors may be related to the condition. Experts agree that our modern life style is often to blame: we exercise less, work under greater pressure and have less family support.

A certain amount of stress in our life is good for us, but long term stress can trigger off many major illnesses, such as depression, low libido, anxiety, hair loss, eczema and irritable bowel. Under stress we produce too much adrenaline which makes the heart beat faster and raises blood pressure.

But lifestyle isn't the only source of stress - stimulants are an increasing problem. The popular image of stimulants is drink, drugs and a wild life-style, so you will probably be surprised to find out just how many substances that you use every day are classed as stimulants because of the effect they have on your body.

A stimulant gives you energy in the short term by inducing a stress reaction and, so that your body has the energy to respond to its perceived state of stress, you may want to eat or drink more and your blood pressure will probably rise. This reaction is known as "fight or flight" from the time in man's history when stress was caused by something like meeting a saber-toothed tiger round the corner and having the option of fighting it or running away. The action of running away or fighting would use up the extra energy generated by the stress and return the body to its normal, non-stressed state.

Modern stresses tend not to be resolved by physical actions such as running away. Twenty-first century man (and woman) is more likely to be stressed in a traffic jam, or in a meeting with the bank manager. So the body remains stressed for longer, with no way of resolving it.

In a state of stress, the body stops repairing itself so that it can concentrate on reacting to the perceived stress. The long-term result is that the more you stress your body with stimulants, the less your body repairs itself and the faster you will age.

Sugar is a dietary stimulant which you will find in confectionery, soft drinks and many hidden sources where you wouldn't expect to find it - particularly highly processed foods, even when they're supposed to be savory! Check the labels, watching for aliases such as sucrose, fructose, sorbitol, glucose, lactose and maltose. Although we need glucose for energy, it should not be presented to the body in a simple, concentrated form.

Our energy needs are better satisfied from starch or complex carbohydrates as found in grains, pulses, fruit or vegetables - which will also bring the added benefit of fiber to your diet.

Over-consumption of sugar has many ill effects on your body: you can easily put on weight; your teeth may decay; B vitamins and chromium are used up by sugar consumption, so you may develop a deficiency in these nutrients. Chromium deficiency is not only strongly linked with early onset diabetes, but also with heart problems because high-sugar diets have been shown to increase the levels of fat in the blood. This increases the risk of cholesterol and clots - possibly causing heart attacks and strokes.

Fatigue, acne and PMS are also linked with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. High sugar consumption has also been linked to gall-bladder, kidney and Crohn's disease, not to mention ulcerative colitis, colon cancer and enlarged liver due to fat accumulation.

Alcohol is a sugar-containing stimulant with the extra effect that it is addictive. On the negative side, alcohol depletes vitamins and minerals, depresses your immune system and increases the risk of breast, colon and rectal cancers. But an occasional glass of wine, beer or spirits is unlikely to do you much harm - and a daily glass of red wine has been found protective against heart disease.

However, moderation is the key. If you drink regularly, try a "dry" week, to check that you're not becoming dependent.

If you are pregnant, or planning to become a parent (male or female), remember there is NO safe level of alcohol for your baby.

While we may have little control over our life's circumstances, for most people, what we eat and drink is a matter of choice. Choosing to restrict sugar intake is a wise move on many fronts.

Joy Healey is a qualified complementary therapist, specializing in nutrition and stress. Visit her website for more information: http://anxietyrelief.hmmetro.net/

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