Chronic Stress: Follow These Simple Steps to Take Back Control
Nov 25, 2024
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Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, a functional medicine expert, and Dr. Elissa Epel, a stress and health specialist, dive into the silent killer that is chronic stress. They explore how diet affects stress and cortisol levels and discuss the cyclical relationship between nutrition and mental health. Listeners learn practical strategies like identifying stress triggers and engaging in fulfilling activities. The conversation emphasizes mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and unconventional approaches to stress management, offering valuable insights for reclaiming control over health.
A poor diet, especially high in sugar and processed foods, significantly raises stress hormones and negatively impacts mental well-being.
The gut-skin axis highlights the importance of gut health in achieving clearer skin and overall wellness through probiotics and dietary choices.
Proactive stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, and engaging in enjoyable activities can enhance resilience and improve mental health.
Deep dives
Diet and Physiological Stress
A poor diet can significantly raise cortisol and stress hormones, even when mental stress is absent. Consuming high amounts of sugar and processed foods creates a physiological stress response in the body, leading to physical stress symptoms. This connection exemplifies how diet influences mental well-being since unhealthy eating patterns often result from emotional distress. Therefore, making healthier food choices can help mitigate stress levels and promote overall well-being.
The Gut-Skin Axis
The health of the gut plays a crucial role in skin health through the gut-skin axis, reflecting how internal bodily conditions can manifest externally. Probiotics like DSO-1 daily symbiotic can support gut health and, consequently, improve skin clarity and appearance. This probiotic contains multiple clinically validated strains specifically formulated to enhance gut function, heart health, and skin nourishment from within. Thus, maintaining gut health is integral for achieving healthy skin and aging gracefully.
The Impact of Stress on Health
Chronic stress is a leading cause of many health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and memory impairment. The body's stress response activates when faced with threats, elevating blood sugar levels, which can be harmful over time. Factors such as socioeconomic status and a sense of control over life significantly contribute to an individual's stress levels and overall health outcomes. Understanding and managing these stressors is essential for preventing numerous chronic health conditions.
Finding Balance through Passion
Engaging in activities that bring joy can enhance resilience against stressors and improve overall mental health. A case study where a patient reignites his passion by returning to a childhood hobby demonstrates how rediscovering interests can rejuvenate one's well-being. Regularly participating in enjoyable activities creates a buffer against stress, enabling better emotional regulation. Integrating pleasure into daily life can ultimately lead to significant improvements in one's mood and outlook.
Active Stress Management Techniques
Proactively managing stress is essential for maintaining balance in life and health. Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and breathwork help transition the body from a stress-prone state to a relaxed one, reducing overall stress levels. Adding hormetic stressors like intermittent fasting or cold exposure can help build resilience and enhance well-being. Incorporating these simple but effective practices can lead to a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Chronic stress isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a silent killer affecting your health in ways you might not realize. In this episode of “The Doctor’s Farmacy,” I revisit conversations with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee and Dr. Elissa Epel to uncover the truth about stress, its surprising connections to diet, and actionable strategies to combat its effects. Whether it’s balancing your blood sugar, improving your heart rate variability, or creating restorative daily habits, these insights will empower you to take control of your health.
Which diet really gives you the best shot at optimal health? On Wednesday December 4th, Mark Hyman, MD will answer that question during The Diet Wars, a LIVE digital experience. Joined by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, they’ll break down the science, debunk the myths, and share their expert perspectives to help you make the best choices for your health. Find out more and get tickets now at https://www.moment.co/markhyman
This episode is brought to you by Seed, ButcherBox, and Essentia.
Seed is offering my community 25% off to try DS-01® for themselves. Visit Seed.com/Hyman and use code 25HYMAN for 25% off your first month of Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic.
ButcherBox is new users can select between ribeye, NY strip or filet mignon in every box for a year + 20 off. Visit ButcherBox.com/Farmacy and use code FARMACY.
Get an EXTRA $100 off your mattress purchase, on top of Essentia’s Big Black Friday Sale! Just use code HYMAN at checkout to get 25% OFF + an EXTRA $100 OFF + 2 FREE organic pillows ($330 value). Go to Myessentia.com/DrMarkHyman
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