What Stress Can Do To You

Everyone experiences a certain amount of stress in their lives. Some stress some of the time is normal.

In fact, since our prehistoric origins, the stress response has been vital for motivating us to react during times of crisis.

Today, we are not literally dealing with "hunt or be hunted" on a regular basis, although, there are certainly times that may feel that way!

Our stress hormones can help us to meet strict timelines, and deal with situations we find difficult in our daily lives.

Physical

The physical way we experience stress can vary. Some individuals become extremely irritable with their family members and coworkers.

Others describe a vice-like feeling of tightness in their chest or shoulders that makes it hard to breathe. Many people report cardiovascular issues like a racing heart and profuse sweating.

Some individuals suffer excruciating headaches or joint and muscle stiffness.

Gastrointestinal issues may be experienced, like severe stomach pains and diarrhea. Stress and negative emotions often go hand in hand with poor physical health.

Experiencing emotional stress jump starts the production of cortisol.

If this happens on regular basis the excess cortisol begins to break down the body's neurological, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and immune systems.

Emotional

Often, it is the emotional side of stress that we initially experience. It is our body's way of warning us "Hey, I'm not OK here... pay attention."

Unfortunately, many people have become accustomed to ignoring the seriousness of messages from their inner selves. They prefer to self-medicate, or deny their stress altogether. These are dangerous habits to get into.

Society has taught us, particularly men, that feeling and expressing feelings is wrong. Denying your feelings can make things much worse.

Chronic or unrelenting stress, if ignored, can manifest as a physical response in the body in the form of illness, or emotionally as depression.

Left unchecked, stress can be very damaging to a person's health. This will compound the problem. This can lead to adverse effects on other aspects of a person's life.

If you find yourself experiencing any of these signs, stop and reflect. Review your life and your priorities to eliminate, or at least reduce, some of your stressors.

Symptoms of stress such as acne, bald patches and dry skin may be visible and obvious. Although the mental and emotional damage may not be visible, their effects on self and loved ones usually are.

If your stress levels are left untreated, you are likely to develop even more serious health problems such as heart disease, obesity and depression.

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7 Signs You Have Too Many Toxins In Your Life

You think you’re healthy, but you don’t feel vibrant. You struggle to find the energy to get through the day. You’re irritable. Your stomach isn’t acting right. And all those headaches!

These types of ailments affect many of us in our daily lives. They’re not serious enough to warrant a trip to the doctor — or maybe you tried only to be told there was nothing wrong — but they still tend to drag you down, wearing away your resistance and leaving you feeling like you’re just getting old.

I have good news for you — it probably has nothing to do with aging. Instead, you may simply be surrounded by too many toxins.

Not sure? Here are seven signs to look for — and how you can clean up your system and feel better in 30 days!

Note: Always check with your doctor to eliminate any possible medical conditions as causes of these symptoms.

1. Consistent fatigue

Even if you’re sleeping well, you may fight to get through the day. This could be a sign that your body is working too hard to get rid of the toxins you’re pouring into it. How do you cope with fatigue? If you’re answer is “more coffee” or “sweet foods,” you can bet that you’re only making the problem worse. That fatigue could also be in response to hormone disruptors that are zapping your immune system.

2. Stubborn weight gain

It’s never easy to lose weight, but if you’re exercising daily and cutting back on calories and you’re still putting on the pounds, you could be looking at a hormonal problem. Strangely enough, our natural hormone function can be greatly affected by the toxins in our foods and personal care products. You need a complete detox of your diet and personal care routine to give your body a fighting chance.

3. Bad breath

You brush and brush, chew gum, rinse, and swallow breath mints, and still, you can’t get rid of it. Bad breath is often related to digestive problems, but it can also mean that your liver is struggling to get rid of the toxins in your body. Until you tackle the problem from the source, you’ll continue to scare away anyone who comes close!

4. Constipation

The intestines get rid of a lot of toxins every day of our lives. When we’re constipated, we’re storing up all those toxins, allowing them to negatively affect our bodies. In addition to stomach upset, constipation can cause headaches, aches and pains, and tiredness. It can also be related to the toxins in your life, especially if you’re consuming a lot of processed foods filled with chemicals, pesticides, and preservatives.

5. Sensitivity to scents

Strong reactions to smells — particularly fragrances — might mean that you’re simply sensitive to chemicals, which many of us are. It can also mean that your body is fighting toxic overload. Particularly if you suffer headaches or stomach upset simply from scents, this may be the case.

6. Muscle aches and pains

If you can’t tie these to your workout yesterday, could be that the toxins in your life are working away at your muscles and joints. This is more likely if you experience muscle aches on a regular basis.

7. Skin reactions

Acne, rashes, and other skin problems may signal a toxic overload. Acne, in particular, can be related to the toxins in our diet or skin care products. Puffy eyes and eczema or psoriasis outbreaks can also be signs that you’ve just reached your toxic limit.

My Solutions

• If you find yourself suffering from any of these seven symptoms, here are a few tips that may help:
• Support your liver with things like dandelion tea, parsley, cilantro, and milk thistle.
• Drink more water — it helps flush toxins out of your body.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Exercise gets the circulation moving, helping to move toxins along.
• Get a good daily supply of digestion-supportive probiotics, found in kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut, Kombucha tea, miso soup, tempeh, and kim chi.
• Always brush your tongue — even better, use a tongue scraper—when brushing your teeth.
• Practice deep breathing — we get rid of a lot of the toxins in our bodies through our lungs.
• Use only natural skin care products that are free of fragrances, sulfates, phthalates, parabens, and other potentially toxic ingredients, and always read labels. Use my Ingredients to Avoid list to find safer options.
• Choose clean, whole, and organic foods whenever possible!

Here's to living a healthy, toxin-free life!

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