Stress Management

All humans must maintain a complex and dynamic metabolic and bio‐energetic equilibrium, or homeostasis, which is constantly challenged by internal or external forces termed stressors. While we often think of stress as a bad thing, stress of various forms is actually required to maintain this equilibrium or homeostasis.

Exercise, for example, is a form of stress, as is intensive mental effort, but most people recognise that engaging in exercise and mental tasks is better for us than vegetating in front of a television. Optimum health is achieved by understanding both the positive and negative effects of various stressors, and in relation to a particular individual, finding the optimum balance of different sources of stress,hence the concept of ‘optimal stress management’.

The tissues that maintain our ability to manage stress successfully are very dependent on nutrition, and the availability of nutrient‐rich foods to ensure optimal response and maintenance of homeostasis. There are many other factors also involved, but a healthy diet and lifestyle, along with suitable targeted support can make a real difference to your energy and stress management.
 
Further information:

•  Chrousos, G. P. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and immune‐mediated inflammation. N. Engl. J. Med. 332, 1351–1362 (1995). 
•  Chrousos, G. P. & Kino, T. Glucocorticoid action networks and complex psychiatric and/or somatic disorders. Stress 10, 213–219 (2007). 
•  Mancini A, Festa R, Di Donna V, Leone E, Littarru GP, Silvestrini A, Meucci E, Pontecorvi A. Hormones and antioxidant systems: role of pituitary and pituitary-dependent 
   axes. J Endocrinol Invest. 2010 Jun;33(6):422‐33. Review.

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