Is Stress Stripping Your Body of Nutrients?

There is no denying that stress exists in your world and the world of those around you. According the American Psychological Association, 70 percent of Americans say their stress levels have increased or stayed the same in the past five years.

In the past year, however, 80 percent of Americans say their stress levels have dramatically increased.

You know that stress can affect your health in a negative way; but did you know about stress-induced nutrient depletion?

Hans Selye, the grandfather of stress, studied what happens to an organism (aka: you) during stressful events. This research led to the general adaptation syndrome, a way to measure the shot-term and the long-term effects stress has on your body.

There are three stages through which stress immediately affects your body. First is the alarm stage, where your brain recognizes a stressor and you immediately go into flight or fight mode. This causes your nutrients to become mobilized.

Secondly is resistance, where your body resists and compensates and your brain is trying to turn things back to normal and repair those nutrients. Lastly, there's exhaustion. The stress and stressors continue against your body leaving you more prone to sickness and disease.

What happens to your body after the exhaustion stage?

Centuries ago there was a recovery stage where all the nutrients that were mobilized would become repleted. However, this recovery stage no longer seems to exist in modern times.

Dr. Holly discusses how your body strips out nutrients when you're stressed, as well as some natural ways to help restore your body back to a healthier state.