Way out of stress

It is quite the usual to hear one lamenting that this age has been the time of many diseases. This was not the case in civilizations even a few decades ago. One is also quick to agree that it is due to the lifestyles of the day and more precisely it is the stress that pulls one closer to disease than any infective agent However, what is not clear is that how can stress which is such a deep-seated factor be the reason for a gradual rise in the levels of the cholesterol, blood pressure or even diabetes mellitus! It would be interesting to know how stress can catalyze the reactions of the human body towards these metabolic diseases of the mankind.

That waxy substance, cholesterol and its other friends the triglycerides and low density lipoproteins are all essential for the production of certain hormones in the body and also bile juice that forms the vital part of digestion. In fact it has the propensity to keep the cells receptive to various enzymes and hormones so that with proper permeability these can enter the cells and continue with energy production. Not to forget, it also helps in the absorption of Vitamin D — a vital link to bind with calcium and thereby the bone mass of the body. The liver is a storehouse of these complex lipids and is called upon whenever there is a metabolic necessity.

The dietary intake only adds to the factory of lipids. But in circumstances when stress at the home or workplace is enforced on the body, the liver imagining that more energy is required tends to release the low density lipoproteins into the blood circulation. When more than a required amount of this waxy substance is prevalent in the circulation, it tends to line along the walls of the blood vessels and over a period of time cause the occlusion of the vessels and if it happens along the walls of the important blood vessels supplying the heart or the brain it might lead to a heart attack or a stroke.

What adds to the problem is the fact that the same stress also causes gradual degeneration of the lining of the blood vessels This only hastens the the process of fats sticking to the vessels easily.

Adding to that is that a person under stress is more likely to find friends in tobacco and alcohol while a person under depression is more prone to tucking in sweets and chocolates which only adds to a pile up the dense lipids. Stress brings bad eating and sleeping habits which are detrimental to the individual's problem.

The idea is to see that the body is not further burdened by a diet rich in these waxy lipids and the limiting the in-take of dairy products, fish, meat and poultry and indulging in the lesser fat versions in the same food. Fibre rich foods also lower cholesterol levels and the roughage in the food only helps in limiting the total amount of food that helps the obese. The other way to counter it is through increasing the good cholesterol or the HDL by intake of nuts, almonds, pista, fiber rich vegetables, fruits, berries, garlic, onion; sunflower oil for cooking and not to forget a moderate amount of exercise as the daily routine.

There Homoeopathic medicine can help in an individuals' response to stress and remedies like Ignatia, Natrum mur relieve the emotions, Staphysagria, Opium help in diluting the disappointments and Aurum met etc. helps in making sure that the depression does not linger on.