The Tribune

By Dr Betty Adderley

YOU HAVE heard it said time and time again, “You can’t control life, but you can conquer stress”.

Stress in and of itself is not altogether destructive, but how we respond to our daily activities and circumstances will determine how we manage stress.

Some stress is designed to challenge us to excel to another level in our relationships and, physical well- being, emotional and mental stability.

The question is, “How much stress are we able to withstand and conquer before damage occurs?”

Research has shown that chronic stress affects many areas of our health including loss of memory, sleep depravation, anxiety, irritability, sluggishness, lack of focus, depression, and if ignored and not given immediate attention, problems such as cardiovascular health, constant fatigue, weight gain, brain health, mood swings, Alzheimer’s and many other disorders can occur.

Stress affects us even when we do not realise it. It affects us in many different ways. Stress symptoms can affect the body, our thoughts,feelings and behaviour. Having the ability to recognise stress symptoms can give us a jump-start on managing them. Stress can be triggered by work and study overload, family and relational problems and worrying. Whatever the case, research shows that the greatest risk centers around the damage of brain cells.

Dr Paul Bendheim stated in a recent article that high chronic stress levels are unhealthy and have been shown to impair memory and judgment. He continued by stating that chronic stress is a brain wrecker that can also contribute to increase risk of heart attacks, high blood pressure, cancer and intestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcers.

Stress can be categorised as follows – mental stress, physical stress and emotional stress.

As well as we are unable to completely eliminate stress from our lives, we need a powerful and natural way to protect our bodies from the damaging effects.

It is a known fact that the body triggers a response under extreme stress, which causes our adrenal gland to release strong hormones into the blood stream.

This action causes the reaction in the body systems and functions.

We cannot always control what happens in life, but we can manage stress. Research shows that there are several natural remedies that can help combat conditions that result from stressful situations; the most powerful being adaptogens. Adaptogens are derived from specific herbs and plants with properties that influence the body, exerting a generalising balance.

At the core of an adaptogen’s scope of action, is the ability to help the body cope more effectively with stress. Specifically, adaptogens recharge the adrenal glands which are the body’s mechanism for responding to stress and emotional changes.

Documented research shows that adaptuit, a natural remedy, containing a total of ten adoptogens is assisting users greatly in the fight against stress. Other natural herb supplements such as B12, ginkgo, lycium, licorice and antioxidants are also generating remarkable results.

Remember, exercise and spiritual meditation are key factors in the fight against stress and the quest for optimum health and wellness. Always remember, prevention is better than cure.

For further information on the subject and to obtain natural remedies, please contact the writer at 361-5435, or e-mail bett_on@yahoo.com.