2023-12-20 11:20:26
Home > Files > How the body adapts to stress: from alarm to exhaustion written on December 20, 2023 at 12:20 p.m. The problem with our modern world is the rate at which requests arrive at us. Article published in newspaper nº 119
For several decades now, there has been a growing interest in plants classified as “adaptogens” such as ginseng, cordyceps, eleuthero, astragalus, maca, rodhiola, ashwagandha…And for good reason, they are an effective response to support our bodies which are constantly solicited by our modern way of life. Let’s see together how they can help us, and which plant best responds to which types or phases of stress. Part 2
It must be understood that the neurovegetative system is extremely old, and that at the time when it was established, the stresses were nothing like those we face today.
Let’s develop an example, you will understand: thousands of years ago, I am hungry, I am walking in the forest and by chance, I come across a large blueberry bush! I enjoy myself until a bear arrives, eyeing my blueberries, clearly not intending to share them… Immediately, the activity of my orthosympathetic branch skyrockets and that of my parasympathetic branch collapses: we must survive.
From there, we understand the intelligence of everything that is taking place. The diameter of my pupil enlarges, allowing me to capture maximum visual details in my environment. This is pretty good if I have to engage in fight or flight in the forest, anyone who has ever run among the trees knows how important this is. My heart rate accelerates, it’s better if I don’t want to stop, out of breath, after two hundred meters. My body releases glucose into my blood, again to avoid feeling sluggish shortly after the start of an intense effort; my muscles will need to have quickly available fuel. We also notice a peripheral vasoconstriction which allows two things: on the one hand, as the blood flows back towards the internal masses, my muscular profitability will increase by increasing the supply of nutrients, and on the other hand, if I am injured superficially, I will lose less blood, which improves my chances of survival. My intestinal peristalsis (and therefore my transit) is slowing down… Well yes, it’s better, it’s not the time to take a break behind a bush, there is still a bear chasing me!
Stress also damages the pancreas
Among the consequences of our chronic stress, there is pancreatic fatigue. Remember that adaptation mechanisms are designed for a flight or defense response, therefore to provide glucose to the muscles. However, it is socially impossible to run away or physically fight when faced with reproaches from your manager for poor results, for example. Your body will then opt for what is called inhibition. And who will have to provide insulin to bring down blood sugar levels that have not been absorbed by muscular effort? Your pancreas, of course. Stressing fifteen times a day then amounts to snacking on fast sugar all day long. Therefore, it is not crazy to think that chronic stress contributes to the surge in cases of type 2 diabetes.
In short, you have understood, everything that my body puts in place is intended for my survival, and it is very effective physiologically, in an unnatural, unartificialized world.
So, constantly, my neurovegetative system adapts its activity to what I experience. After a good festive meal, I don’t feel…
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#body #adapts #stress #alarm #exhaustion