Mastering Nutrition & Stress Flashcards
What is the knowledge that clients will need for nutrition, health, and wellness?
The knowledge that will matter to the client will be knowledge that helps them to cope better with, and/or reducing stress
What is 1/2 of the equation when it comes to experiencing optimal health?
Eating healthy food and taking healthy actions.
What is the other half of experiencing optimal health?
The other half is being the ideal state of digest and assimilate food.
What is stress?
It is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.
What activates the stress response in the body?
The central nervous system, specifically the hypothalamus.
What happens when the stress response is activated?
-heart rate speeds up
-blood pressure increases
-respiration quickens (shallow breathing)
-adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol hormones are released
-blood flow is routed away from digestion, and directed towards the arms and legs
-digestive system shuts down
Why do we have a stress response?
It was essential for survival
What is important to understand about how the brain is involved with the stress response?
The brain cannot differentiate between real and imagined stress.
What are examples of “imagined” stress?
Getting fired because you are running late
Getting a failing grade on a test
Worrying about a loved one
Being frustrated with someone
What do real and imagined stress have in common?
They both cause digestion to shut down because the body thinks it needs to survive a threat.
What is the part of the nervous system that exerts the greatest influence over digestion?
The autonomic nervous system. It is a branch of the peripheral nervous system.
What is the autonomic nervous system responsible for?
-stimulating enzymatic secretions to the digestive process
-optimum nutrient absorption
-turning digestion on or off
What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?
-sympathetic which turns stress ON and turns digestion OFF
-parasympathetic which turns OFF stress response and turns digestion ON (responsible for relaxing the body and telling the body that you’re safe
What are 4 ways people experience stress?
- Biological/Chemical - in the processes of the body
- Mentally/Emotionally - in your thoughts, beliefs, and feelings
- Spiritually - in your sense of connection to that which is greater
- Structural - in your bones and muscles
What are the 5 big areas of life that stress affects?
Health, Money, Relationships, Career, Connection to that which is greater
It is all connected- …how you do one thing, is how you d everything
How does a health coach help a client reduce or cope with stress?
With the 6 Ws…
Why to eat
What to eat
How to eat (this is not a W question, but one of the most important)
When to eat
Where to eat
Who are you being when you eat
What happens with increased cortisol production?
Associated with weight gain (belly area especially)
Inability to lose weight or gain muscle
Premature aging
What happens with decreased nutrient absorption?
Decrease in digestive enzyme production
Decrease bile flow from the gallbladder
Decreased oxygenation & gastrointestinal blood flow
Why is there increased nutrient excretion with stress?
Stress increases the urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, chromium, selenium, and various trace minerals
How does stress affect the gut flora?
It destroys healthy intestinal bacteria which can lead to immune problems, skin disorders, nutrient deficiencies, and digestive stress
How does stress lead to high blood pressure (hypertension)?
With increase in sodium and fluid retention
How does stress affect thermic efficiency?
It diminishes the body’s ability to burn calories
How does stress affect the thyroid?
Decrease thyroid hormone and therefore decreases the body’s metabolic activity
How does stress affect blood cholesterol?
It raises LDL cholesterol levels
