The Stress Cure

Chronic stress has dire long-term health consequences – it is as bad for you as smoking and responsible for reducing our life expectancy.

Adrenal hormones are the body’s way of giving instant energy- part of the ‘fight or flight’ system to enable our hunter ancestors to switch into top gear to catch dinner or avoid being caught. However, modern living constantly triggers a stress reaction. Adrenal hormones – adrenalin and cortisol – are produced either by a stressful thought, consumption of caffeine or a blood sugar dip. One in five take time off work because of stress.

So what can you do about it? On this page you’ll find articles and books which help you resolve stress, build resilience and boost your energy through simple food and lifestyle adjustments. It’s worth keeping in mind that if you wake feeling tired and get too wired to fall asleep and stay asleep for six hours, there’s a good chance your brain’s biochemistry is out of whack and needs a service. In the morning you need dopamine and sufficient adrenalin to function, and in the evening your brain should be winding down its levels of adrenal hormones and making more serotonin and melatonin to prepare you for sleep. Dopamine and adrenalin are made from the natural amino acid tyrosine and phenylalanine Serotinn and melatonin are made from tryptophan and 5-HTP.