April is Stress Awareness Month, so I wanted to talk a little bit about the impact stress has on our bodies due to diet, lifestyle, and environment. Stress shows up in many ways however it is known to be one of the common causes of hormone imbalance and poor gut health both of which set the foundation for both minor and major health issues.
Even if you eat a healthy balanced diet when the body is in stress mode it is unable to absorb key nutrients from food because of the impact stress has on the gastrointestinal tract. However, it is encouraged you continue to eat clean, as consistently eating a low-quality diet means the body's stress hormones will forever dominate.
Prolonged exposure to stress can contribute to the development of anxiety and depression which are deemed as mental health conditions. Chronic stress can also weaken the immune system, increase inflammation, and affect other bodily functions, which can further contribute to these mental health conditions.
While most may not be facing chronic stress, low-level stress that is continuous can still impact our overall health.
