#5 Emotional System: Stress, Hormones, Depression

(This is #6 of 7 posts on Targeted Solutions. Here is the link to the first post - Improve Your Health-Targeted Solutions. It is important first to get on a foundation program of a protein and multi-vitamin... and then focus on "Targeted Solutions" - Targeted Solutions refers to systems within our body that may need special attention.)

Our emotional system is the 5th system we cover here and how we can better manage our emotions through good nutrition and supplements.
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What we eat affects our emotions and our emotions can affect what we eat!
            
Stress
One of the main culprits that messes with our body chemistry and emotions is stress!
Stress is our physical reaction to demands and fears both real and imagined.
Stress is a normal part of everyday life, but we can learn to manage our stress.
There is an old saying “it’s not that a professional speaker doesn’t have butterflies when they stand up in front of an audience, it is just that they have learned how to make the butterflies fly in formation.” The same is true for any daily stressful situation.
 
First, we can learn to control the stress response through breathing, attitude, exercise, relaxation, but also important is nutrition. It is a combination of these healthy habits that help you to be more “stress resistant.”
 
Second, it is important to deal with the “stressors,” those things that cause you stress. Skills such as communication, time management, financial management, and decision-making are critical. To get more details on how to better manage your stress, please check out my courses on AdvantageTrainingGroup.com
 
So how is nutrition related to stress management?
When we are under stress, we “use up” certain nutrients – specially B, C, and Zinc.
When we don’t get the nutrients we need, our bodies are not as stress resistant, and we may affect us both physically and emotionally.
 
The most important nutrient we need is vitamin B. Some people look for isolated vitamins such as B6 or B12 supplements especially without the guidance of your doctor, but beware. If you take isolated B’s, you may not create an imbalance Shaklee does not isolate the different B vitamins, but instead has a B Complex with all the B’s in balance as they are in nature. With Shaklee, you can also count on the ingredients to be natural and organic, never synthetic.
 
B vitamins help you to metabolize sugars, gives you a healthy energy, contributes to healthy hair and much more. A slight lack of vitamin B can cause moodiness, headaches, and depression. A severe lack of vitamin B has been associated with emotional and psychological disorders.
 
Vitamin B is a water-soluble vitamin. That means you cannot store it in your body, so it needs to be replaced on a regular basis. In addition to stress- white refined sugar, alcohol, certain medications like birth control pills can increase the need for more vitamin B!
 
Here are some food sources of vitamin B: whole grains, eggs, beef, chicken, fish, avocado, seeds, beans.
 
Shaklee’s B-complex has been one of those products that had a major influence on my emotional health and physical energy. Most days I take extra vitamin B.  (One word of caution, though – do not take Vitamin B in late afternoon or evening as it may keep you awake.)

Shaklee also has another product that can help reduce your stress and calm your “nerves.”  Stress will elevate your body's cortisol levels, and continuously high levels of cortisol have been linked to long-term health impacts. Shaklee’s Stress Tabs are a blend of 4 herbs that help your body to relax without feeling drowsy, thus bringing down the cortisol level.
 
I love this product and am glad when I don’t have to use it! But I’ve been in situations when taking the Stress Tabs helped me to get control of my emotions and to reduce the effects of stress on my system or in the evening, helped me to relax enough to fall asleep.

Hormones
Women suffer most from hormonal changes. Shaklee has some great products for menstrual cycles and menopause, but they came out with these products after I went through all those stages in my life! The two products that helped me the most was the Soy Protein Life Shake, B Complex, and when I really needed a boost... Liqui-Lea which is a liquid vitamin high in vitamin B and Iron.  
 
Here are some products that I have not tried but may help you!
 
GLA – helps with menstrual problems 
Menopause Balance Complex – helps regulate hormonal imbalance
Saw Palmetto supports prostrate health. 
Moodlift contains St. John’s Wort and other herbs that provides support for positive outlook and fight off depression.

​Which of these products do you think would be of most value to you?

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