We all have that vice that lets us blow off some stream.  We smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, eat brownies, enjoy fast food, or any number of other vices.  However, none of them truly reduce your stress and in fact increase it.

Physiological stress is [...]]]> I do it to “calm my nerves”, to “ease my mind”, or to “relax”.

We all have that vice that lets us blow off some stream.  We smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, eat brownies, enjoy fast food, or any number of other vices.  However, none of them truly reduce your stress and in fact increase it.

Physiological stress is the result of a busy mind (positive or negative), burning of calories, and physical activity.  Living is a stress.  Our body deals with each of those situations the same way.  Activation of our sympathetic nervous system is our response to stress.  It is the system that prepares us for action.  We turn our bodies into energy and get it ready to be used.  After that our parasympathetic nervous system takes over to help us recover, repair damage, and build us up for the next stressful moment.

All risk factors for chronic disease (body fat, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high LDL cholesterol, low bone density, poor immunity) are the normal physiological response to stress.  When attacked by a tiger, as was possible with evolution, those factors all helped our body prepare to either fight or escape.  After the encounter we would rest and eat normal whole foods to recover and our bodies would build us up to prepare for the next time.  However, in today’s society we don’t have a tiger to defend ourselves against. 

Instead we get pissed at traffic, or worry about firing someone, or panic about how to pay our mortgage.  Then to relieve our stress we get a big bowl of ice cream, or sit down to a few beers or bottle of wine.  This, however, does NOT reduce your stress.  It actually increases it.  When your body processes a calorie for energy, chemicals called free radicals are released into your system that your body perceives as danger and sends you into a stressed state by activating the sympathetic nervous system.  There are increases in all the risk factors for chronic disease.  This happens whether that calorie comes from a shot of tequila, a chocolate chip cookie, or a fresh organic salad.  The difference between the liquor, desert and salad is that the salad is loaded with micronutrients called anti-oxidants that remove those free radicals from the system and reduce those stress levels.  Thus, the salad is balanced with stressful calories and anti-oxidants to reduce that stress.  The system is negated and we can build ourselves up and recover.

I do CrossFit so that I can eat and drink whatever I want?  Nope.  The miracle of life allows you to exist despite the utter poison you place in your body.  CrossFit is an intense workout that simulates your fight with a tiger.  However, without the proper rest and recovery it is just another stress on your body.  Though physical activity stimulates your own production of anti-oxidants, it is not enough to overcome a poor diet. 

How do I reduce my stress? 

• Eat well.
• Drop your stressFUL stress reducers.
• Learn to change your paradigm.  Many mental stressors are merely a poor understanding of your position in a situation.  Find a way out. 
• Learn meditation techniques to quiet your mind.  A busy mind stimulates your stress response.
• Rest well after your CrossFit workout.

Any questions?

-Corey