STRESS, CORTISOL & LONGEVITY
Did you now that people with neurotic personalities tend to have lower life expectancies?
The thought is that people with neurotic tendencies have higher levels of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone we all need, but if not released at the proper times and amounts can be very problematic. Cortisol helps us get out of bed in the morning and keep going until the late afternoon. There is a natural dip in cortisol levels in the afternoon- its as if we were meant to nap! Then in the evening around 6pm cortisol rises again until bedtime. BUT- if your cortisol is high in the middle of the night you will wake up around 12-2AM.
The point of all of this is that we need stress hormones, but we need to be in balance. The other point of all of this is that excess cortisol is catabolic- meaning it breaks down tissue. So when used in the context of longevity and aging, if your cortisol levels are high inappropriately you will breakdown collagen, decrease immune function, dump minerals and hormones from you adrenal glands leaving you fatigued, make your belly fat and on and on.
To summarize: stress —> cortisol makes us fat, old looking, depressed & weak.
So what can you do? It doesn’t have to be hard!
Put down the devices. Less computer/phone time helps our nervous system and brain relax which keeps stress hormones at bay.
Go outside and walk. Nature and walking are so therapeutic to our stress levels. Hiking is even better because of more oxygen exposure.
Go outside and walk. Nature and walking are so therapeutic to our stress levels. Hiking is even better because of more oxygen exposure.
Take an adaptogen for daily stress. Adaptogens are herbs or vitamins that support the stress response. Ashwaganda, Holy Basil and Ginseng are some examples
Don’t eat too much sugar, drink too much alcohol or drink too much caffeine.
Go to bed on time. 10 PM is the most restorative.
Meditate & do yoga
Don’t eat foods that you are allergic to. This puts your body in to a stress mode because your immune system has to respond.
Switch your nervous system before you eat to make sure you are in a parasympathetic state. This is the proper state you need to be in to digest your food properly. You can sit in silence for one minute before you begin eating. Take 3 deep breaths from your diaphragm, not your chest. This will put your body into the parasympathetic state. The breaths are strong on the exhale, like a yoga exhale. You will sound almost like you're mad.
Resources
https://www.drlamcoaching.com/blog/stress-and-longevity/
https://rejuvantvip.com/meditation-effects-aging-stress-and-longevity/
https://www.verywellmind.com/worry-and-anxiety-impact-longevity-2223983