Michael's Naturopathic Programs

Anxiety & Stress are natural components of our daily lives. When managed they can provide us with a healthy dose of motivation and may lead to creative expression. When left un-checked and uncontrolled the effects can be disruptive to both our daily lives and to our health.

When we lose perspective on simple stress, impatience, irritability, lack of concentration or nervous exhaustion may manifest. It can take a physical toll on our bodies as well. Muscle fatigue, physical exhaustion and indigestion are just some of the side effects of un-managed stress.

The outside causes of stress can be due to a multitude of reasons. The problem is not so much the stress, but how we deal with it intellectually and how our bodies are able to deal with it physically. Our body’s ability to deal with and counter the effects of stress can be compromised by a poor diet, a lack of exercise, poor self-esteem, an imbalance of nutrients and, as silly as it may sound, a lack of laughter in our lives.

There are many ways to cope with and manage the symptoms of stress. Some are healthy and productive, others not so much. You must take a hard look at your diet. Foods that provide little or no nutritional value should be reduced or eliminated. Supplements should be taken to help replace those nutrients lost or missing from your diet. Food additives like caffeine, excessive salt, alcohol, sugar, preservatives and even hormones, attack the body, further reducing its ability to deal physically with daily stressors. Be aware that food allergies, even minor ones, can impact the body adversely.