System Reboot

Chew on this. Your saliva can tell exactly how stressed you are. By merely dipping a strip in it, you can accurately determine your level of...

Chew on this. Your saliva can tell exactly how stressed you are. By merely dipping a strip in it, you can accurately determine your level of stress.

Of course, few will feel the need to go to a chemist and buy Ph strips and check their acid states precipitated by stress first thing in the morning. But it8217;s important to know that stress affects every single part of our body and psyche.

You could be a student or housewife, an executive or businessman, a celebrity or politician, or just a born worrier, but your body will release stress hormones that put your blood sugar out of balance, create acidity and lower your immune function.

8220;You are as healthy as your immune system,8221; says Dr Anjali Mukerjee, nutritionist and doctor of alternate medicine from the Indian Council of Alternate Medicine.

8220;Once stress weakens the immune system, you will be prone to anything from common cold to cancer.8221;

Mukerjee should know. For the past 20 years, she has not only used food therapy, Ayurveda and chiropractic healing to manage a range of health problems among her patients, but has also treated them for stress at her seven Health Total centres in Mumbai and Delhi.

8220;Food therapy works wonders,8221; Mukerjee says.

She gives a few guidelines to balance blood sugar levels, detox the system and reduce acidity8212;in other words, to counteract the effects of stress.

Story continues below this ad

Eat regular, small meals and a good breakfast yoghurt with sprouts, eggs, wholewheat bread, veggie juices and healthy snacks raisins, nuts, wholegrain biscuits in between meals.

Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins and cut back on caffeine, alcohol and sugar.

8220;You must understand that sugar craving feeds upon itself and creates a sugar imbalance leading to mood swings and aggravating stress,8221; Mukerjee explains.

Complex carbohydrates wholewheat pasta, brown rice, jowar, bajra etc. balance blood sugar levels and lead to sustained release of energy.

Fresh fruits and veggies are powerhouses of nutrients that counteract stress. Stress leaches away vitamins and leads to reduced energy. That8217;s where supplements comes in.

Story continues below this ad

8220;The B vitamins play a very important role in nourishing the nervous system, providing physical energy and especially B5 or pantothenic acid, which supports the adrenal gland function that gets depleted during stress,8221; Mukerjee explains.

She adds there is nothing like calcium and magnesium to help you relax, Vitamin C works as an anti-oxidant that negates stress, and zinc boosts immunity and controls nervousness.

You Ask, They Answer

HRT SIDE EFFECTS
8226; A reader aged 44 has undergone four major surgeries because of endometriosis and other gynaecological disorders. Since 1991, she is on hormone replacement therapy under medical supervision. Stopping Premarin even for a couple of days results in hot flashes and uneasiness. She is seeking an alternate therapy to reduce or eliminate the side effects of Premarin.
Because she is 44 and underwent a hysterectomy in 1990, other investigations such as blood test for sugar, thyroid, hormones and lipid profile should be done, as well as a bone densitometry and routine breast check.
Dr Rustom Phiroze Soonawala,
FRCS, FRCOG, and consultant at Breach Candy and Jaslok hospitals, Mumbai