Stress Dangerously Raises Cholesterol Levels

Stress Is Just As Powerful As Diet In Influencing Cholesterol Levels!!!

You might find that hard to believe but it’s very true. Let me give you an example:

Several studies, including one of the medical students around exam time, and another of accountants during tax season, have shown significant increases in cholesterol levels during stressful events – when there was little change in diet. 

Interesting isn’t it? 

Are you caught up in modern-day life? Do you have a mix of crazy work deadlines, household responsibilities, and family needs perhaps car problems or some bills that need urgent payment?

You need to be very careful: Medical researchers have now discovered a link between periods of severe stress and increased cholesterol levels.

That's right: your hectic ‘stressful lifestyle’ might be boosting the levels of tiny fat particles in your bloodstream. That's because, during stressful times, chemical messengers are released that prepare your body for the fight-or-flight response. These hormonal changes can raise your total cholesterol.

But that's not all. Stress can have a powerful, indirect effect on your cholesterol too. If you overeat, smoke, or turn into a couch potato in response to stress, you're giving in to unhealthy lifestyle habits that can raise levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and grind down levels of HDL (good cholesterol).

Gaining weight, eating lots of foods high in saturated fats, smoking, and avoiding exercise can all bury healthy cholesterol.

In a recent study, 77% of individuals with high levels of stress were able to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels simply by training themselves to stay calm.

It is possible that a bit of stress can be helpful, BUT that depends on how a person reacts to stress. If stress leads to more eating, smoking, sitting, brooding, and a more depressed mood - then stress may well be harmful.

If it leads to more activity, walking, gardening, even fidgeting - that may be beneficial for your artery walls but not necessarily beneficial for you!

So, what do you do?

Well, you really need to balance your overall cholesterol-lowering plan by learning to manage your hectic lifestyle.

Say "No" 

Make it a priority to manage your time and emotions.

Free up time for the activities that really matter

Say no to burdensome requests.

Think before filling your stomach

Are you really hungry?

Or are you angry, lonely, tired, or frustrated? 

Before you give in to emotional eating, try the following: 

Wait a few minutes

Try a piece of fruit first

Take a short walk

Call a friend

Or--if you're up late at night stressing over your crazy life go to bed.

Treat Yourself

Get a massage; go for a swim whatever relaxes your body.

Mingle 

Make time for your family and friends.

Be Joyful

Look for the humor in life, and laugh out loud. Tell a joke, read a funny book

Relax

Set aside 10 minutes a day to close your eyes and focus gently on your breathing and on the positive things in your life

That Brings Us To Meditation! 

Until recently, the primary purpose of meditation has been religious, although meditation health benefits have long been recognized. It is now being further explored as a way of reducing stress on both the mind and body. 

Studies have found that regular meditation can: 

Reduce healthcare use

Increase longevity and quality of life

Reduce chronic pain

Reduce anxiety

Reduce high blood pressure

Reduce serum cholesterol level

Reduce substance abuse

Increase intelligence-related measures

Reduce post-traumatic stress syndrome in Vietnam veterans

Lower blood cortisol levels initially brought on by stress

So you see, apart from just helping to lower cholesterol levels, there are many other life benefits to meditating!

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