Abstract: In the 12 years of practice, I have found that many people have difficulty responding well to chiropractic care and to nutritional care due to different stress situations they are experiencing. This paper is a summary of my research plus the information presented by Dr. Coates in his seminar, “Nutritional Management of Stress." This was one of the classes in the Diplomate Course presented by the American Clinical Board of Nutrition. The causes of stress will be presented as well as provide insight into the mechanisms the body uses when under stress.
A key factor in the development of disease and poor nutritional status is the reaction to stress. Physical, and more important, psychosocial issues that affect the immune system, which contributes to disease and a state of malnutrition, may create stressors or pressures of life. The “chronic diseases of our civilization” include coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.
Dr. Hans Selye, the Canadian endocrinologist, demonstrated a close relationship between stressors and the occurrence of certain states of disease.
No one can live without experiencing some degree of stress all the time. You may think that only serious disease or intensive physical or mental injury can cause stress. This is false. Crossing a busy intersection, exposure to a draft, or even sheer joy are enough to activate the body’s stress mechanism to some extent. Stress is not even necessarily bad for you; it is also the spice of life, for any emotion, any activity causes stress. But, of course, your system must be prepared to take it. The same stress, which makes one person sick can be an invigorating experience for another.”
The reactions to a given stressor will vary due to genetic predispositions, age, and sex. There also may be external factors, such as inadequate diet, abuse of alcohol and/or other drugs, which might influence the response to stress.
It is essential to include conversations with patients about stress prior to finalizing our chiropractic or nutritional assessments. The reason a chiropractic adjustment may not hold could be related to the adaptation by the patient to their stressors. We do not have to be psychologists to listen to what the patient is telling us. A referral may be the first clinical step with the patient before we proceed with our work.
Many stressing issues occur prior to adulthood. Stress can occurs at all times from birth to death. Erik Erikson, the American psychoanalyst, identified eight stages of human growth and development from infancy through old age and the psychosocial struggles associated with each stage. If all things are positive along the growth curve, a positive ego at each stage builds self-controls in physical and psychosocial maturation. Of course, all stresses in different stages of life are not always simple and easy to handle. The major objective is to on the positive side and handle stress easily.
The main determination of one’s health and nutrition status is attained through both subjective data and objective data. The objective data are derived from hemanalysis and other laboratory tests, are easily analyzed by chiropractors. Initially, we must demonstrate the significant beginnings of diseases related to the client’s stressors.
Since stress is part of everyone’s life, it is necessary to have a balance to create positive health. Maintaining the body in a state of dynamic equilibrium or homeostasis is needed to remove stresses. The homeostatic mechanism of the body relies on a good nutrition to restore the body’s fluid and electrolyte and acid-base balances, which are needed to sustain normal metabolism. The psychological stress is met with learned mental defense mechanisms, which may be constructive in creating homeostasis. The basic needs of Maslow’s hierarchy have five basic needs. Positive mental health behavior is based upon those human needs. If any of these needs are not met, stress can be created.
Stressors of life are twofold in nature. There is a physical or physiologic stress for physical abuse, injury, disability or disease. There is also psychologic, social or economic stress from verbal abuse, emotional pressure or a lack of financial resources. The most common agent of human stress is emotional. We can see that it contributes to serious conditions such as cardiac and gastrointestinal issues.
When stress occurs the body automatically responds. Selye named this physiologic response to stress the general adaptive syndrome. The actions of the neuroendocrine system are constantly involved in reacting to sensory stimuli and to stress. The protection of the body is with hormones and other chemical messengers. The constant responses from the CNS are an escape mechanism where the person will eat mood foods, walk, or speak to friends. The unconscious responses from the ANS involve Selye’s 3 stages of response:
1. The initial alarm reaction which will mobilize the body’s forces to action;
2. The adaptive-resistance stage in which energy reserves are rebuilt; and
3. The exhaustion stage in which resources give out if the severe stress condition continues unabated.
These stages involve the release of neurotransmitters from the cortex of the brain to activate the hypothalamus. This is the brain’s brain. Heart rate, BP, peripheral temp, breathing, digestion, blood glucose levels and hormonal balance are controlled. The hypothalamus stimulates the release of the neurohormone, norepinephrine, and sends out the chemical messenger, corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) to the pituitary to release its adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The adrenals release epinephrine, also called adrenaline, and norepinephrine to protect the body. These compounds have a systemic effect throughout the body tissue. The systemic effects on tissues include: Peripheral blood vessels in the outer network of blood circulation contract to reduce the loss of body heat and force more blood through the vital organs such as the liver, the kidneys, the brain and the major muscles.
1. Blood pressure rises to force more blood out for circulation through the vessels of the major organs.
2. Heart rate also rises.
3. Glycogenolysis happens in the liver to initiate the conversion of stored glycogen to glucose to provide an immediate source of fuel. This is accomplished with catecholamines.
4. Epinephrine slows down digestion. Priority is placed on the primary perceived danger and not on secondary levels.
5. Epinephrine causes the bladder to contract and the urethra closes.
6. The catecholamines cause the dilation of the bronchi to facilitate a maximum exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
7. Epinephrine causes the pupils of the eyes to dilate, even though acuity is decreased.
8. The spleen contracts and adds its blood cells to increase blood volume. This increases blood pressure, adds hemoglobin for enhanced oxygen transport, and increases white cells to fight pathogens.
9. Blood coagulation process is regulated to prevent blood loss in any wounded area but prevents coagulation in the peripheral parts of the body, thus guarding from blood clots.
10. The catecholamines increase muscle tone of voluntary muscles to allow the body to run, ready for battle or to help the heart get return of blood from skeletal muscle contraction.
The hypothalamus sends a message to the pituitary and ACTH is released. The adrenocortical hormones, the corticoids, release glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. The glucorticoids, including cortisol and hydroxycortisone and mineralocorticoids, including aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone (DOC) further protect the body from stress. The cortisol and hydroxycortisone move from the adrenal cortex to the liver where they mobilize fatty acids and triglycerides for emergency fuel. They also mobilize free amino acids from protein, which serves not only as fuel but also as a source of nitrogen for new protein synthesis if the stress response requires it. Two other stress responses are Glycogenolysis and gluconeogensis, which helps maintain the liver and muscle glycogen as a fuel source. The glucorticoids, together with epinephrine, suppresses the action of insulin. When insulin levels are suppressed, glucose remains in circulation at an elevated level, thereby keeping the metabolic fuel available. The main mieralocorticoid, aldosterone, causes the resorption of sodium by the nephrons tubules and with it water and electrolytes. Aldosterone secretion by the adrenal cortex is also stimulated by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone mechanism in response to a possible fluid loss. The process of inflammation is stimulated by the mineralocorticoids. Inflammation is a localized protective response to injury or infection and is inhibited by glucocorticoids. The immune system is slowed down. The pituitary hormones also guard the body from stress effects.
1. TSH triggers the release of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4.
2. Growth hormone is the tissue-building hormone. It is anabolic to protein and catabolic in relation to fat and carbohydrate storage.
3. Prolaction also has generalized anabolic tissue-building functions. It is released to the initial stress signals and is mobilized to protect tissue integrity.
4. The posterior lobe of the pituitary secrets vasopressin. This major antidiuretic hormone guards the body’s water supply by increasing water resorption in the kidney’s nephrons.
This is a summary of how the body reacts to stress. Please note that the immune system is compromised when stress levels are elevated. The body is now open to disease with a compromised immune system. Digestion must be at optimum level as well as a balanced hormonal system. Acidic systems must be turned around to allow the immune system to function well.
We were taught in the “Nutritional Management of Stress” course that nutritional management of all diseases is to start with the replacement of all nutritional deficiencies before there is a complete depletion of the body’s nutritional elements. The best health diet for disease protection is a generalized one for most disease prevention:
1. Choose a diet rich in a variety of plant-based foods for vitamins, minerals and fiber. The synergism of food can be more powerful that the intake of separated vitamins.
2. Eat plenty of vegetables, either raw or steamed and a small amount of colorful fruits.
3. Be as physically active as you can without hurting your body.
4. Maintain a healthy weight.
5. Eat a minimum amount of protein with every meal. Meat protein can provide iron and B12.
6. Approach an alkaline system vs. an acidic system.
7. Prepare and store food properly.
The goals are for prevention. There are many CAM products for the prevention of disease, whether herbal compounds, herbal teas and high quality supplements. The total protocol presented is the one that balances the system, enhances the immune function and will restore normal cell growth to allow the body to cure itself of any disease process. This is a battle that is continuous because our body is constantly fighting diseases.
As taught by Dr. Coates, the first protocol of nutrition given to a client consists of helping to minimize the stress levels of the client. The approach taken is through live/dried blood analysis and hair analysis. Usually the following steps are followed for stress reduction:
1. Enzyme therapy for food digestion and minerals for the body to use as catalysts
2. HCl if acid levels are not proper
3. Removal of all antacid medicines, either Rx or OTC
4. Intestinal cleanse with herbs that are not habit forming to remove toxic chemicals and partially digested food items
5. Relaxation herbals if stress is an issue. Amino acids are critical for stress and depression
6. Discussion of meals and diet
7. Evaluate the activity of the adrenals, thyroid and pituitary
It is important to remember that all suggested remedies might not be effective for every patient. The above suggestions can assist the distressed patient. Within a short period of time, the dietary suggestions can be expanded to address other health issues.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure or prevent any disease.