Thanksgiving is around the corner, and like many of you, I am overwhelmed by how quickly this year has passed. My focus during the holidays is on how to get through them in the healthiest way possible.
One important thing to remember is how best to manage stress. Realize that holidays create different levels of stress. I like to call it happy stress. It’s a natural phenomenon because you look forward to it, but your daily activity levels change from your routine.
The one hormone that increases during this time is cortisol.
Cortisol plays a vital role in several bodily functions and protects us. But when it gets out of control, it can cause many unwanted symptoms, such as leaky gut, inflammation, and triggers. Cortisol has a sacadium rhythm. It rises in the morning and settles at night. We need to manage that rhythm with proper rest and sleep.
For example, cortisol,
- manages how your body digests; carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
- it helps keep inflammation down
- increases blood sugar
- influences sleep/awake cycles
- it boosts energy to handle the stress at hand and restores balance afterward
Restoration is what will help manage the levels of cortisol-filled stress.
The central theme of the You Can Heal You program is guiding and teaching people to eat better, more balanced meals for their optimum health and energy. Once they get past the “reboot” and eliminate symptoms, the rest is about observing their physical and mental changes to the new normal. Discovering a new health criterion to live by is an exciting accomplishment and empowering. I invite you to take a moment to share your experience and inspire someone by posting on the You Can Heal You FB.
Creating a new health journey requires observation. Observation requires stillness and being present. Being still is when you hear your body talk.
I challenge you to take moments throughout your day and be in the moment. This takes 2 minutes to do. Observe everything about that moment. What are your surroundings? What is your body doing and feeling? Take 3 to 4 deep breaths by inhaling profoundly, exhaling out longer than you inhaled, and allow your shoulders/body to relax.
That simple gesture will revive glial cells in the brain and nervous system. Glial cells keep our neuropathy “cleaned out” so we can think and react to our surroundings in the most beneficial way possible. Glial cells revive during rest and sleep. Cortisol protects our nervous system, as glial cells protect our brain. And we are the protector of cortisol and glial cells. As you run around getting into the holiday spirit, take a moment or two and stop and breathe.
On Saturday the 16th, I will prepare a holiday-Thanksgiving-themed cooking class. My intention is to give you a safe and trusted menu that will taste indulgent but will not cause you physical stress.
Join us at 9:30 am CST for a demonstration and talk on safe holiday eating.
My best,
~ Virginia
