Chronic or severe stress can cause behavioral abnormalities and/or cognitive impairment. Glucocorticoids are amino acids produced by the adrenals that can alter synapse density, creating larger spaces than normal for impulses to pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter. In a study, animals were exposed to various types of stress (physical, separation, social, anxiety, etc) and researchers discovered 6 hours per day during a 3 week period was enough to change the structure of the hippocampus in the brain. These animals developed a cognitive deficit making them sensitive to stress and stressors, causing their body’s systems to be less adaptable to stressful situations [1].

When the body experiences stress, many systems are activated: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis), metabolic, pro and anti-inflammatory modulators of the immune system, and the autonomic nervous system. When too much stress occurs, chronic or severe, any one or more of these systems can get thrown off.

Here are two examples of too much stress being a two-way street: 

Gastrointestinal issues - When you are stressed or nervous, you often feel it in your stomach too (butterflies, nausea, constipation, etc). Likewise, when the stomach is inflamed due to diet or other reasons, the brain kicks into overdrive to try to help. For more information on the gut-brain connection, see my blog titled Anxiety and Your Gut .

Spine density loss and amygdala remodeling - Serine is an amino acid, largely obtained through diet, that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. Serine proteases are enzymes that help proteins form peptide bonds. The serine protease tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA), regulated by the amygdala in the brain, affects the density of the bones in the spine. If the spine is subjected to chronic stress, the amygdala becomes stressed and can’t perform properly. Overtime the amygdala forgets how to do its job, and, in essence, loses its ability to perform as it previously did. 

The Bad News:

One of the major negative effects of too much stress is HPA axis Dysfunction. HPA-D is often confused with adrenal fatigue, but they are not the same. Adrenal fatigue incorrectly places all the blame on one small part of the system instead of the whole (again: the mind-body connection). HPA-D correctly accuses the brain for not doing its part in regulating body processes. Prolonged stress anywhere in your body can throw off your HPA-axis enough to cause a myriad of health concerns including depression, diabetes, obesity, chronic fatigue syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis, just to name a few.

The Brain to the Rescue!

Luckily the brain is pretty good at repairing itself. The right set of external and environmental conditions can help it create new stem cells that can rebuild damaged areas [2]:

• Intermittent Fasting and Caloric Restriction - this can help increase the number of stem cells circulating in the blood and lengthen the lifespan of organs.
• Low Carb Diet - Consuming more carbohydrates than the body can burn results in high Triglyceride (TG) levels, leading to weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Also, stem cells don’t grow well in bodies with high TGs. 
• Exercise - Aerobic exercise can help stem cells turn into bone instead of fat. 
• Reduce Sugar Consumption - Too much sugar can cause chronic inflammation and metabolic syndrome. Reduce sugar consumption to increase stem cell longevity.
• Reduce Inflammation - Inflammation inhibits stem cell activity and production. Cut down on inflammatory foods such as processed items, soda and alcohol.
• Supplementation* - Pick up professional-grade supplements to support the brain and body.
• Vitamin D and D3
• Omega-3s
• Resveratrol
• Mesenchymal 
• Curcumin or Turmeric

*Any of these items can be purchased from my shop.

Stress is bad. Emotional stress (stress of the mind) can affect the body just as much as dietary stress and pain/hidden inflammation can affect the mind. It’s definitely a two way street. For help getting your stress under control, contact me for a Health Discovery Session. You deserve to live a life reduced of stress, and you will learn to manage and navigate stressful situations when they arise. I can help! We can get there together.

General Source: https://blog.bioticsresearch.com/stress-the-mind-body-connection-part-2

Specific Citation:

http://psych.colorado.edu/~munakata/csh/mcewen.pdf

https://blog.bioticsresearch.com/7-ways-to-promote-stem-cell-proliferation