There is a link between inflammation and stress. As the stress response continues, levels of cortisol are higher than usual. As a result, it is harder for the body to manage its inflammatory and immune responses. With chronic stress, even the cells may become less sensitive to cortisol, and inflammation can get out of control (Cohen et al., 2012). As acute inflammation increases, it lays the groundwork for stress-related disease development. The activation of the body’s stress system is associated with a notable estimated 75-90% of human diseases (Liu et al., 2017).
Stress increases the risk of getting a disease that makes you sick, or if you already have a preexisting condition, increases the risk that the disease state might worsen. Conditions associated with stress include1:
→ Asthma
→ Cancer (Pancreatic, Breast, Lunch, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Hepatocellular Carcinoma)
→ Cardiovascular Disease (Hypertension, Atherosclerosis)
→ Fibromyalgia
→ Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome
→ Irritable Bowel Syndrome
→ Menstrual Irregularities
→ Metabolic Diseases (Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Dyslipidemia)
→ Neurological Disease and Issues (Dementia, Depression, Headaches, Parkinson’s and Brain Composition Changes)
→ Rheumatoid Arthritis
→ Ulcers
Alterations in our gut microbiome, or even our nutrient levels when stressed, should not come as a surprise. Take a moment and think about it. You’re stressed about giving that presentation. Knots take over your stomach, and that breakfast eaten an hour ago seems to be just sitting there. The urge to go to the bathroom comes, yet you cannot go despite trying. You give the presentation and then think nothing more about it. Then you get back to your computer only to realize your boss assigned yet another project, which will require late hours. This will mean caffeine and fast food are on the menu for dinner. You know it isn’t the healthiest, but your options feel limited.
While you might have experienced a change in how your gut felt, you may not have realized the substantial impact that stress was having on your digestive health. Stress can alter a variety of things, such as2:
→ How fast things move through your system and how well you can eliminate them.
→ The amount of the digestive secretions that help break food down, so the food doesn’t feel like it is “sitting there.”
→ The healing and overall health of your gut tissue. Which, when unhealthier, can be more permeable, commonly known as “leaky gut.”
→ The composition of the gut microbiota. The microbiota consists of the bacteria, viruses, and fungi that occupy your gut.
→ The production of short-chain fatty acids. These are made by the friendly bacteria in your gut and impact overall gut health.
That stressful scenario may have led to more than just poor food choices. All the stress you’ve experienced is not only affecting your immune system but also depleting your body of a variety of nutrients, including:
→ B Vitamins
→ Vitamin C
→ Magnesium
→ Potassium
→ Zinc
It’s All Interconnected
Research is gradually showing how interconnected our health is. Stress influences inflammation, nutrient depletion, and gut health. An unhealthy gut increases inflammation, negatively impacting mood, making it challenging to cope with stressful situations. Because this impacts our mental health, it becomes more difficult to maintain a healthy diet. When we eat unhealthy foods, they upset the healthy balance of our gut bacteria and reduce the healthy levels of short-chain fatty acids and nutrients. This imbalance can lead to decreased gut health and inflammatory diseases. These all-combined increase stress on our bodies.
Are your stress levels impacting your gut health? Stop guessing. Start testing. Take a Gut+ microbiome test and find out today!
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References:
1. Hassett & Clauw, 2010; Innala et al., 2016; Kokubun et al., 2018; Liu et al., 2017; Murray & Pizzorno, 2021; Vannucchi & Evangelista, 2018
2. Konturek et al., 2011; Maltz et al., 2019
3. McCleane & Watters, 1990; Weatherby, 2004