Ki Center Blog

These days, chronic stress and anxiety seems to be increasing with more and more prevalence. I can speak from first hand experience as I have been going through some serious issues this past year myself. Fully a third of my new clients are experiencing a marked increase in their stress levels with the associated physical symptoms.

Besides the obvious problems of employment, economics and world problems, there seems to be a general feeling of uncertainty about life in general. We are all feeling it; its just a matter of to what degree.

How it affects you

Long term chronic stress and anxiety will wreak havoc on your immune system, the adrenal glands, and the pancreas. As a result you will have a constant roller coaster ride of adrenalin, high and low blood sugar fluctuations, and other symptoms like the lack of quality sleep. When the blood sugar goes up and down over and over, it can create the same symptoms that diabetics experience. Unfortunately, if you do not address the cause of the stress, whether it is in relationships, your job or whatever, the physical load on your body, gone unchecked, will send you on downward spiral of poor health.

What helps

The protocols I use to stabilize mood and brain chemistry, as well as the blood sugar and support of the adrenal glands, can help tremendously to balance out physical symptoms. As to the cause of the stress, you will need to take a heart felt look at what is working in your life and what is not.

Deep breathing can help more than you know. I've talked about this simple yet effective practice in previous columns. Begin by finding a quiet place that you can have five minutes of uninterrupted space. Start with a deep full breath through the nose, hold for a count of three and exhale through the mouth. Do this for at least five repetitions. You will be amazed at how it can help you to relax. The nice thing about this simple technique is it can be done anywhere, even while driving. I am not saying that this alone will reverse your stress, but it can help. When you combine the nutritional support with this breathing technique, you will at least give your body and mind a fighting chance to cope with all that is troubling you.

Anti-anxiety drugs should be used as a last resort. Not only are the side effects problematic, you can risk the potential for dependence on these drugs as well. In most cases, I can find a nutritional or herbal protocol that will benefit your emotional stress without the use of prescription medications. Or if already taking them, it can help you to begin the weaning process to get off of them.

No amount of nutrition or drugs for that matter, will correct the problem until you address the initial cause. Whether you get into some counseling, psychotherapy or support from friends and family, you must correct the cause or struggle with the stress and anxiety.

Another powerful tool I can recommend is exercise. If you can find the time and motivation for daily aerobic exercise, the benefit from this activity can also add to the healing process. Whether you go to a gym or simply power walk around the neighborhood, the release of endorphins and the use of excess adrenalin will benefit your body chemistry. And of course proper exercise will help to stabilize blood sugar and help you sleep.

Don't wait too long

The worst thing you can do is nothing. And men, this is directed at you more than women. We men have a tendency to compartmentalize our stress and anxiety. It does no good to ignore the problem or just brush it aside for later consideration. It will continue to eat at your emotions, and can ultimately result in damage to the one support system you do have—your family. Most women are innately aware that talking about the emotions and addressing the problem is healthy. It will probably not take away the stress but it can help to deflate the sometimes overwhelming feeling of fear and uncertainty that goes along with chronic stress and anxiety.

The extreme amount of stressors in our society these days are not going to go away quickly. The best advice I can give is to buckle in for a wild ride. Support your body chemistry, get a support system in place and do all you can do, like the breathing and exercise, to help support the bodys needs during this difficult time.

Unhealthy Weight Loss Can Hurt

For anyone that has tried to loose weight, tried all the fad diets, ate like a bird and became a gym junkie but still has not been able to loose weight, then this column is for you.

Nothing can be more frustrating then to do everything you are supposed to do and still not be successful with weight loss. It becomes a point of “what’s the use” when no matter what you do, nothing seems to change. May I suggest to you, that you may have a hormonal imbalance that is keeping the weight on? Or perhaps your digestion is such that no matter what you eat, it just goes to your waist. I can tell you that there is hope.

Estrogen is a fat storage hormone, and by that I mean if there is an imbalance in your estrogen levels, then your body will hold onto the extra weight, and this applies to men as well. That belly fat you can’t seem to shake can possibly be attributed to estrogen overload, which can disrupt your thyroid function as well. I have many women that come to me already on some form of hormone replacement therapy. Many of them are taking “bio-identical hormones” made from plant sterols. And although these types of hormones are safer than the horse based hormones (remember Premarin?) they still have their problems.

Humans require fat and cholesterol to manufacture hormones in the body. When you replace this function with plant based “bio-identical hormones” the body still is imbalanced, unless of course you are a vegetable. I haven’t seen any carrots walking into my office lately so I will assume we need to base our evaluation on human anatomy and physiology. I will use advanced muscle testing techniques to determine whether you have a hormonal imbalance or not. I believe that saliva testing is an accurate source of information as well, but the bottom line here is determining whether there is an imbalance. I do not need to know the exact amounts of each hormone in the body, just that there is an imbalance, once that is known, repairing the problem is pretty straight forward.

The nutritional and glandular products I use to correct these kinds of problems are based on human DNA and physiology. If you give the tools (nutrients, enzymes, minerals etc.) the body needs, it can identify and use these nutrients to manufacture and regulate hormone production, then balance can be achieved and normal body function, including weight loss, can happen. Once the hormone balance is achieved, then we will reevaluate your diet, and exercise and lifestyle issues that may be contributing to weight gain. But if your body is holding onto too much estrogen, then exercise and diet alone will not get the results you want.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the emotional aspect of weight loss as well. I have found a correlation of the weight as being a “protective layer” for some. No matter what they may do to eliminate the excess pounds, the body can hold onto this protective layer until the emotional issue can be resolved. Again, using advanced muscle testing techniques, and good history taking, emotional problems can be identified and rapid eye therapy can be used to get rid of these self limiting belief systems.

Healthy Weight Loss

Healthy weight loss is about two to three pounds a week. Any more than that and you may be just shedding water. And please do not use the scales to determine your success. Look instead to the mirror, and your clothes. How do you look? Do your clothes feel looser on you? These are good indicators of sensible weight loss or gain. Remember that muscle weighs more than fat. When you exercise you will add muscle weight, but inches will disappear.

There can be many impediments to weight loss. It is a good idea to explore the holistic side of your health concerns as this can identify something as simple as a compromised digestive system which can keep the weight on.

If you are looking for weight loss in a pill, without having to actually make changes in your lifestyle, then you will probably be disappointed. Good health takes work. Once achieved however, it can be easy to maintain. I can show you how. We can determine if there are metabolic reasons for your weight problem, correct them, and get you on your way to a new and healthier you.