It is very stressful to live in today’s world, but it is how we adapt that makes a difference.

When we are healthy, we react to all that happens to us in a relaxed calm way and we are able to solve problems in an easy manner. However when we are not at our best and when our health is not optimal, stress sets in and we are unable to function calmly.

Stress means PRESSURE but it is not as much the event that is stressful, as much as it is our perception of how we see the event affecting our life.

There are two things to do:

We need to identify the cause of stress, remove it if possible, and introduce a diet of whole grains, beans and vegetables.

There is good stress and bad stress.

The good stress motivates us and improves our life.

Bad stress paralyzes us, and keeps us from functioning normally.  The muscles tense up, breathing becomes shallow, the eyes narrow, the jaw gets tight and tense, and the stomach gets into a knot.

With bad stress we get tired and rigid, and our nervous system cannot take any type of change. In turn this will produce some kind of adverse reaction to the original event.  We become more rigid and our immune system is affected.

Without the ability to adapt and with little vitality, our bodies will have unpleasant reactions.  We become more acid and that makes us tight inside.

When we are stressed it is because the internal organs are more tight and stagnated.  They have a rigidity that will prevent us from adapting.

The skin is clogged so it is impossible to release pressure through the pores.  Pressure builds up inside our body, our adaptability is impaired, we produce more heat, and negative reactions are accelerated.

THE ORGANS AND SYSTEMS INVOLVED ARE:

° Pituitary Gland

° Heart – beats faster

° Circulatory System – blood circulates faster

° Spleen

° The ability to neutralize acidity is blocked

° Digestive System – Constricts which begins a reaction. Our blood sugar drops, and this affects our appetite:

WE CRAVE SWEETS – Eating many sweets, especially those made from refined sugars and flour products, with time, will make us more acidic, and will change our perceptions of life.

The MORE SWEETS WE EAT, THE MORE OUR BLOOD BECOMES ACID, THE MORE STRESS WE PERCEIVE AND MORE ACIDITY BUILDS UP.

Acid blood needs more minerals because the heart has to work more to do its work. There is an increase of urination and more vitamins and minerals leave the body.

More nutrition is needed, so more sweets are craved. We lose more minerals and more water soluble vitamins. The blood becomes weaker, and the lymph quality becomes weaker.

We need to identify the cause of stress and introduce a diet of WHOLE grains, not flour products.

Low blood sugar + HYPOGLYCEMIA is basically a yang hilliness where our blood is too alkaline.  This is caused by eating dry salty food, baked food, roasted food, burned food, too much pressure cooked food, overcooked food and not drinking enough liquids, and/or eating sea vegetables in great abundance.

The pancreas is involved in this illness, because it controls blood sugar. When we have hypoglycemia and are under stress, our blood sugar is too low.

BLOOD SUGAR also relates to season, time of day, and altitude

2 am — blood sugar rises : 2 pm — blood sugar drops

Blood sugar is higher in the summer and lower in the winter

Good quality yin foods like sweet vegetables are the best.

Grains to use:

For low blood sugar use Barley to raise it.

For high blood sugar use Millets to lower it.

Eat at regular times.

Slow down, you are rushing too much.

Deep breathing exercises are best, 20 minutes per day.

Use good quality food:

Creamy sweet yin grains

Sweet vegetables

Fresh foods

Oagis

Sweet vegetable tea

Warm carrot juice

Hot apple juice

Mild sweets (relieve stress) like sweet vegetables.

Hot towel on the abdomen.

Other activities are:

Walking around where there are trees

Posture—stretch the spine

Breathing exercises

Light exercise in company of others:

Walking

Bathing

Shiatsu

Sex

Wear loose cotton clothing

Use green plants around the house

Talking with someone to see possibilities for the future

Sauna

Listen to music—repetitive beat

Have and enjoy hobbies