Preparation for the Stresses of a New School Year
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By Dr. Tori Hudson, ND
Stress is a ubiquitous complaint, but it can be aggravated at certain times of the year – and the start of school provides plenty of this stimulus for kids, parents and teachers alike. Adjusting to new teachers and new peers, preparation for exams, accomplishing homework and even just adapting to a more rigid schedule for all results in increased demands on the immune system and adrenal function.
Stress and the Body
Research in Psychoimmunoendocrinology identifies the effects of stress on every system of our body. After detection of infection or tissue injury, immune cells produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that signal the brain to help coordinate a whole-body response. This inflammatory response triggers specific areas of the brain to elicit a range of effects on neural processes including enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline.
Growing evidence suggests that stress-induced activation of peripheral inflammation can lead to changes in neural systems, mood and behavior that are similar to those observed following direct immune stimulation, such as with a virus or bacterial stimulus.
The changes in mood and reactivity may be mediated by the effects of inflammation on neurotransmission, as well as an increase in neural sensitivity to threat, punishments and negative social feedback.
Stress and Intestinal Health
Intestinal health is also affected by stress. Back in 400 BC, Hippocrates said “death sits in the bowels,” and “bad digestion is the root of all evil,” showing that the importance of the intestines in human health has been long recognized. In the past several decades, most research on the impact of bacteria in the intestinal environment has focused on gastrointestinal pathogens and the way they cause disease. The microbiota is intimately involved in numerous aspects of normal host physiology, from nutritional status to behavior and stress response.
Fascinating new research indicates that chronic stress-induced activation of a specific vagus nerve pathway accelerates premature aging of intestinal cells and impairs the stemness of intestinal stem cells. Stem cells are involved in generating new cells to replace the constant turnover of the intestinal cells. This pathway influences intestinal stem cell function independently of the microbiota and is only one of a myriad of mechanisms that links stress to intestinal dysfunction.
So what can those feeling back-to-school stress do to mitigate its impact? Maintaining as many of our healthy habits as possible is a great start, and so is supporting the parasympathetic nervous system through digestive health.
Getting adequate rest, staying hydrated, physical activity (for the mental benefits as much as the physical ones) and good meal hygiene (eating away from distractions, choosing nourishing foods and slowing down) can also help. Supplements can also play a role.*
The Role of Select Supplementation from Enzyme Science
Objectives in stress: reduce inflammation, analgesic effects, modulate immune response, reduce pain, reduce oxidative stress and prevent mast cell degranulation*
Dose: 2 capsules up to three times per day
Objectives in stress: Slow intestinal cell premature aging, and generate new intestinal stem cells.* Stem cell support can aid in cognitive function, the cumulative damage from repeated cell division and oxidative stress.*
Dose: 2 capsules per day
Objectives in stress: Maximize nutrient availability from dietary intake of carbohydrates, proteins and fats; maintain an optimal digestive system and intestinal environment, reduce gas, bloating and belching, as well as irregular bowel habits from eating habits (e.g., overeating, poor food selection, eating too fast) used to cope with stress.*
Dose: 1 capsule with each meal