Stressful Times

Radical diets can be dangerous to your health. The thought of purifying the body with a detox diet is a seductive one for some people. Occasionally we over-indulge or eat foods we know aren’t good for us and we’re all well aware that we live in an environment that tainted by pollutants, so it’s no wonder that a quick fix for perceived health woes sounds attractive. But instead of feeling better, health experts say you may end up feeling worse. Taylor, who helped oversee a study that looked at how women experience and cope with stress, coined the phrase “tend and befriend” to describe the way women adapt biology to form a pattern of behavior.
“Certainly, hormones come into play,” says Dr. Taylor. “They’re not the whole story but they nudge things along. In both sexes, oxytocin is released in response to stress. It’s the same drug released after birth that helps bond mother and baby. In women, the effects of oxytocin are magnified by estrogen, which may influence them to seek comfort by protecting and nurturing their children or through female companionship. It’s how they cope during stressful episodes.”

Men under stress experience the same flood of oxytocin but its calming effects are undermined by testosterone. So while women generally feel more stressed than men, they appear to suffer less as a result. Women like to involve other people in the search for a solution to problems; men, on the other hand, are inclined to internalize whatever’s bothering them.

“Women report being troubled by family problems and relationships,” says Dr. Taylor. “Men are bothered by work. But for both sexes, social support is life supporting. Women seek out and get support from other women. Men tend to get it from their female partner. Although some of the younger men I’m talking to seem to recognize the importance of drawing on companions for support.”

Regardless of how the sexes differ in their response to stress — women are more prone to depression, and men commit suicide more often — they’re both equally vulnerable to the serious physical and emotional harm that chronic stress can inflict.

At sustained high levels cortisol, a stress hormone, may damage blood vessels and increase cholesterol, creating greater risk for heart disease and stroke. It can also affect the way fat is distributed, putting blood vessels and internal organs in jeopardy.

De-Stressors for Him and Her:

Relax. Meditate. Get a massage. Do crossword puzzles. By diverting your restless mind, you’ll sooth symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, sleep disorders and intestinal disturbances.

The healthier you are the better you can withstand stress. Exercise to help relieve anxiety. Concentrate on your diet. Stress fighters include foods that contain magnesium — cereals, bananas, tuna, almonds — and Vitamin B6, found in soy, liver, eggs, mushrooms and nuts. Seafood helps resiliency and warm milk is a natural source of serotonin.

Express yourself. Keep a positive attitude about your problems.

Stimulate endorphins — have a chocolate bar.

Keep a sense of humor. Laughter is good for you.

Lose the belly. Abdominal fat is particularly susceptible to cortisol, which sends fat cells circulating in the bloodstream and straight to arteries and the heart.

Get married. Men, especially, find solace in marriage.

Most importantly, make friends and stay close to your family. Studies show that strong social connections make disease less likely and perhaps help explain why women outlive men. No man, after all, is an island.