STRESS and OBESITY Weaken your Immune system

Stress induces the fight or flight response, which causes the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline - stress response hormones

• Almost every cell in your body has receptors for these hormones. (This is why stress can cause a wide range of symptoms.)

IMMUNE SYSTEM: When fight or flight is activated, it signals the immune system to go into sleep mode (so energy can be used by other parts of the body to fight the immediate threat - energy is prioritized for the heart, lungs, and muscles). Think about a caveman escaping from a lion, this is what the fight or flight response evolved to do. But modern chronic stress keeps the fight or flight system constantly activated and this decreases the immune system’s ability to react (because it is in sleep mode).

BRAIN: Stress response hormones affect the regions of the brain that control mood, motivation, memory, and cognitive functioning.

GI system: These stress response hormones relay messages to the nervous system in the gut. This is why many people have gi symptoms when under stress.

STRESS RELIEF - Stress weakens the immune system by putting it into sleep mode, so spending some time intentionally “tuning out” is good for the immune system:

-Exercise/ yoga

-Meditation/ mindfulness

-Taking time to enjoy your hobbies

-Spending quality time with family and friends

-Spending time in nature

-Listening to music

-Learning about something you are interested in

(These activities force you into the parasympathetic nervous system - rest and relax - and out of the sympathetic nervous system)

OBESITY causes chronic inflammation which keeps cortisol levels high (fight/flight activated) and decreases the effectiveness of the immune system (puts it in sleep mode).