Is Stress killing you?

Are you under extreme pressure due to Year-End procedures? Is your boss expecting you to complete miracles? Are you studying for exams and struggling to keep an even keel?

For more info see: www.stress.org 

I have also heard the rumours about ‘good’ stress. There is a lot of information available on ‘Dr Google’ to make the most of it. But what if the stress affecting you is causing you to feel panicky when you get up in the morning? What if the weight of responsibility is squeezing the breath out of your lungs or your financial debt is crushing your passion for life?

These are the realities many of us are living with on a daily basis and sometimes it becomes overwhelming.

Is there anything we can do?

Yes indeed!

Firstly, we need to be honest with ourselves. Many of the causes of our stress, are self-inflicted. Reduce these by planning and preparing ahead, saying ‘NO’ to unnecessary commitments, and even lowering our standard of living if need be. Your health is WORTH IT!

That said, for the stress we cannot avoid - there IS HOPE!!

Stress occurs in three phases:

1.       Fight-or-Flight when adrenalin levels are high, together with energy levels, blood sugar levels, heart beat and blood pressure. Once the situation has passed, adrenalin levels return to normal.

2.       Resistance (adaptive) phase during which adrenalin levels remain higher than normal as the brain becomes used to sustained stress levels and does not react so effectively to the ‘stop’ signals.

3.       Exhaustion phase: the brain can no longer maintain the high levels of stress, and disease sets in. The exhaustion phase may eventually lead to adrenal insufficiency, which we also call ‘Burn-out’.

‘Excessive’ stress causes havoc with our hormones, including melatonin which plays a key role in sleep. Various neurotransmitters are affected (Norepinephrine and serotonin) and the body’s reserves of Vit B1, B6 Vit C, Calcium, Chromium, Magnesium and Potassium are depleted. Stress is also linked with a deficiency in Vit B5 as the body tries desperately to maintain the production of corticosteroid (adrenal) hormones.

WHAT can I do?

First prize is to find a way to reduce the stress levels you are dealing with.

The next step is to begin by ensuring that the depleted vitamins and minerals are supplemented in generous quantities. Cholesterol is essential for the production of hormones, so have the breakfast egg and enjoy it! Meat, nuts, sprirulina and pumpkin and pumpkin seeds are excellent sources of tryptophan (which the body uses to build serotonin).

Avoid caffeine and substances containing it (cacao, cola’s, coffee, tea, etc)

One of the unpleasant side-effects of stress is inflammation, so using a good Omega-3 fish oil supplement is valuable. Another is indigestion which can be improved by the use of pro-biotics, digestive enzymes and/or humic acids. Another distressing side-effect is the build-up of toxins with a whole host of unpleasant side-effects. These can be counteracted by taking supplements to support the methylation process (mainly the whole group of B-Vitamins). Excessive stress also has a negative influence on our immune system and our emotions. Vitamin D3, exercise and exposure to sunlight can all play a role in boosting our overall health and happiness.

Inter-Med can assist with any of the supplements mentioned in this blog. For more information contact us on 012-8047918

Mighty MINERALS!

Stinky feet? Could be a shortage of Magnesium.
Short sighted? You may have a deficiency of Selenium.
Suffering from tooth decay or impotence? How much Molybdenum are you getting?

Supplementing essential Vitamins and Minerals is NOT a waste of money. On the contrary, it is just that: ESSENTIAL!

In earlier times, when hunter-gatherers survived by how good they were at finding and exploiting sources of food, the diet - when there was any - was probably varied and nutritionally rich enough to supply all the body's needs, if it could be found in sufficiently large quantities.

Magnesium 

So what has changed?
The word 'essential' in nutritional terms, means that the body cannot manufacture the nutrient itself from other sources, but has to obtain it from the diet. Some examples of essential nutrients include vitamins, minerals, 9 of the amino acids (building blocks of proteins), and certain fatty acids (e.g. Omega-3, 6 and 9). 

Organic substances – the molecules which make up our bodies, contain mostly Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen. Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids are all organic substances which are used as building blocks. In addition to the 4 main elements, these building blocks contain minerals in varying quantities.

The term 'minerals' as it is used in nutrition is not a scientifically correct term. What we mean is a biologically usable form of various chemical ELEMENTS. For example, all biological organisms require seven major 'minerals' (or elements) for life, namely calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium.

‘Minerals’ are obtained from the mineral matter – the rocks, sand, silt and clay – and the organic matter (such as compost or manure) which make up the soil in which plants grow.

If it is not in the soil, it is NOT in the plant! 

Plants CANNOT manufacture minerals themselves.

To look green and healthy, plants need sufficient quantities of Nitrogen (nitrates), Phosphorous (phosphates), Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium and Sulphur. As fertilizers are expensive, these are the minerals which are most commonly used to fertilize crops.

Other elements which plants require in minute, or ‘trace’ quantities include Iron, Manganese, Boron, Zinc and Copper. These may be contained in organic fertilizers such as manure and very occasionally also in chemical (inorganic) fertilizers.

By the way – these chemical or inorganic fertilizers are a by-product of the mining and other large, chemical industries. The first South African fertilizers were produced in 1903 using animal bones, closely followed by fertilizers produced from sulphuric acid waste created when making explosives for the mining industry.

Animals and humans need several other trace elements (minerals) to remain healthy. According to current research these include Iodine, Chromium, Cobalt, Molybdenum, Silicon and Selenium amongst several others.

Ultimately, our ONLY natural source is from plants. After all, even meat can only contain those minerals which the animal was fed! 

Even when minerals are present in the soil many factors may cause them to be ‘blocked’ from being used by plants. For example the acidity of the soil, the amount of water in the soil, other minerals present, absence of the correct microbes (bacteria and other organisms) in the soil and so on – can all lead to minerals not being absorbed. In addition, crops today are grown in vast monocultures – planted in the same fields year after year with little or no rest or change in between.


The amounts of minerals actually contained in raw food is therefore often so low as to be negligible.

Add to this equation not only WHAT we eat, but also the processes we typically apply when we prepare our food: soaking, boiling, canning, preserving, etc. By the time we eat it, there are virtually NO minerals left!

Why MUST we supplement? Because minerals are needed to keep our cells, organs and systems working.

SO, before you emulate those critics who ‘pooh-pooh’ the idea of supplementing essential vitamins and minerals, do your research, check your diet and consider your health!

Check our products page for a range of TOP QUALITY, innovative 

multi-vitamin and mineral supplements!