Stress is a fact of life. Short-term stress is normal and helps us deal with immediate challenges. Our stress response is managed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system, which release hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol when faced with stress. This response is vital for survival and maintaining balance in the body - however, chronic stress, lasting for a long time, can harm our health, affecting mental health, the heart, immune system, digestion, cognitive function, and energy levels.

Belly fat, sugar/carb cravings, and low energy - these are three symptoms I commonly hear from patients in my Integrative & Functional Medicine practice - and all three are often related to a common root cause: Blood sugar dysregulation.