Holiday stress and more sugar intake wreaks havoc on our immune systems, but we don’t have to get sick to relax and enjoy our holiday time off. A healthy adrenal gland will support thyroid and sex hormone functioning, as well as neurotransmitters. A healthy body equals a healthy brain.

Normally, cortisol is high in the mornings as part of our waking up cycle, then it tapers slowly down through the day and finally drops at night so we can sleep. Stress, either perceived or real, causes the adrenal glands to release cortisol. Now we have a fight-or-flight response. This can override our normal sleep patterns, spike our blood sugar, change our intestinal functioning and shift our brain chemistry. It is the intestinal functioning piece that throws off our immune system, because about 80 percent of our immune system is in the gut. The beneficial bugs in the gut are supported by a healthy stress response, while the “bad” bugs are fed by unhealthy stress and foods, including sugar.

So, when we stress about what gift to get Uncle Harry and then eat all those cookies and candies that keep showing up at the office, we are setting ourselves up to be stressing out our insides—and probably getting sick.

Dr. DeeAnn Saber enjoys practicing primary care, functional medicine and medical detective work at Transformational Medicine, PLLC. She also teaches belly dancing and shamanic work. Connect at 520-209-1755, [email protected] or TransformationalMedicinePLLC.com. See ad, page 3.