I have placed several articles on this blog relating new information on the benefits of vitamin D. A recent article in the Archives of Internal Medicine added to our base of knowledge on this remarkable vitamin. Harvard researchers reported that men who have deficient levels of vitamin D have a greater risk of heart attack than men whose blood levels are adequate. Scientists collected data on a group of men aged 40 to 75. During the 10 years of the study 454 men suffered heat attacks. Analysis of the data showed that subjects with low vitamin D levels were 2.42 times more likely to have a heart attack than men whose levels were normal. I suggest that everyone increase their vitamin D intake to 1000 IU a day.

Now that you understand the deadly physiology of stress the question is how to manage it. In our book, TriEnergetics we label stress THE DRAGON WITHIN, In on our chapter dealing with stress management we begin with a fascinating quote from J.R.R. Tolkien, "It does not do to leave a dragon out of your calculations if you live near him." There are three tools that we recommend for managing or decreasing your level of stress. The first is exercise. Exercise is unsurpassed for burning off some of the stress that has built up in your body. As you exercise, your endocrine system releases endorphins. These are powerful, natural tranquilizers. After vigorous exercise you will rejuvenated and relaxed. Unfortunately exercise does little to raise your stress threshold. The second tool is belly breathing. Americans are a nation if chest breathers. Ask someone to take a deep breath and invariably they will expand their chest and rib cage with inhalation. Unfortunately chest breathing is ineffective when compared to belly breathing. Belly breathing moves two to three times the amount of air through the lungs and also relaxes the central nervous system by stimulating the vagus nerve. There is a detailed discussion of belly breathing in our book. The third and most effective technique is meditation. Meditation is not only effective in reversing the hormonal changes caused by stress, it also raises your stress threshold. This means that events that once provoked a stress response will no longer bother you. We have a detailed discussion on meditation and mindfulness in our book TriEnergetics. Learning how to overcome the deadly physiological changes of stress will vitalize your life and improve your health.

Last week I discussed the physiology of stress. The flood of hormones that result from stress have profound effects on our bodies. The corticosteroids cause a decrease in immune function, and increase in blood sugar, a breakdown of muscle and a decrease in natural killer cell function. The result is an increased risk of disease, an increased risk of infection and an increased risk of cancer. The catecholamines secreted by the adrenal medulla cause an increase in heart rate, an increase in blood pressure, an increase in respiratory rate and a decrease in immune system health. This results in an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, an increased risk of infection, moodiness and anger and digestive problems. As these stress hormones surge through your body they also crank up your metabolic rate causing the production of more free radicals. The discovery of the effects of stress on the immune system has been a milestone in understanding how stress causes disease It sheds light on the complex interaction between the mind and the body.

ASs I discussed before stress is everywhere. You can not avoid it. Every organism on this planet is susceptible. Even an amoeba experiences stress. Poke it with a micropipette, and it will move away. This is stress: a reaction to a stimulus. in many ways stress is beneficial to life. Stress helps animals grow and adapt. It helps an animal escape from predators and it guides plants to grow toward sunshine. In humans, stress stimulates the muscles to grow after exercise and it guides us away from danger. Even though stress is a universal constant, the way each individual reacts to stress is distinctly personal. You form your own reaction to a stimulus whether it is a dog barking, a car veering toward you or your boss yelling at you. Your own unique personality, behaviors and coping skills determine how you will react to the stimulus. For centuries, Taoist physicians have recognized the health risks of a stressful lifestyle, but it is only recently that Western scientists have begun to unravel the mystery of how stress affects the body. When confronted with danger, the response of an animal is an increase in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate, and in increase in blood flow to the muscles. This response provides an extra surge of strength and energy to enable the endangered animal to fight for its life or to escape. This fight or flight response still exists in humans. With each stressor that you encounter, whether a boss, a spouse or financial pressure, the fight or flight response kicks in driving up your blood pressure and your heart rate. Stress leads to a cascade of hormones in the body. Under times of stress a small area in the brain, the hypothalamus sends signals in the form of neurohormones to the pituitary gland which then secretes a neurohormone, ACTH,. ACTH travels to the adrenal glands causes them to secrete corticosteroids. The adrenals are also stimulated to secrete another group of chemicals called catecholamines such as adrenalin and norepinepherine. Next week I will discuss what these stress provoked compounds do to your body.

Are you satisfied that you are doing all that you can to be as healthy and have as much vitality and energy as you desire? Is being overweight a problem? Have you tried one of the fad diets, lost weight and then regained it plus maybe a few pounds more? If you answer yes and are stuck looking for a solution I have answers for you with a very effective medically endorsed program that I guaranteed to work and is fun to do.  But first of all let me give you some facts.

The first problem is that we do not have an effective health care program in this country. We have what I have termed "sick care." This means to me that most people don't go to the doctor to build up their immune systems and stay healthy, rather they go when they are sick. We are putting the cart before the horse. The American life style is a problem. In this country we are first in spending on health care but second to last of the 13 wealthiest countries in average healthy days per year per person. 50 to 60% of Americans are overweight and greater than 60 million are obese carrying 2.5 billion pounds of fat. The percent of obese Americans has increased from 14% in 1980 to greater than 30% in 2000. The percent of obese children has doubled since 1980. The percent of obese adolescents has tripled. Furthermore for the first time in our history the life expectancy of our children is less than ours. This is a consequence of obesity that causes type II diabetes and other illnesses. It is estimated that obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths annually, second only to smoking as a cause of death. The estimated cost to our health care system for obesity related illness is more than $100 billion a year.

Aren't these facts breathtaking? What is the solution? Obviously a change in lifestyle. But what do you change? How much do you need to exercise? Do you diet? What do you do about the stress in your life? How do you find the facts you need in a sea of information, advertisements and propaganda? We have studied this problem and done the homework for you. Besides my son and I, who are physicians, have consulted with a nutritionist, an exercise physiologist, 2 psychologists and a zen master. Together we have constructed a six week program that will change your life. It is easy to follow, fun to do and can be started by anyone of any age, level of physical fitness, or of health. If you follow the program you will look better, feel younger, lose weight, have more energy, improve your sex drive, lower your cholesterol and your blood pressure. We guarantee this because we have seen it happen over and over again in The TriEnergetics programs we have run. Does this interest you? I appreciate your comments.

For more information go to our website by using the link on this blog or go directly by using the address www.TriEnergetics.com.