📸 Shocking Visual:

This image illustrates how the human body responds to stress, showing both the biological process and the physiological effects on different parts of the body.

1. Starting Point - Brain & Hormones: The stress response begins in the brain when a threat or challenge is detected. The pituitary gland releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which signals the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline and cortisol.

    

2. Effects of Adrenaline and Cortisol:

   • Adrenaline: Increases heart rate and blood pressure, enhances energy supplies, and accelerates the heart rate. This helps prepare the body for quick action.

   • Cortisol: Converts glycogen into glucose to provide immediate energy. It also affects several bodily functions to prioritize immediate survival over other processes

      

3. Physical Responses:

   • Increased Breathing: To supply more oxygen to the brain and muscles.

   • Increased Blood Pressure: To ensure sufficient blood flow and oxygen supply to major muscles and organs.

   • Tunnel Vision: Focuses attention and vision towards the threat.

   • Digestion Slows Down: The body diverts energy away from digestion to support more critical functions necessary for immediate action.

      

4. Other Changes:

   • Sweating: Helps cool the body during intense physical activity.

   • Fast Breathing: Provides extra oxygen needed for heightened activity.

   • Conversion of Glycogen to Glucose: Ensures adequate energy supply for the body’s increased demands.

This stress response, while critical in acute situations (e.g., escaping danger), can be harmful if triggered repeatedly or over long periods (chronic stress), leading to health issues such as hypertension, anxiety, and other stress-related disorders.

📽️ Workout Tips:

1. Plyometric Power Sets

    

   

    

   Enhance your explosive power and speed by integrating plyometric exercises into your strength training.

    

   Between sets of a traditional strength exercise, like bench press or squats, include a short burst of a plyometric exercise, such as clap push-ups or jump squats.

    

   This combination not only boosts your neuromuscular activation but also increases your heart rate, adding a cardio component to your strength session.

    

2. Functional Range Conditioning (FRC)

    

   

    

   Incorporate FRC to improve joint health, mobility, and overall strength.

    

   FRC involves training your joints through their full range of motion with controlled movements, which enhances flexibility and increases the strength of the muscles around each joint.

    

   Implement exercises like controlled articular rotations (CARs) in your warm-up or as a separate session to improve mobility and reduce injury risk.

    

   This approach not only prevents injuries but also contributes to better performance in your primary lifts by enabling more efficient movement patterns.

🔗 Useful Resources

1. Exercise may help stop cancer progression, lower death risk

    

   Experts are interested in exploring the role of exercise in cancer management.

    

   One study found that physical activity before cancer diagnosis is associated with a decreased risk of cancer progression and death.

    

   The results highlight the potential benefits of exercise for decreasing cancer progression risk and encourage its regular incorporation into people’s lives.

    

   Read here.

    

2. How to lower your cholesterol in 10 days

    

   40% of people in the UK and US have high cholesterol.

    

   Knowing how to lower it can be confusing.

    

   In this podcast, Dr. Sarah Berry simplifies the science of cholesterol.

    

   She explains the differences between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol, discusses how cholesterol can impact your health, and shares tips on maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.

    

3. Your gut is killing you: Acne Diabetes Mood swings and Chronic fatigue.

    

   Here are 7 actions you can take to fix your gut today