In this blog post, we will assess the toll that certain decisions and events, like overindulging, stress, sleep loss and holidays, take on our microbiome health. We will evaluate statistical data to support how widespread the concern is.
Chapter 1: How Life Events Impacts Our Health
In today’s fast-paced society, stress is a daily part of life. Just think about it — how stressful is your commute to work? According to the U.S Census Bureau, it now takes the average worker 26 minutes to travel to work. That’s the longest it’s been since the Census began tracking this data in 1980. Half the time you’re running late, there is traffic and you just hit two red lights…in a row! Your day can become stressful in an instant.
Even annual events like the winter holiday season that most people look forward to only compounds the amount of stress you already are experiencing. For example, according to NBC News1 45% of Americans would prefer to skip Christmas due to the “extreme stress” the holiday season brings, like the lack of time and money, as well as the pressure to give or get gifts.
While we may want to push our difficulties aside or pretend they don’t exist, how we deal with these situations is of prime importance to our mental and physical health.
Short-Term Stress vs Prolonged (Chronic) Stress
Research has shown that the stress response is an essential survival mechanism, which for most situations in life can be a good thing3. It helps to increase our reaction time, concentration and alertness and prepares the body for “flight or fight.”
When the stress response becomes prolonged (chronic) like when losing a job or a family member, our attention, memory, and the way we deal with emotions can be negatively impacted. This long-term stress can contribute to both physical and mental illness through effects on the heart and brain.
Top 10 Stressors:
- Having enough in emergency savings – 41%
- Job security – 39%
- Income fluctuations – 29%
- Paying utilities – 28%
- Paying rent or mortgage – 28%
- Financial market volatility – 25%
- Paying down/off credit card debt – 23%
- Having enough saved for retirement – 23%
- Paying health care bills – 19%
- Putting off major financial decisions – 17%
2The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll, on behalf of NEFE, from April 7-9, 2020, among more than 2,000 U.S. adults.
Chapter 2: How Stress Leads to Poor Health Choices
During stressful times we fall into destructive habits. We make poor choices, sometimes unconsciously or without reason just to take our minds off of our stressful situations. We all know that our diet can impact our health, but few people know just how profoundly it interacts with the beneficial bacteria housed in our gut.
Fast Food Lifestyle Wreaking Havoc
Everyone’s microbiome is as unique as a fingerprint and is altered by everything we encounter. Overindulging in unhealthy foods can have a significant impact on your health and your microbiome. When you’re pressed for time, home cooked meals are usually the first casualty.
In fact, according to the CDC, over one-third of adults (36.3%) consume fast food on a given day. This reliance on getting quick, easy, and high caloric food is a main reason why over 73% of adults 20 and over are overweight4. In addition to expanding our waistlines, fast food has a significant toll on our gut microbes and your immune system. Diets high in fat and calories can contribute to obesity due to an altered gut microbiota.
The Connection of Stress to Lack of Sleep
Stress and anxiety often lead to insomnia and sleep problems. By the same token, lack of proper rest can contribute to stress. In fact, 35.2% of all adults in U.S. 18+ years old, don’t get the needed 7 or more hours a sleep per night5.
2020 just made it a little worse. It was a tough year with many experiencing sleepless nights wondering if they were going to have a job to pay their bills. With unemployment rates at their worst since the Great Depression, it’s not surprising that 48% of U.S. adults report losing sleep, at least occasionally, about a money issue6.
Top it off with reduced or no exercise, and little self-care time for relaxing, you have the perfect storm to affect the wellness of your microbiome.
Chapter 1 & 2 Sources:
- https://allonehealth.com/holiday-stress-guide/
- https://www.nefe.org/news/2020/04/survey-covid-19-crisisi-causing-financial-stress.aspx
- https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/stress-and-mental-health/
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm
- https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data_statistics.html
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/losing-sleep-survey/
- https://allaboutmannatech.com/digestive-health-series-statistics-
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