<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #993366;"><strong><em>PART 2/4 – NATURAL HIGH #2</em></strong></span></h1>
&nbsp;
<blockquote><em>“Well, mate, I’ve got a lot on, so if we could rip through this assessment as quickly as possible, that would be great.  I’ve got to fix two major stuff ups, get one key deal across the line, and my trainer has me hammering a hard session out later tonight.  Oh, and I’ve been in here since 4.50am.  I pretty much catch myself eating on the run, often missing breakfast, <a href="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/bar1.jpg"><img class="  wp-image-3496 alignright" src="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/bar1-300x225.jpg" alt="bar" width="172" height="129" /></a>but substituting with one of the energy drink things.  I must admit, I struggle getting to sleep, and when I do, I usually wake around 2 am finding myself thinking of $hit I’ve gotta fix tomorrow.  I don’t know what it is, but when I get up quickly from either lying or sitting, I get weird head spins, in fact, there're times I almost blackout.  I can’t believe I’m not my best race weight given how hard I train.  I don’t reckon I’m short on tolerance, particularly when I get home, but some people suggest I am.  In any case, even though I’ve got a few (Nurofen managed) niggles, a bit of cold everyone and then, I’m damn fit, right”. </em></blockquote>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<span style="color: #993366;"><strong>This section follows on from Part 1.  </strong></span>
<ul>
	<li>I simply offer you the results, mostly free from experts, via assessments and candid interviews with just over one hundred subjects.</li>
	<li>You may identify yourself, or, perhaps know of someone who fits my two defined groups.</li>
	<li>Hopefully, I’ve offered helpful tips for both groups.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;
<h3><span style="color: #993366;"><strong>GROUP 2 – SUSTAINED HIGH IN NATURAL HIGH # 2 – ADRENALIN/ CORTISOL (STRESS RESPONSE) OVERLOAD</strong></span></h3>
&nbsp;
<blockquote>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #33cccc;"><strong>“Everything has its limit before it explodes.”</strong></span></h4>
</blockquote>
<strong> </strong>

<strong> </strong>

<span style="color: #993366;"><strong>What is cortisol?</strong></span>

&nbsp;

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid, making it a steroid hormone. Like all critical steroid hormones, two tiny adrenal glands positioned on top of your kidneys produced produce cortisol from (all-important) cholesterol. Cortisol is released, and is necessary and healthy when you wake, exercise, require an anti-inflammatory response, and when faced with acute stress.

<img class="  wp-image-3494 alignright" src="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2000px-Cortisol2.svg_-300x200.png" alt="2000px-Cortisol2.svg" width="184" height="122" />

Perhaps cortisol’s most critical role is its involvement in the fight or flight response.  When you require super fast energy, mentally and physically, (adrenalin), and cortisol is King.  And, if used for intermittently super-charged efforts, cortisol will successfully carry out its role, then, in time, return levels to a healthy sustainable state.

&nbsp;

Healthy natural high # 2 is designed for temporary use only.

&nbsp;

<span style="color: #993366;"><strong>Here’s an example of the cortisol response.</strong></span>

&nbsp;

Let’s say the $hit hits the fan at work (again), or, you’re just about to speak publicly, or,  you’re about to say ‘I do’…..

&nbsp;
<blockquote>1. The brain senses a need for a hyperdrive state, so adrenal glands secrete adrenaline, epinephrine, and cortisol.

2. Cortisol influx signals the red light for glucose overflow – particularly to the larger muscles and the brain.

3. At first, cortisol inhibits insulin release (from the kidneys) as it seeks complete saturation of blood sugar, meaning, ready to go energy. Like you feel just after your first four pieces of chocolate - boom.

4. While cortisol narrows arteries, increasing blood pressure, cortisol’s mate, epinephrine, increases heart and breathing rates which produce greater oxygenated blood flow. Again, this is great for boosting energy.

5. In this heightened adrenalin/ cortisol-driven stress response, one can expect the following benefits;
<ul>
	<li>Higher concentration and focus</li>
	<li>Increased confidence</li>
	<li>Increased strength, coordination, and balance</li>
	<li>Less perception of effort</li>
	<li>Improved thermoregulation – usually a result from sweating, and</li>
	<li>Enhanced anti-inflammatory response to name a few critical responses</li>
</ul>
6. Removing stress, adrenalin &amp; cortisol production will cease (slow), and function will return to a normal balanced and healthy state.</blockquote>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;
<h4><span style="color: #993366;">So if adrenalin and cortisol offer such cracker performance benefits, why don’t we just continue to rev up this survival mechanism, all-day, every day.</span></h4>
&nbsp;

Well, as with most things, if overused, eventually things give way.  Our fight or flight stress response system is designed ONLY for temporary boosts.  Unlike our feel-good all day response of serotonin, adrenalin and cortisol require intermittent management, or else.

&nbsp;
<h5><span style="color: #993366;"><strong>Below, are six outcomes observed by me of subjects exhausting their natural hyperdrive stress response, courtesy of lifestyle (work) stress.</strong></span></h5>
&nbsp;
<blockquote><span style="color: #00ffff;"><strong>Type 2 - Diabetes</strong>:</span> Glucose is released into the bloodstream from both muscles and the Should this response continue, blood sugar levels offer a high, toxic, and unhealthy balance.  Consequently, insulin is released to restore balance.  This repeated reaction could lead to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin_resistance">insulin resistance</a> and thus, placing an excessive and unhealthy strain on the pancreas.  This response could contribute to type 2–diabetes.  There are also links to blood sugar imbalance and cardiovascular disease (e.g., high blood pressure, heart complications).

<span style="color: #00ffff;"><strong>Weight gain:</strong></span> Repeated and excessive Insulin release could contribute to fat gain. Those challenged with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin_resistance">insulin-resistance</a> are more at risk of weight gain.

<span style="color: #00ffff;"><strong>Poor appetite</strong>:</span> Continued glucose release, could influence appetite towards further blood sugar spiking dietary choices. This could offer a reason for later night sugar or (excessive and <a href="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/hhbhbhb1.jpg"><img class=" size-full wp-image-3498 alignright" src="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/hhbhbhb1.jpg" alt="hhbhbhb" width="274" height="184" /></a>necessary) alcohol cravings.   Further poor dietary choices are also likely to contribute to <strong>poor sleep quality</strong>, which is common with those on sustained hyperdrive.

<span style="color: #00ffff;"><strong>Suppressed Immune</strong></span>: Excessive and sustained cortisol doesn’t offer our immune system any favours. Head cold, flu’s and allergies are common responses.

<span style="color: #00ffff;"><strong>GI problems:</strong></span> Both poor dietary choices and less blood flow to the gut can impede GI efficiency. As a result, poor GI health can influence <em>sub-optimal</em> health and behaviour.

<span style="color: #00ffff;"><strong>Downcast behaviour</strong> </span>– Personality tanks are often dry by day’s end, leaving little interest for anything; verbally, physically or sexually. Perhaps with much energy thrown into making glucocorticoid cortisol, in males’ case, there is less energy to produce testosterone and consequent sexual interest.</blockquote>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;
<h5><span style="color: #993366;">“Okay then, if what you’re saying above is correct, and I am relying too heavily on my natural stress response system, why I don’t I simply invest in alternative (ergogenic) means keeping things amped up”?</span></h5>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<span style="color: #993366;"><strong>How so?</strong></span>
<blockquote><span style="color: #00ffff;"><strong>Sugar</strong> </span>– Firstly, irrespective of the recent media scrutiny, sugar, if consumed in whole form, and when appropriate, is both necessary and healthy.  If needed, sugar can most certainly provide an extra bounce.  However, and secondly, the problem being, our industrial diet is littered (and heavily promoted) with masking sugar additives, which, for some, actually, many, has made a right mess of their metabolism and consequent health (weight gain being one consequence).  Excessive refined sugar, masked sugar alternatives, flavour, aroma and colour additives, and excessive refined grains, will likely lead to ill-health.
<ul>
	<li>Real sugar, free of additives, will usually and innately self-regulate healthy volume.</li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #00ffff;"><strong>Caffeine</strong></span> – Caffeine has been proven to offer both a mental and physical kick.  However, once again, if consumption is abused, or a healthy threshold is exceeded, reported to be around 300mg of caffeine per day – about one and half cups of coffee, it too, can lead to ill-health.  Reports suggest, Anxiety, heart palpitations, muscle spasms, Insomnia, and <a href="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/download-6.jpg"><img class=" size-medium wp-image-3493 alignright" src="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/download-6-168x300.jpg" alt="download (6)" width="168" height="300" /></a>headaches can result from excessive caffeine.
<ul>
	<li>Energy drinks could well be the worst option in seeking a caffeine energy spiking hit.</li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #00ffff;"><strong>Cocaine</strong></span> (and Amphetamines) – Cocaine’s chemical structure is super close to Adrenalin (with amphetamines being even closer – e.g., speed), and, as such, can offer a similar short-lived performance hit. It also escalates natural high # 1 (Part 1), serotonin and dopamine, to an almighty ‘unnatural’ high.  Continued boosts in this synthetic high will eventually have a consequence on continued good health – irrespective of what one’s beliefs.  As use or dependency continues, so does threshold (volume) required for the same false high.  Natural highs (e.g., serotonin, dopamine and adrenalin) finally shut down leaving false highs as the only means of behavioural pickups.  This is not good.  Absolute consequences from repeated synthetic euphoric pickups are less defined, however, repeatedly rewiring brain wires is likely to throw up all sorts of weird and wonderful (often medically unexplained) ailments, both physically and very much emotionally.  My subject feedback suggests an array of odd inflammatory conditions, erratic (up and down) behaviour, and poor sleep patterns.

<span style="color: #00ffff;"><strong>Alcohol</strong> </span>– while alcohol can provide an initial pick up and balance emotional stress, e.g., after, say, one or two standards drinks, drinks after that, usually result in an adverse outcome.  Processing emotional pressure reduces, sleep is often good for 2 hours; then poor thermoregulation plays a role in influencing poor sleep, and GI stress commonly compromises both sleep and mindset.   Stay tuned for more detailed information on alcohol (and the stress response) in Part 3, but hey, it’s not all bad.</blockquote>
&nbsp;

<strong> </strong>
<h5><span style="color: #993366;"><strong>(Some) Subjects high in cortisol assessed as below;</strong></span></h5>
&nbsp;

<strong><span style="color: #993366;">GROUP 2</span> </strong>- Physical results (to be explained later)
<ul>
	<li>Blood Pressure – high to normal (145/95+)</li>
	<li>Blood sugar – high (6.0-9+, yikes!)<img class="  wp-image-3497 alignright" src="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sick.jpg" alt="sick" width="163" height="218" /></li>
	<li>Triglycerides – low (&lt;10mg/dL)/ Cholesterol – high (6.0+mmol/L)</li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #993366;"><strong>GROUP 2</strong></span> - Psychological results
<ul>
	<li>Sleeps well till around 2 am, then wakes, and processes strategies for the next day.</li>
	<li>Believes that exercising and training hard is the only way.</li>
	<li>Recurring niggles in tendons and joints.</li>
	<li>Response to allergies and changes in weather</li>
	<li>Subdued beyond working hours.</li>
	<li>Loves a late night email check.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<span style="color: #993366;"><strong>Coming up in Part 3 </strong></span>

&nbsp;
<ul>
	<li>Three tested and proven lifestyle de-stressing strategies – simple, logistically friendly, and free.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>Further lifestyle strategies in combating the demands of work stress, without removing work out of the equation.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>How to best eat and train when low in natural high # 1 or natural high # 2.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://balancehealthprograms.com.au/lifestyle-stress-series-part-3/">TAKE ME TO PART 3 - OXYGEN HACK</a></strong></h3>
</blockquote>