By Freda Paxinos, an  educator and  authority on the use of dietary supplements in the effective treatment of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) in children. Read her blog

End of year exams are a very stressful time for pupils, students, and parents alike.

We all know this, but did you know that when we are stressed out, cells in our bodies can be damaged or even die? When we are uptight, our cells need more blood sugar than normal, to prepare the body to fight or flee! The adrenal glands release hormones that break down body proteins and convert them to sugar.  In addition, minerals are released from our bones, fat is mobilised and salt is retained.

If stress is prolonged, and our bodies don’t have sufficient nutrients to counteract the effects, glands can be destroyed. Usually, the first glands to be damaged are the lymph glands, which are essential for the production of antibodies. The adrenal hormones will then break down protein cells from the liver, kidneys and stomach and this is how stress precipitates disease.

However, if our bodies are being supplied with the essential nutrients needed to replace proteins, calcium etc, glands and organs will immediately be rebuilt. So, whilst we cannot eliminate stress, we can ensure that it doesn’t do irreparable damage to our bodies!

Since stress is rife in our lives, regardless of whether we are young or old, working or at school, health experts worldwide have predicted that stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia may be the biggest wellness issues facing us in the 21st Century.

So, what can we do to ensure that stress doesn’t kill us?

Having said all that, obviously, we can’t always do what we know we should be doing to manage our stress levels. There are, however, many stress beating supplements that will boost your nutritional defences and eliminate the harmful effects of stress.

As a Biology teacher, I have first hand knowledge of what stress can do to our kids, so please feel free to contact me if you would like any advice in this regard.