Posts Tagged → stress
Researchers discover reasons behind neurodegenerative effects of stress
Stress can cause the brain to deteriorate over time, and now a team of researchers from the University of California, Davis has determined the cause of this effect. The findings may help individuals limit stress and rejuvenate their pursuit of personal development.
They found that a gene known as RCAN1 is produced at high levels in the brain during periods of stress. This gene normally is involved in the brain's coping mechanisms and helps individual's deal with stress. However, when it is present in large quantities, it appears to destroy brain tissue by enveloping neural networks and limiting their function.
"One can imagine that it becomes sticky and makes tangled scaffolding," said Kelvin Davies, who led the study. "By publishing this hypothesis, we hope to stimulate more research on the subject."
Ilchi Lee has long recommended meditation and other relaxation techniques in order to help people reach their full brain potential and avoid the damaging consequences of stress. The findings of this new study provide yet another reason to adopt this approach.
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Stressed searchers miss many objects
Stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on an individual’s brain potential and change the way they perceive the world. Ilchi Lee says that meditation and other forms of relaxing mental exercise may play an important role in people’s ability to get the most out of their brain power.
These types of techniques are even more important in light of a new set of findings from Duke University researchers. The team discovered that when a person is feeling anxious or stressed while they are looking for something, they are much more likely to miss the object they were searching for.
The researchers said that their findings have important implications for the way people are trained, particularly in important instances such as search and rescue of missing persons. Channeling and reducing stress in these situations may lead to better outcomes.
The results of the study confirm what Ilchi Lee says about the negative effects of stress and anxiety on the brain. He has long recommended meditation as a way to curb these unhealthy feelings and push brain potential to its fullest.
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Men and women handle stress differently
Stress can cause individuals to think and act in drastically different ways than they normally would, and handling this stress may play an important role in lifelong success and personal development.
A recent study from a researcher as the University of Southern California found that men and women react differently under stress, and while both of these reactions may have served functions during the development of the human race, both may have their drawbacks now.
Nichole Lighthall, who conducted the investigation, found that under stress, men tend to proceed brashly while women tend to become more cautious and hesitant. However, in less stressful situations, the researcher found that men and women tend to make decisions in more similar ways.
Lighthall said that the findings underscore the importance of managing stress in daily life. They may also contribute to an improved understanding of gender differences. This knowledge could improve the ways people, particularly couples, handle stressful situations.
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee has recommended meditation for years as a way to manage stress and stimulate personal development.
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A good night’s sleep and limiting stress shown to aid in weight loss
While many people look to restrictive diets and supplemental products to stimulate weight loss and improve their well-being, Ilchi Lee says health is a matter of focusing on the basics of life and searching for ways to live as nature intended. This view is increasingly being borne out by science.
For example, a recent study conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Foundation found that individuals who are seeking to lose weight are more successful when they get a good night's sleep and limit their stress levels.
After studying several factors in nearly 500 individuals who were looking to lose up to 10 pounds, the researchers found that sleep and stress are two of the most important factors. Those who slept between six and eight hours per night and limited their stress were significantly more likely to reach their weight loss goals.
"Some people may just need to cut back on their schedules and get to bed earlier," said Charles Elder, who led the study. "Others may find that exercise can reduce stress and help them sleep. For some people, mind-body techniques such as meditation also might be helpful."
