Recap

Men, Women, & Stress

Relationship expert Dr. John Gray discussed his latest work on how men and women handle stress differently, due to gender-related chemical differences. Most "lifestyle" diseases are the result of how we respond to stress, he noted. Stress can cause elevated levels of cortisol, and lead people to make less healthy dietary choices, he said.

Women run out of the neurotransmitter serotonin more quickly than men, which can bring on more stress and sugar cravings, he detailed. Further, because women have eight times more blood flow to the brain, they may become more upset under moderate stress than a man. Men's stress, he continued, can show up as fatigue, feeling "blah" and a sense of boredom or flatness. These are symptoms of low dopamine levels, said Gray.

For both men and women, he recommended the supplement PGX, a tri-fiber that absorbs carbohydrates and regulates blood sugar levels-- this helps the brain more readily manufacture needed chemicals, he explained. For men, the plant supplement Mucuna Pruriens or velvet bean can enhance dopamine levels and increase testosterone-- for women, Griffonia seeds or 5-HTP serves as a serotonin precursor and is more effective than antidepressants, he stated.

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