Topic 9 - What's Good for the Planet is Good for Us Flashcards
stressors
sources of stress, can be environmental, physical, psychological, internal and external
natural selection
evolve in response to environmental pressures
environmental stressors
External stressors that are part of our surroundings
sympathetic nervous system
a division of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates respiration, cardiovascular functions, and other life-support mechanisms
fight-or-flight response
a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival
endocrine system
a network of glands that release hormones
hormones
chemical messengers such as adrenaline that travel through the bloodstream and affect tissues and organs in various parts of the body
stress response
the release of cortisol increases glucose (sugar) levels in the bloodstream, providing energy to fight or flee.
melatonin
a hormone that promotes sleep onset
zeitgeber
any external or environmental cue that synchronizes an organism’s biological rhythms
dopamine
a neurochemical that gives us a “high” feeling
Overconsumption of sugar ultimately leads to
insulin resistance
nutrient density
how well the food will nourish you
learned helplessness
a mental state in which an organism forced to bear aversive stimuli, or stimuli that are painful or otherwise unpleasant, becomes unable or unwilling to avoid subsequent encounters with those stimuli, even if they are “escapable,” presumably because it has learned that it cannot control the situation
PBTs - persistent
can remain in the environment for long periods of time (years or decades) without breaking down or losing their potency
