Help Your Body Cope With Stress
What a crazy few months we’ve had! If you’ve noticed your sleep is shot,1 you’re a little bit anxious2 and you are craving way too many carbs,3 you’re probably feeling the impacts of stress. Pour yourself a cuppa calming chamomile tea, take a deep breath, and read on for some easy-to-add stress relievers to keep you feeling healthy and happy as we ease into summer.
The ABCs of stress coping
Vitamin A. Along with other antioxidants vitamins C and E, vitamin A help to protect telomere length. Life stress is linked with shortening of telomeres, which has been associated with aging.4
Vitamin B. Chronic stress depletes B vitamins. Add a B Complex formula to your nutritional supplement routine.5
Vitamin C. Adrenal glands are rich in vitamin C. New research shows that our adrenal glands secrete not only hormones in response to stress, but also Vitamin C. Remember that Vitamin C is crucial for supporting your immune system. Shore up your intake during the colder weather with supplemental C.6
Adaptogens
Adaptogens help the body adapt to stress by increasing both physical and mental capacity, reducing fatigue and improving resistance to disease as well as promoting restorative activities. In order to be considered adaptogens, substances must act quickly and have long-lasting effects, have properties that reduce stress-induced damage and be innocuous.7
Ashwagandha: (Sensoril ®) Research supported benefits include the reduction in stress symptoms such as fatigue, sleeplessness, irritability, and inability to concentrate when standardized to 250 mg/day.8
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may help to prevent the production of free radicals and may also help to block lipid peroxidation. Chamomile tea may be used to reduce feelings of sadness and improve sleep problems for postpartum women.9
L-theanine has been found in research to mitigate both the physiological stress response and the ‘felt’ and emotional stress response.10
Panax Ginseng enhances physical capacity and performance, in cases of physical stress and has also been shown to support cognitive function and reduce mental fatigue.11
Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) may be helpful to reduce symptoms of nervousness, particularly heart palpitations, attention deficiencies and insomnia.12
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) Clinical research shows that this herb helps to relieve stress-related conditions and indicators of burnout, including emotional and physical exhaustion, irritability, and low mood.13
Schisandra Berries supports resistance to stress when fatigued.14
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) has been shown to have a calming effect in healthy, mildly anxious adults. Some research shows mood enhancing effects without a reduction in energy or cognition. No toxicity, adverse reactions, tolerance, dependability or rebound excitability was found in the study. It is an herb with a very strong tradition as a mild improver of sleep quality.15
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root may help reduce feelings of uneasiness and to promote calm without causing drowsiness.16
Watch for the sneaky stressors:
- Alcohol, caffeine, nicotine
- Toxins in personal care products
- Dietary nutrient deficiencies
- Physical injury or chronic illness
- Poor sleep
- Emotional or mental health concerns
Unfortunately, we can’t always control what happens in our lives, or even how we react to unexpected events. But we can help our bodies cope when life throws us a pandemic-sized curve ball!
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