Stress can contribute to illness and stop us from living life to the fullest. Fortunately, certain anti-stress supplements can soothe the mind without adding yet another to-do list to the day. Discover the healing power of these supplements and calm your nerves now.
Life is the leading cause of stress. It’s normal to feel stressed out when you have a lot on your plate – a big test at school, a major project at work, or family and childcare issues. But when having a lot on your plate causes you to put a lot on your plate and stress eat, it’s time to consider your options for dealing with the pressure.
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From Stress to Serenity: Tap into the Healing Power of Anti-Stress Supplements is an original (NewsHealthWatch) article.
Effects of stress
Stress is simply the natural human response to a difficult situation – real or imagined. The right amount motivates you, gives you a sense of accomplishment, and can help you achieve your goals. But too much stress can threaten your well-being and endanger your health. That’s why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared stress a workplace hazard. The dangerous effects of stress include:
- Headaches: Tension headaches are the most common, caused by teeth grinding and tightening muscles, but stress can also make other types of headaches worse.
- High blood pressure: Continued stress can produce large amounts of vasoconstricting hormones, leading to dramatic spikes in blood pressure. Some 50 million American adults suffer from hypertension, most of it brought on by stress.
- Heart problems: High levels of cortisol from long-term stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure… common risk factors for heart disease.
- Skin conditions: Excessive sweating often leads to hives, skin rashes, eczema, and acne. The skin is the body’s largest organ, and it is easy for environmental and internal factors to get under the skin and cause long-term damage.
- Depression and anxiety: There’s a cyclical relationship between stress, depression, and anxiety. High-stress levels can stimulate anxiety and depression, and depression often brings on stress and anxiety. All have mood-altering effects that feed on each other.
- Gastrointestinal problems: The hormones and neurotransmitters released during high-stress periods impact the effectiveness of the intestines and stomach to remove waste. Stress can also upset the balance of gut bacteria, causing stomach aches and gastrointestinal pain.
- Asthma: The body often responds to stress by tightening the muscles around the airways. While stress does not cause asthma, emotional turmoil and stress are well-known triggers of asthma attacks.
- Obesity: Chronic stress often leads to “comfort eating,” which usually involves consuming chocolate and other foods high in fat, sugar, and calories, which, in turn, can lead to weight gain.
- Premature aging: Constant stress may lead to shorter telomeres or specialized proteins at the ends of linear chromosomes. These telomeres are crucial for the normal aging process. Researchers found removing psychological stress allows the body to revert to the normal aging process.
- Muscle spasms: The human brain may interpret stress as a threat and send signals to the body that trigger twitches and uncontrolled movements. It can also exacerbate arthritis symptoms and joint pain.
- Fatigue: Prolonged stress (especially work-related stress) often causes insomnia, leading to a constant state of fatigue. This usually furthers the effects of emotional exhaustion, worsening stress levels.
- Loss of sex drive: Chronic stress interferes with hormone levels and can lower the libido in both men and women.
Managing stress
You don’t have to say yes to the stress. Doctors recommend you manage stress by exercising, eating properly, taking time out to relax, and making time for hobbies. But finding time to manage your stress may just add more stress to an already stress-packed schedule. That’s where supplements come in. By adding these essential ingredients to your diet, you can manage even the most stressful situations and improve your mental and physical health.
Anti-stress supplements
While some psychiatrists will prescribe tranquilizers, beta-blockers, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) when stress becomes life-consuming and debilitating, these drugs often come with negative side effects such as weight gain, moodiness, and sexual dysfunction – some of the same symptoms you’re trying to eliminate. A safer and more natural alternative is a supplement that includes one or two of the following:
- Ashwagandha: Also called Indian ginseng, this plant has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that lowers the stress hormone cortisol and regulates the effects of stress on the body.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Two of the omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), can reduce stress symptoms and mood disorders and prevent aggressive behavior. Researchers at The Ohio State University also found omega-3 can help stave off the damaging physical effects of stress.
- Rhodiola rosea: This plant from the Antarctic has been shown to suppress the release of cortisol, increasing the body’s resistance to the fight-or-flight reaction that accompanies stress. Too much Rhodiola rosea can sometimes cause dizziness, so it should be taken with caution.
- L-theanine: An amino acid found in green tea, L-theanine has been shown to ease stress and anxiety and help people who suffer from sleep problems and depression.
- Valerian Root: This herb is known for its calming effects and is often used to help with anxiety and depression and as a sleep aid. It may trigger side effects such as headaches and drowsiness and should not be taken with prescription sedatives.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate supplements the way it does prescription medication, but the agency does offer a dietary supplement ingredient directory to make it easier to check the safety and efficacy of the supplements you’re considering.
Krill oil for stress
To lessen the stress of supplement shopping, we searched for a product that combines a few of these supplements with some added health benefits. Kori Krill Oil delivers EPA and DHA omega-3 fats to combat mood disorders such as anxiety and stress. Studies show omega-3 fats also fight cognitive decline and slow down the aging process. “What many consumers don’t realize is that omega-3s are an essential nutrient beyond heart health,” says Kori Krill Oil’s chief executive, Nancy Chan. “They’re a multi-benefit supplement that can help your brain, your mind, your joints, your eyes, and your immune system.”
By choosing krill oil, you avoid the mercury and other toxins often found in fish, especially if that krill is sourced from the pristine Antarctic Ocean.
Kori Krill Oil’s Stress & Body Omega-3 also adds 125 mg of ashwagandha extract to its daily dosage to reduce cortisol levels and lower stress and blood pressure. The ashwagandha will also help you get the sleep you need to better manage your everyday stress.
There are several krill oil products on the market, but only a few are sustainably sourced, have the proper amount of omega-3s, and are third-party tested for purity. Kori Krill Oil is also available nationwide at Walmart, CVS, Sam’s club, and online at amazon.
Less stress for a longer, happier life
Living in a state of perpetual anxiety and worry can reduce the quality of your life as well as your life expectancy. If you simply can’t maintain your hectic everyday schedule, consider the power of anti-stress supplements to help you slow down. Just a few capsules a day could put your mind at ease and add several years to your life.
Further reading for additional reference:
American Institute of Stress: What is Stress?
Mayo Clinic: Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior
American Heart Association: Chronic Stress Can Cause Heart Trouble
Harvard Health Publishing: Stress and the Sensitive Gut
National Library of Medicine: An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha extract
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
