Family Health & Wellness Blogs — Stress

Natural Ingredients That Help Manage Stress

Stress is your body’s reaction to a harmful, or potentially harmful situation, whether real or imagined. From dealing with a difficult boss or coworker, caring for an aging parent, paying bills or just dealing with the nightly news, stress is everywhere! When you are under stress of any kind, your mind and your body feel threatened.

When this happens, an actual chemical reaction occurs in your body to help protect yourself. This response is known as the ‘fight or flight’ response. Your heart rate goes up, you breathe faster, your blood pressure gets higher and your muscles tighten. All of this happens automatically and without you really having any control over it.

While the human body is prepared to handle small amounts of stress over the short-term, it’s not equipped to deal with stress on a constant, day-to-day basis. But it’s precisely this kind of constant, never-ending stress that we are bombarded with in today’s fast moving, twenty-four seven world. And, no part of your body is immune to the negative effects of stress; emotionally, physically and cognitively. Low energy, trouble sleeping, headaches, frequent colds, dry mouth, racing thoughts, upset stomach, cold or sweaty hands and feet…these are just a few of the ways your body and mind responds to unrelieved, constant stress.

Because stress has so many negative effects on both your body and your mind, it’s important to effectively manage stress.  Here are some key natural ingredients that can be taken daily to help manage stress:

• SOD (superoxide dismutase) is an extremely powerful antioxidant enzymefound naturally in almost all living cells. SOD functions to repair cells and works to reduce the damagefrom the most rampant free radical in the body, superoxidase. Plus, clinical double-blind scientific research studies show SOD helps to manage stress and improves sleep quality.*
• Chamomile is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs known to human beings, containing a variety of bioactive phytochemicals,including apigenin, a potent flavonoid. Apigenin, as well as other flavonoids present, acts in the brain to help induce relaxation and sleepand help to reduce anxiety.*
• Lemon Balm, a member of the mint family, is a soothing, calming herband was used as long ago as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety and to promote sleep. In addition to its calming, soothing effects, lemon balm is also an antioxidant.*
• Ashwaganda is a powerful adaptogen. Adaptogenic compounds help the adrenal system to regulate hormonesand help your body manage stress. Ashwaganda is especially helpful with sleep when stress is a factor.*

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.