Everyone experiences stress at one time or another, but chronic stress and how that stress is perceived can be detrimental to our physical health if left unchecked.
When most people think of stress they usually limit their definition to emotional or mental stressors such as anxiety, fear, depression, perfectionism, grief, work and financial pressure, or relational conflict. However, stress can occur in all aspects of life.
Nutritional, physical, psychological and spiritual stress factors all place a burden on the body’s stress response. For example, exercise, which is accepted as one of the best ways to minimize stress, can become a stressor if performed too intensely or without adequate rest. Medical conditions such as infection, chronic illness or surgery cause tremendous metabolic stress. Change, even seemingly good change, can be stressful. And, environmental or chemical exposures, such as drugs and excessive alcohol, can stress also stress the body.
Stress Can Present As Either Acute or Chronic in Nature
Chronic stress brings about a wide range of health problems and is a major precursor for many of the conditions that Americans face today:
- Alterations in blood sugar
- Altered immune function
- Cardiovascular problems
- Decreased mood
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Lowered Libido
- Lowered thyroid function
- Muscle breakdown
- Weight gain
So How Can We Manage Stress?
Interestingly, when researchers interview centenarians (a person who has reached the age of 100 years) from around the world, the one aspect that these individuals have in common is a lack of stress or a means of managing their stress before their stress manages them.
Nutritional supplements such as L-Theanine, and GABA Calm can be helpful in lowering stress hormones and promoting calmness when taken during the course of the day.
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is a unique amino acid found in green tea. Green tea has traditionally been used for centuries to help promote relaxation. In recent times, L-Theanine has been studied for its use in causing relaxation without drowsiness. In addition to relaxation, research suggests that it may also have significant benefits for cardiovascular, immune and neurological health.
GABA
The effect of orally administrated GABA on relaxation and immunity during stress has been studied in humans and could work effectively to induce relaxation and diminish anxiety. Moreover, oral administration of GABA could enhance immunity under stress conditions.[1]
Our GABA Calm supplement offers a combination of L-Theanine and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), two naturally occurring agents that have been shown to support a positive mood, relaxation, and the relief of mental tension.
Probiotics
Probiotics can help to support immune function and minimize the effect of stress on our gut health, and ultimately, our overall health.
Clinical trials also suggest that the exposure to microbes through the gastrointestinal tract powerfully shapes immune function. Probiotic Daily Support capsules contain over 5 billion beneficial organisms in each cap and may be useful for those who wish to support their intestinal microflora with meaningful amounts of beneficial microorganisms.
Relaxation Formula
Combination products, such as Relaxation Formula, taken during the course of the day can help with falling asleep and experiencing a full night’s rest.
The synergistic ingredients in this formula work in ways that help the body “let go” of tension and anxiety without causing drowsiness. The primary ingredients in this formula SunTheanine® and Relora® are backed by scientific research and have been shown to be safe and effective without causing drowsiness. SunTheanine® helps counteract feelings of anxiety by supporting normal alpha brain wave activity.
Finally, specialized, high-potency vitamin B formulations like our Vitamin B-Complex can provide solid nutritional support that the body needs to prevent metabolic breakdown brought on by stress.
Super Stress Support
B-vitamins are needed for the production of hormones involved in the stress response, as well as many other biochemical and physiological processes that involve stress. The body’s requirements for B-vitamins and vitamin C may increase during times of stress. It is important to replenish and or maintain optimal levels of these nutrients so the body can better “handle” stress and limit the potentially damaging physical and emotional effects stress may have.
In addition to supporting the stress response, Super Stress Support contains supportive, calming herbs such as valerian, hops and skullcap. The combination of these herbs along with magnesium provides synergistic support to help “calm” during stress.
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Medical Disclaimer This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or take the place of such information or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Innovation Compounding, Inc. nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any medication, nutritional supplement, diet, or health regimen. Innovation Compounding does not make or intend to make any claims to efficacy or safety of compounded products for specific conditions or disease states, as compounded products are not FDA-approved for these conditions.