Soothing Nutrients for Managing Stress

Stress is one of those inevitable parts of life that we’ve all experienced at some point. But when stress becomes constant, it can take a toll on our bodies. Whether it shows up in the form of sleepless nights, a lack of focus, or poor nutrient absorption, chronic stress can affect our health in many ways.

DEFINING STRESS

Stress can feel and look different for everyone. Essentially, it’s a state of worry or mental tension caused as a response to a difficult situation. It’s a natural reaction prompted by our body to protect us when faced with a perceived threat.

When you’re in the midst of a stressful situation, you may notice an increased heart rate, difficulty focusing, and even dizziness. These symptoms occur due to the fight-or-flight response, which is triggered as soon as we feel stressed.

THE STERSS RESPONSE AND ADRENAL GLANDS

When your body’s stress response is triggered, hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released. These hormones increase your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure levels. This is how your body prepares to face a threat or flee from it. Ultimately, this means your body diverts its resources to the stressful situation at hand, rather than focusing on essential functions like digestion, immunity, or quality sleep.

The fight-or-flight response is designed to keep us safe in emergencies. However, when it becomes chronic, it can strain the adrenal glands. Your adrenal glands, located atop your kidneys, are responsible for secreting hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and aldosterone. These hormones regulate processes such as metabolism, the stress response, and blood pressure.

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

Chronic stress places high demands on the adrenal glands, taxing them to the point of exhaustion and leading to adrenal fatigue. When the adrenal glands run out of energy and resources to meet the body’s needs, symptoms may include low energy, body aches, low blood pressure, unexplained weight loss, light-headedness, and skin discolouration or hyperpigmentation.

Stress-Relieving Nutrients

Certain nutrients are known to help the body relax and boost energy levels. These include B vitamins, L-theanine, and adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha. Prioritizing these nutrients can help manage stress.

• B Vitamins are a group of eight vitamins that work together to convert food into fuel, increasing the body’s energy levels.
• L-Theanine is an amino acid found naturally in green tea leaves, L-theanine promotes a relaxed state of mind without causing drowsiness. It has long been used to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb known to relieve stress and anxiety, as well as improve sleep, memory, and athletic performance.

To increase your intake of these nutrients, try CanPrev’s Adrenal-Pro, a therapeutic blend featuring adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, Siberian ginseng, rhodiola, and astragalus. It is designed to support physical and mental performance while reducing stress and fatigue. Another excellent option is CanPrev’s Adrenal Chill, which combines ashwagandha and L-theanine to help reduce stress, lower cortisol levels, support memory, and improve sleep and sexual function in women.

While we may not be able to eliminate stress entirely, we can support our bodies with the right nutrients to better manage it in our lives.

About the Author: CanPrev

CanPrev formulations are designed by licensed Canadian health practitioners and is an exclusive brand to the health food industry. The brand is well-known for its best-selling magnesium products. CanPrev acquired Innovite Health in 2019.