Handle STRESS with Nutrition
by: Robyn Santos
Being the mother of two young adults, I am no stranger to stressful situations. Life can come at you pretty hard sometimes. Outside emotional influences can really take a toll on us physically. Our minds will race, (specifically at night when we are alone with our thoughts) and it can become very difficult to conduct our regular daily activities.
Fortunately, nature gives us amazing tools to help. I have a few things that are my “go to” remedies. I generally have two lines of attack. Daytime remedies, and nighttime.
For daytime use we have ideal combinations of both herbs and amino acids. For those who prefer not to go the herbal route, GABA is an excellent choice.
According to WebMd.com,
GABA is taken by mouth for relieving anxiety, improving mood, reducing symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and treating attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is also used for promoting lean muscle growth, burning fat, stabilizing blood pressure, and relieving pain.
*I love the fat burning benefit here.
There are multiple formulas sold with GABA. Or you can buy it alone. Natural Factors make a product called Phama GABA. It has 100mg of GABA per dose, and comes in both capsule and chewable versions. There are no drowsy side effects.
Ashwagandha for Stress Relief
If the herbal remedies are your approach, I really like Ashwagandha. This Ayurvedic herb can do some amazing things. Not only does it help you relax, it can give you energy as well. Go figure.
It is said Ashwagandha supports an energetic and rejuvenating sense of wellbeing
Ayurvedic healers say that Ashwagandha supports an energetic and rejuvenating sense of wellbeing. It is said to be effective in alleviating fatigue, stress, problems concentrating and lack of energy.
Ashwagandha has been recommended for good sleep for centuries
The University of Tsukuba reports the key component in Ashwagandha which induces sleep has been identified by researchers in the sleep institute in Japan. This herb has been recommended for good sleep for centuries. In studies on rats the Japanese research team observed that triethylene glycol (TEG) is the active component in Ashwagandha which induces good sleep.
Dean’s carries a variety of formulas containing Ashwagandha. Too many to list. Himalaya Herbal has both combinations and the herb alone, they all seem to work well for me.
Now onto some of my nighttime go-to’s.
Without a good night’s sleep, nothing good happens during the day. There are times when the day gets so busy that it becomes very difficult to turn it off when it’s time for bed. In order for us to deal with the everyday stresses, sleep is essential.
I use one remedy that is perfect to help me dial it down a bit. Herbalist and Alchemist Phytocalm. It contains a combination of the herbs: Skullcap, Hops, Oat milky seed, Passionflower, California poppy, and Valerian. It comes in a liquid, in a number of sizes. I keep that beautiful little bottle on my nightstand for those nights. I love this one for a number of reasons.
- It works for me.
- I find that I get a good night’s sleep without feeling groggy in the morning
- I don’t feel drugged at all when I use it. It just turns down the “noise” in my head, and lets me get a good night’s sleep.
CBD, or Cannabinoids can greatly affect our neurological system in a positive manner. Not to get too technical, but they help all of the activity in our brains function more in concert. The spark plugs in our brain fire better so to speak. I love the stuff. For me, CBD is a MUST HAVE. That is one product I very rarely miss. Over time, I have noticed in myself, that Daytime and Nighttime dosing works best. Since we are all made differently, some trial and error may be a factor for some.
Non Herbal Stress Relief
Some people do not feel comfortable taking herbs. That is perfectly fine. L-tryptophan, and 5-HTP (a precursor to L-tryptophan) are an excellent choice. They are helpful, without having those horrible side effects. Potencies vary with these. I would suggest that, as with any supplement, you read the directions very carefully.
Magnesium is a powerful go to. Studies are showing that Magnesium can not only help with Calcium absorption, but muscle and general relaxation as well.
Dean’s has entire sections devoted to Stress at all of our locations, so I have only scratched the surface with what is available. Feel free to come in and have a chat with any of our Nutrition specialist to help you make the perfect choices for you.
