Buying guide for Best stress support supplements
Stress support supplements help individuals maintain a healthy response to daily stressors. They contain a combination of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients designed to stabilize mood. Additionally, stress support supplements often include chemicals that help foster healthy blood sugar and insulin levels and enhance the immune system.
Oftentimes, stress support supplements help people address vitamin or mineral deficiencies that may otherwise lead to elevated stress levels. For example, some supplements contain a high concentration of magnesium that simultaneously improves sleep quality and reduces stress. Vitamin B complex is another common ingredient that can help individuals deal with anxiety and depression in high-stress situations.
A stress support supplement can help combat stress-related sleep issues, anxiety, muscle tension, and exhaustion. It may induce a feeling of calmness without making you feel tired. These supplements can typically be taken in the morning, and the effects will last throughout the day.
Stress support supplement ingredients
Here’s a look at six of the ingredients commonly seen in stress support supplements.
-
Melatonin: This hormone is produced by the brain and helps manage a person's sleep cycle.
-
Valerian root: This herb has been shown to help lower blood pressure and heart rate. It may be helpful to persons dealing with stress, insomnia, and anxiety.
-
Theanine: This amino acid is frequently used to treat high blood pressure and anxiety.
-
Lemon balm: A member of the mint family, lemon balm helps improve a person's mood and promotes serenity and calmness. Some research has suggested that a single dose of 1,600 mg of dried lemon balm may help a person combat stress for up to six hours.
-
Kava: Derived from the root of a kava plant, kava has been shown to help individuals lower their stress and anxiety levels.
- Passionflower: Some practitioners believe passionflower can be used to treat stress linked to general anxiety disorder. However, additional studies in humans may be needed to further evaluate the potential benefits of passionflower to alleviate stress.
Benefits of stress support supplements
Cortisol support
Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone. It works in conjunction with the brain to control a person's mood and stress levels. Some stress support supplements provide cortisol support. They help the body manage its cortisol levels throughout the day. Otherwise, if the body's cortisol levels rise or fall too sharply, they may cause a person's stress levels to fluctuate accordingly.
Sleep support
Stress may make it tough for a person to fall asleep or stay asleep. Without a restful night's sleep, an individual may wake up feeling tired, and this may cause his or her stress level to snowball.
Stress support supplements may contain magnolia bark, extracts from the epimedium plant species, and other ingredients that have been shown to help reduce stress. Thanks to these ingredients, an individual who takes a stress support supplement may be better equipped to make a good night's sleep a regular occurrence.
Adrenal health support
The adrenal glands regulate a person's stress response. Stress support supplements may help an individual combat adrenal fatigue, a problem that occurs when the body's immune system slows down due to stress.
Drug-free and non-habit-forming
Whereas prescription medications to treat stress may contain drugs that cause drowsiness, mental fog, and other unwanted side effects, drug-free stress support supplements help individuals avoid these side effects altogether. And because these natural ingredients are generally non-habit-forming, they can be used without the risk of addiction.
Expert Tip
STAFF
BestReviews
A note about lifestyle
Stress support supplements alone may be insufficient to treat stress. An individual may need to make lifestyle changes in combination with the use of supplements to keep his or her stress levels in check. For example, you might take a daily stress support supplement in conjunction with practicing yoga or meditation.
Stress support supplement prices
You’ll find lots of stress support supplements in the $10 to $30 range. Supplements in this price range may contain low concentrations of natural ingredients and come in packages of 60 to 90 capsules or tablets. Spend a little more (generally $30 to $60), and you will find more clinician-developed and drug-free formulas.
Tips
-
Engage in physical activity. Stress support supplements used in conjunction with exercise and other physical activities may help diminish a high stress level.
-
Avoid caffeine and nicotine. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that may interfere with the effectiveness of a stress support supplement. If you cannot completely avoid these substances, try to reduce your intake of them.
-
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant when consumed in large quantities and a stimulant when taken in small quantities. In both instances, it may limit the effectiveness of a stress support supplement.
-
Maintain a regular supplement routine. Take your supplement around the same time each day. This regularity will help you evaluate the overall effectiveness of the formula.
-
Consult with a doctor. High stress is a problem that often goes untreated. Although stress support supplements may help lower your stress level, it’s a good idea to meet with your doctor to explore additional stress-reduction treatments.
- Follow the instructions. Stress support supplement instructions vary from product to product. Be sure you know all the details before you begin a new regimen.
FAQ
Q. What is stress exactly?
A. Stress occurs when a person's tension levels become higher than normal. It may lead to headache, backache, indigestion, interrupted sleep, panic attack, and other physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms.
To better understand stress, let's examine the link between stress and the adrenaline and cortisol hormones. When a person encounters a potential threat, the brain sets off an alarm system in the body. A rush of adrenaline increases heart rate and blood pressure. At the same time, a cortisol rush increases sugars in the bloodstream, modifies immune system responses, and slows down the digestive system. This leads to a fight-or-flight reaction until the threat passes.
Once a threat disappears, an individual's adrenaline and cortisol levels decline and heart rate and blood pressure return to typical levels. But when stressors are constantly present in a person's life, an individual experiences elevated adrenaline and cortisol levels, and the fight-or-flight urge persists. This causes stress that interrupts the body's natural processes and increases the risk of chronic anxiety, digestive issues, and other health problems.
Q. Can a stress support supplement alleviate all of my stress symptoms?
A. No. A stress support supplement is designed to help a person lower his or her stress levels, but it often needs to be used in combination with dietary and lifestyle changes to deliver the best results.
