Everyone feels anxious at some point in their lives; it might be because you're taking an exam, have a job interview, are going on a date or giving a speech. Our body naturally responds to the situation and releases stress hormones like adrenaline which causes our heart rate and blood pressure to rise and cortisol to make us feel ‘on edge’ by raising levels of glucose in our blood to make us more alert, preparing us for a “fight or flight” response. All of which can manifest in feeling out of breath, our hearts beating too fast and our limbs trembling when we encounter stressful situations.

Normally, our natural stress reactions can help us be more productive, make sure we accomplish our tasks and even boost our memory. Our “fight or flight” response triggered by the release of stress hormones can even save us from physically stressful circumstances, like jumping out of the way of a car. But we all know that too much stress and anxiety can seriously affect our lives and health. If our bodies constantly feel as if they are in stressful situations they will keep releasing stress hormones. This can make it hard to sleep, leaving us feeling tired and unable to concentrate. Chronic stress and anxiety can also cause some serious health problems, including a weakened immune system, compromised gut health, depression and even an increased risk of heart disease.

So of course we all can feel anxious and stressed, especially in today’s climate - but how do we know if the stress we are feeling is helpful or not? Well, our physical health can be strongly linked to our mental wellbeing, so your body finds ways to let you know if it is handling too much stress, which manifests both physically and physiologically.

Symptoms of anxiety

Physical symptoms can include: 

• Headaches
• Migraines
• Muscle and joint pain
• Changes in appetite
• Digestive problems, including diarrhoea and constipation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Irregular periods in women
• Changes to your sexual drive
• Aching and stiffness 
• Weight gain
• Heart palpitations
• Chest pain

Physiological symptoms can include: 

• Anger and irritability
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Trouble falling asleep and waking up
• Constant worry and overthinking
• Feeling constantly on edge
• Not being able to relax
• Having trouble staying focused and motivated
• Problems with memory and concentration

If you feel like your stress and anxiety are negatively impacting your way of life; by stopping you from doing the things you want to do, or affecting your schoolwork or performance at work, then you should consult your GP or a trusted healthcare professional for help. Chronic stress and anxiety can be isolating, but it’s important to share how you’re feeling with your loved ones for support and to seek help if you need it.

Stress may be something we can never escape from, but that doesn’t mean that we have to let it control our lives. We can all take steps to help us relieve our stress and anxiety in our everyday lives. Things like exercising regularly, eating healthy and making sure you have a support system to help you out in your times of need. Learning breathing exercises, yoga, meditation and spending time in nature can also help you relieve your anxiety. You can also moderate excessive dependence on smoking, alcohol and high-caffeine drinks to help reduce feelings of stress.

Taking time to look after yourself can have an exceptional impact and this can include adding vitamin and health supplements to your daily routine. A special class of natural herbs known as adaptogens can have unique effects that work to reduce stress and promote energy and vitality. This is why there’s increasing popularity for certain supplements that can play a powerful role in the management of anxiety in a natural way. We've compiled a list of the most stress-busting vitamins, minerals and botanicals that will help you find balance and mental relaxation: 

	Magnesium: is one of the most important minerals found in the body and yet dietary surveys have suggested that many people don’t consume the recommended amounts due to continued reliance on processed foods. Magnesium is a simple but powerful mineral that is essential for turning food into energy to increase vitality, but it also has another vital role. Magnesium contributes to increased GABA levels, a neurotransmitter that helps to slow down your brain activity. When GABA levels get too low, our brains can find it difficult to relax after stressful situations, leaving us unable to fall asleep and stressed. Magnesium helps to stimulate those GABA receptors, which slows down our brain activity, helping to ease your stress and anxiety and making it easier for you to sleep. Making sure that you have the right levels of magnesium in your body can help to restore your sleep and manage your stress and anxiety. The NHS recommends a daily magnesium dosage of 270mg for women and 300mg for men. Click here to discover our Essential Magnesium capsules and add some much needed magnesium to your diet.
	Ashwagandha: an all-natural herbal supplement and one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, herbs and plants that have been used for centuries to help the body respond and adapt to stress, boost energy and vitality and combat fatigue. Ashwagandha does this by helping reduce the production of the stress hormone cortisol and mimicking the effects of the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter GABA, reducing your stress and fatigue. Discover our  Ashwagandha Destress Formula which contains an ayurvedic blend of adaptogens to help you reduce stress, anxiety and fatigue.
	Astralagus: is another all-natural herbal adaptogen, meaning it helps protect the body from different stresses, including physical, emotional and mental. Astragalus has become notable over the years for its powerful immune-boosting properties - studies have shown that regular use of Astragalus root leads to an increase in disease-fighting immune antibodies and stimulation of T-cells. We include Astralagus in our Ashwagandha Destress Formula to help make it a powerful weapon in the fight against stress
	Rhodiola: also known as the golden root; a medicinal plant from Siberia. Rhodiola is another adaptogen that can help support your stamina, especially in moments when your body is feeling stressed. This special herb has also been shown to help you manage your stress and anxiety by balancing your cortisol levels. A four-week study found that taking 200mg of Rhodiola twice a day helped improve multiple symptoms of stress including exhaustion, fatigue and anxiety - these improvements could be seen from as early as three days into the study and lasted for all four weeks. Try our Ashwagandha Destress Formula to introduce Rhodiola into your day.
	Ginkgo biloba: is among the oldest living tree species dating back over 270 million years and has been used by Chinese monks for several thousand years. Ginkgo contains high levels of flavonoids and terpenoids, which are compounds known for their strong antioxidant effects in removing free radicals and toxins to reduce cell damage and inflammation around your body. Ginkgo has also been shown to help reduce anxiety, with one study of 107 people finding that the group taking the highest dose of ginkgo reported a greater improvement of their anxiety symptoms than the group that took a placebo. Click here and discover our Ginkgo B+ Energy Formula capsules.
	Omega 3: along with improving your heart health, support your vision, reducing your joint pain and inflammation, maintaining healthy skin and boosting your immunity, Omega 3  has also been found to help ease symptoms of stress and anxiety. One study on medical students found that supplementation of omega-3 led to a 20% reduction in anxiety symptoms. Make sure you're getting enough Omega 3 fatty acids with our high strength Triple Omega 3-6-9.
	5-HTP: is naturally produced in our bodies. It is a well-researched nutrient with many studies supporting its use. Derived from the amino acid l-tryptophan, it is converted in our bodies into the neurotransmitter, serotonin, which influences sleep, appetite, and mood. Serotonin is a vital component of melatonin, the hormone critical for sleep. Numerous scientific studies have shown that 5-HTP promotes relaxation and alleviates stress. By enabling the production of serotonin (also known as the 'feel-good' neurotransmitter). 5-HTP promotes a calm and relaxed mood. Soothe your sleep and find your calm with our Sleep Support 5-HTP.
	B-Vitamins: There are 8 B vitamins and all have an essential role in our overall health and wellbeing. Making sure we get enough B vitamins is vital for maintaining our energy levels, cognitive function and performance and cell metabolism. Having low energy can contribute to poor immune health, low mood and increased anxiety, so supplementing B vitamins (which are known for helping to boost energy, balancing neurotransmitters and reducing stress and anxiety) could help recalibrate your emotional wellbeing. Up your B Vitamin levels with our Ginkgo B+ Energy Formula.
	Theanine: is an amino acid naturally found in tea, and some mushrooms, which has been known to improve mood and help reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress. Theanine significantly increases alpha waves in your brain, which works to relax the mind without making you feel sleepy, helping combat your stress. Theanine can also increase the number of ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters in your brain, like GABA, serotonin and dopamine, leading to improved mood, memory and concentration. Matcha has increased theanine levels because of the unique way it is grown, our pure Japanese Matcha Green Tea will help you boost your theanine levels, reduce stress and discover mental relaxation.
	Gotu kola: also known as Brahmi is considered one of the most powerful brain tonics in the Ayurvedic apothecary. Gotu kola can help to relieve symptoms of anxiety, improve memory and cognitive function and boost circulation.  Try our Ashwagandha Destress Formula, enriched with Gotu kola, and combat your stress.

 

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