The Top 7 Stress Supplements For Our Busy Modern Lives
Thanks to the events of the last few years, stress and anxiety are on the rise. And while activities such as meditation or taking a relaxing stroll immediately spring to mind, I want to discuss something a little different with you—another option you may not have considered before now: stress supplements.
That’s right, there are actually several supplements created specifically to help with stress management. But they do even more by supporting your whole-body health from the inside out. This means that while they’re supporting your body’s ability to manage stress, they’re also supporting everything from your immune system to your skin health!
Want to learn more about these incredible all-natural stress relief supplements and how they work to reduce the stress hormone cortisol to help restore both health and peace of mind? Keep reading for the insider info you need to know.
Stress and Anxiety On the Rise
With our busy modern lives, stress and anxiety have been steadily rising for quite a while now. But today they are more common than ever.
In fact, recent surveys show that 32 percent of Americans report they’re so stressed that they have difficulty even making everyday decisions, such as what to eat or wear. Additionally, 63 percent report that the uncertainty of the future causes even more stress. That means approximately two-thirds of everyone you know is dealing with some level of constant stress.
Now, stress is known to cause some rather unpleasant side effects (everything from headaches to high blood pressure to insomnia), which can impact your everyday life. But I want to focus on two areas that women often struggle with as a result of stress—something that impacts our self-confidence and even our self-esteem: our hair and skin.
The unfortunate truth is that the very same stress that causes you to miss out on sleep or feel riddled with anxiety impacts both your skin and hair. Research has shown that cortisol (the hormone your adrenal glands release when you’re under stress) can not only cause hair loss but also stunt hair growth!
Additionally, increased cortisol levels have also been linked to a greater likelihood of experiencing acne and other skin issues. It’s even been known to slow skin regeneration, which helps to promote that youthful glow we all strive to achieve.
Given its far-reaching impacts, it’s really not too surprising that many people are searching for natural stress relievers in the form of stress supplements and more. But which stress relief supplements work the best, which offer additional benefits, and how do you know what’s right for you?
Let’s take a look at my personal favorite stress supplements and then briefly review additional natural stress relievers you can implement to support calm and relaxation.
The 7 Best Stress Supplements
I believe that the best supplements for stress not only support your body’s stress management but also provide other stress-related benefits as well, meaning they can also support your more immediate efforts to fight those stress-induced side effects we all want to avoid.
Here are the top seven supplements for stress and anxiety that I recommend on a regular basis to not only support healthy cortisol levels but also to help promote true wellness from the inside-out.
1. Astaxanthin
I believe astaxanthin is one of the best stress supplements for those who are also looking to support their immune health for two reasons: First, taking 12 mg in supplement form was found to lower salivary cortisol levels in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Second, astaxanthin is an antioxidant powerhouse, containing more than 6,000 times the antioxidants power of vitamin C!
2. Green tea
If you’re looking for supplements for anxiety that will also aid with sleep and focus, you may want to consider one that’s sourced from green tea. Here’s why: Green tea contains a rich concentration of the amino acid L-theanine, and research has shown that L-theanine may help to decrease anxiety and insomnia while also supporting improved cognitive function.
3. Magnesium
You may be surprised to learn that current estimates reveal that approximately 50 percent of Americans are deficient in magnesium. And with our self-reported rates of stress and anxiety, it’s easy to understand why, as the body naturally depletes more magnesium during times of stress. Additionally, being low in magnesium only causes more internal stress on your body!
So, how do you know if you need a magnesium supplement? Common signs of a magnesium deficiency include muscle cramps, headaches, fatigue, and even elevated blood pressure. If you are regularly experiencing these symptoms and know you’re under stress, taking a quality magnesium supplement may be the best route for you. Be sure to look for premium forms of magnesium, such as bisglycinate and malate.
4. Resveratrol
If you’re having trouble discerning which stress supplements are best for you because you’re also looking for an option that can help to counteract the visible effects of stress, resveratrol could be a great fit for your needs. Between research showing promise for resveratrol’s ability to help protect neurons from stress and improve anxiety symptoms and the fact that this powerful antioxidant is known to help cool the inflammation linked to premature aging, I consider this supplement a must-have for those under stress who are also concerned about their appearance and reducing the visible signs of aging.
5. Saffron
When thinking about supplements for stress, saffron doesn’t usually immediately spring to mind, as it’s primarily known to help control hunger and reduce food cravings. In fact, I often recommend it to those starting on a keto diet. But saffron is actually one of the top stress supplements to take because some research has shown that saffron may help to lower cortisol levels.
Additionally, because we tend to snack on unhealthy, inflammatory foods when we’re under stress, taking a potent saffron supplement may help to counteract this tendency, thus helping to prevent further internal stress from taking place. So, if you’re wondering do stress supplements work for controlling cravings and suppressing hunger, the answer you’re looking for may lie in saffron!
6. Spicefruit and Ashwagandha
What happens when you combine spicefruit, which is known to help fight fat and promote healthy body composition, with ashwagandha, an adaptogen known to lower cortisol? It’s what I consider to be the perfect recipe for fighting the stress-fat connection! How much does stress impact your weight? Research has shown that chronic stress (i.e., high levels of cortisol) can cause you to gain more than 10 pounds each year!
By lowering your cortisol with an adaptogen such as ashwagandha and supporting healthy body composition with spicefruit, you’re able to target one of the most dreaded effects of stress: excess fat! You can learn more about this powerful combination and how it works by checking out NAOMI Spicefruit GloSlim + StressAdapt.
7. Turmeric
Finally, it would be difficult to provide a comprehensive list of top stress supplements without discussing turmeric. Not only has the active compound in turmeric, curcumin, been found to help lower cortisol levels, but it also has potential to help reduce anxiety symptoms. Additionally, turmeric has been shown to help cool inflammation and thereby support healthy aging, and help reduce pain.
Other Natural Stress Relievers
In addition to stress relief supplements, there are other stress relievers you can utilize to help lower your cortisol levels and support whole-body health. Some of my favorite lifestyle recommendations for stress reduction include taking a nice hot bath, getting quality rest, meditating, exercise, and eating antioxidant-rich foods. To learn more about each of these recommendations and why they work, read my article that reviews the top 5 ways to reduce stress and its impact on your skin.
In Summary:
- With our busy modern lives, stress has been steadily rising for quite a while now—with 63 percent of Americans regularly reporting feeling stress and anxiety about the future.
- In addition to implementing certain lifestyle habits, there are several supplements created specifically to help with stress management that also support whole-body health from the inside-out.
- Some of the top stress supplements I recommend considering include: astaxanthin, green tea, magnesium, resveratrol, saffron, spicefruit and ashwagandha, and turmeric. Each of these supplements provide their own unique benefits and should be selected based on the specific stress effects you’re looking to minimize.