According to a recent survey of over 66,000 women in 122 countries, levels of stress, anxiety, and sadness are at a 10-year high. With the approaching holidaze set to pile on to the usual, everyday stressors we all experience, it's no wonder that so many women are feeling overwhelmed and anxious. But what can we do to manage stress and feel better? One solution is to incorporate supplements into our daily routines.
A supplement that is known to be effective for stress and anxiety is kava kava extract. Kava kava is a natural plant that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation and is backed by a Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology study that found that kava kava reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression in participants.
Another supplement that can help manage stress is mucuna pruriens extract. This tropical bean extract contains L-DOPA, which is a precursor to dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in mood regulation and can help reduce stress and anxiety. One study, published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, found that mucuna pruriens reduced symptoms of stress and anxiety in participants.
If you are looking for adaptogenic herbs, try adding ashwagandha and rhodiola into your routine. Adaptogenic herbs help the body adapt to stress and can be particularly beneficial for helping your body’s ability to cope with stress.
Last but not least, the mighty mineral magnesium plays a critical role in the body's stress response system. A study published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences found that magnesium supplementation improved stress levels in participants.
Incorporating high-quality supplements like kava kava extract, mucuna pruriens extract, adaptogenic herbs, and magnesium into your routine, could be the key to finding the balance and calm that millions of women around the world are searching for. As always, it's important to talk to your healthcare provider before starting any new supplements or making changes to your diet or lifestyle, but with the right supplements and support, you can take control of your stress levels and improve your overall well-being.
Rothschild, A. (November/December 2023) Volume 43, Issue 6 Issue 0271-0749
Anjaneyulu J, Vidyashankar R , Godbole A.Volume 11 Issue 4 October–December 2020, Pages 440-447 Pickering, G Nutrients. 2020 Dec; 12(12): 3672. Published online 2020 Nov 28. doi: 10.3390/nu12123672
Rodriguez, A. (2022, September 21) Levels of stress, anxiety and sadness among women are at a 10-year high, survey shows. USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/09/21/covid-stress-levels-among-women-10-year-high-survey-shows/10424449002/
