Occasional stress is a common health concern worldwide. Not only is stress harmful to a person’s mental health, but it also significantly contributes to many physical discomfort cases. Conditions such as chronic pain, cardiovascular challenges, digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances, weight management challenges, metabolic health issues, sleep disturbances, memory and concentration problems, and headaches are all linked to chronic stress.
As mentioned earlier, prolonged stress can damage many parts of the body. The cycle triggered by stress is like a wheel that can spin out of control. When the body is “stressed,” the adrenal glands produce adrenaline and cortisol, often called the “stress hormones.” Adrenaline raises your heart rate, increases blood pressure, and boosts energy levels. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, raises blood sugar, helps the brain use glucose more effectively, and increases the production of substances that repair tissues. It also changes immune responses and suppresses the digestive and reproductive systems.
Learning to manage stress involves a multifaceted approach where supplements and functional foods can play an important role. While no food or supplement can eliminate the root causes of anxiety, such as finances, the death of a loved one, work, or family problems, they can influence how the body feels and responds to stress. Incorporating these beneficial ingredients into functional products, along with counseling (if needed), exercise, relaxation techniques, and other strategies, can significantly improve how people adapt to stress and positively affect other health issues rooted in chronic stress.
Given that occasional stress is a global issue with no end in sight, it is becoming increasingly clear that this market offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on promoting healthy lifestyles. The connection between stressful situations and deteriorating physical and mental well-being highlights the need for more innovative and effective supplements and functional foods. Focusing on core areas such as the cascade that begins in the brain and then spreads throughout the body is just the beginning. We need to address both the nutritional deficiencies that contribute to tension and nervousness while incorporating scientifically backed nutraceuticals to maximize success. This approach will foster customer loyalty, support a healthy mind and body, and improve the bottom line.
The Herbal Pharmacist®’s Stress Favorites
Below are a few of my favorite ingredients and how they impact stress (alphabetical order):
Ashwagandha– Research shows that ashwagandha helps decrease daily stress and significantly lowers serum cortisol levels.
GABA- GABA not only induces relaxation but also reduces anxiety[i] and alleviates the stress induced by mental tasks.[ii]
Kanna (Zembrin®) – a study has shown its direct effect on the amygdala (the brain’s stress center) within 2 hours post-consumption, providing benefits such as decreased stress and increased calmness.[iv]
L-theanine Studies show that it reduces tension and anxiety[v] and decreases stress scores.[vi] Improves self-reported relaxation, tension, and calmness, starting at 200 mg.[vii] Theanine has also been shown to increase the production of GABA.[viii] Studies show it reduces tension and anxiety[ix] and decreases stress scores[x]
Magnesium- Magnesium is key in regulating the body’s stress-response system. Magnesium deficiency is associated with heightened stress.[xi] Magnesium status is highly associated with stress levels, both stress and hypomagnesemia potentiating each other’s negative effects.[xii] Supplementation alleviated stress in healthy adults with low magnesemia, and for those with severe/extremely severe stress, a greater benefit was realized when magnesium was combined with vitamin B6.[xiii]
Saffron (Affron®)- Affron® is a patented and clinically substantiated ingredient of saffron (Crocus sativus). Studies show:
- Alleviating occasional stress, frustration, and tension in adults[xiv]
- Helped children (12-16 years of age) maintain a positive mood and alleviate occasional stress, frustration, and tension.[xv]
- Improve psychological symptoms (low mood and occasional stress) in perimenopausal women (32-33% reduction)[xvi]
Several natural supplements have been shown in clinical research to reduce stress and improve mood. Ashwagandha and magnesium have been shown to lower cortisol levels and regulate the body’s stress response, while GABA and L-theanine promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. Kanna (Zembrin®) provides rapid stress relief by modulating stress biomarkers and the brain’s stress centers. Saffron (Affron®) has been clinically validated to alleviate stress and promote positive mood across various populations, including adults, adolescents, and perimenopausal women. Combining these ingredients may provide comprehensive support for managing stress and enhancing overall well-being.
On a personal note, I am a daily consumer of Affron®, Sensoril®, Zembrin®, and magnesium. No, I am not a “stressed out” type of individual; I believe in supporting the nervous system to help avoid other health issues related to stress.
References
[i] Abdou AM, Higashiguchi S, Horie K, et al. Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans. Biofactors 2006;26:201-8
[ii] Yoto A, Murao S, Motoki M, Yokoyama Y, Horie N, Takeshima K, Masuda K, Kim M, Yokogoshi H. Oral intake of ?-aminobutyric acid affects mood and activities of the central nervous system during stressed condition induced by mental tasks. Amino Acids. 2012 Sep;43(3):1331-7. doi: 10.1007/s00726-011-1206-6. Epub 2011 Dec 28
[iii] Lopresti AL, “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of an Ocimum tenuiflorum
(Holy Basil) extract (Holixer™) on stress, mood, and sleep in adults experiencing stress” Frontiers in Nutrition 2022 DOI
10.3389/fnut.2022.965130
[iv] Terburg D, Syal S, Rosenberger LA, Heany S, Phillips N, Gericke N, Stein DJ, van Honk J. Acute effects of Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin), a dual 5-HT reuptake and PDE4 inhibitor, in the human amygdala and its connection to the hypothalamus. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013 Dec;38(13):2708-16. doi: 10.1038/npp.2013.183. Epub 2013 Aug 1.
[v] Yoto A, Motoki M, Murao S, Yokogoshi H. Effects of L-theanine or caffeine intake on changes in blood pressure under physical and psychological stresses. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012;31:28
[vi] Unno K, et al. Anti-stress effect of theanine on students during pharmacy practice: positive correlation among salivary a-amylase activity, trait anxiety and subjective stress. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2013;111:128-135
[vii] Dietz C, Dekker M, “Effect of Green Tea Phytochemicals on Mood and Cognition,” Current Pharmaceutical Design (2017) 23: 2876. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666170105151800
[viii] Inoue K., Miyazaki Y., Unno K., Min J.Z., Todoroki K., Toyo’oka T. Stable isotope dilution HILIC-MS/MS method for accurate quantification of glutamic acid, glutamine, pyroglutamic acid, GABA and theanine in mouse brain tissues. Biomed. Chromatogr. 2016;30:55–61. doi: 10.1002/bmc.3502
[ix] Yoto A, Motoki M, Murao S, Yokogoshi H. Effects of L-theanine or caffeine intake on changes in blood pressure under physical and psychological stresses. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012;31:28
[x] Unno K, et al. Anti-stress effect of theanine on students during pharmacy practice: positive correlation among salivary a-amylase activity, trait anxiety and subjective stress. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2013;111:128-135
[xi] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201805/what-you-need-know-about-magnesium-and-your-sleep
[xii] Cuciureanu MD, Vink R. Magnesium, and stress. In: Vink R, Nechifor M, editors. Magnesium in the Central Nervous System. Adelaide (AU): University of Adelaide Press; 2011. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507250/
[xiii] Pouteau E, Kabir-Ahmadi M, Noah L, Mazur A, Dye L, et al. (2018) Superiority of magnesium and vitamin B6 over magnesium alone on severe stress in healthy adults with low magnesemia: A randomized, single-blind clinical trial. PLOS ONE 13(12): e0208454. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208454
[xiv] Kell G, Rao A, Beccaria G, Clayton P, Inarejos-García AM, Prodanov M. affron® a novel saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) improves mood in healthy adults over four weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2017 Aug;33:58-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.06.001. Epub 2017 Jun 13. PMID: 28735826.
[xv] Lopresti AL, Drummond PD, Inarejos-García AM, Prodanov M. affron®, a standardized extract from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for the treatment of youth anxiety and depressive symptoms: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Affect Disord. 2018 May;232:349-357. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.02.070. Epub 2018 Feb 26. PMID: 29510352.
[xvi] Lopresti AL, Smith SJ. The Effects of a Saffron Extract (affron®) on Menopausal Symptoms in Women during Perimenopause: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. J Menopausal Med. 2021;27:e8. https://doi.org/10.6118/jmm.21002
Stress may be part of life—but how your body handles it is where the real power lies. ✨
Ingredients like Ashwagandha, Holixer®, Zembrin®, GABA, L-theanine, Magnesium, and Affron® help support calm, balance stress hormones, and keep your mind steady when life feels overwhelming.
Build a calmer, stronger you—naturally.