Stress is a common part of modern life, but if you’re feeling stressed most days, it could be having a damaging effect on your health.

In fact, New Zealand is ranked as one of the top five places in the world for workplace stress, with long hours, lack of support, and being constantly connected via smartphone and other devices named as the major sources of blame.

Chronic stress is damaging to both mental and physical health. Stress is known to increase the risk of developing depression or anxiety and is linked to several health concerns, including headaches, digestive problems, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
You probably can’t eliminate stress from your life completely. But you can develop strategies to help you cope with stress. One way is to take supplements and use complementary therapies that are known for their calming effect on the body and mind. These stress supplements can help to mitigate some of the undesirable symptoms of stress, improve your brain health, and help you to relax.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that’s essential for the normal functioning of your body, and can be obtained from the food you eat. Green leafy vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good sources of magnesium.

However, if your diet isn’t as healthy as it could be, you’re certainly not the only one. Some medical conditions and medications can also cause magnesium deficiency. One of the easiest ways to make sure you’re getting enough magnesium is by taking a supplement.

Magnesium has many important functions in the body, including maintaining heart rhythm, keeping bones and teeth strong, supporting your immune system, and maintaining muscle and nerve function. Insufficient levels of magnesium in the body can lead to anxiety, headaches, and depression.

It also helps muscles to relax, particularly at night, which is why it is such a useful aid for relaxation. If your sleep is disturbed by muscle cramps or restless legs, you should definitely give magnesium a try.

Holy Basil

Holy basil, also known as Tulsi, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years to help with stress and anxiety.

Holy basil is an adaptogen, which means that it can help your body adapt to stress, and balance out the chemicals that are produced in the body in reaction to stressful situations.
Several studies have shown that holy basil may be as effective for treating anxiety and depression as some antidepressant drugs.

Valerian Root

Valerian root has been used traditionally in many different countries for its sedative properties for hundreds of years.

It is high in several compounds that are known to regulate nerve impulses to reduce anxiety and improve quality of sleep. Getting enough sleep each night is essential for combatting stress, so taking valerian as a sleep aid could be helpful, even if it has no direct calming effect.

L-Theanine

L-Theanine is an amino acid that’s found in certain plants, in particular, a tea plant belonging to the Camellia family, which is used to produce several types of black, green, and white tea.

Theanine has been shown to increase levels of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA levels in the brain, which has the result of boosting mood and reducing stress. There is also evidence that it can improve memory and focus, especially when combined with caffeine.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated compounds that are extracted from plants. These compounds give the plants their characteristic smells, but can also have a positive effect on mood and physical and mental health when inhaled or used topically on the skin.

Each essential oil has its own characteristic properties. Some are energizing and uplifting, while others are calming and have a sedative effect. Some of the essential oils that are most useful for reducing stress and promoting relaxation include lavender, roman chamomile, bergamot, lemongrass, neroli, sweet orange, and ylang-ylang.

Essential oils can also be used to aid restful sleep and to reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress such as headaches and high blood pressure.
Feel free to contact us if you need any further advice about the best supplements to help you combat stress or have any other questions about our products.

The post The Best Natural Supplements to Tackle Stress appeared first on NZHF.