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There are many different kinds of stress. Some stress we can and should remove or reduce, such as toxins, poor nutrition and sleep, imbalances in the microbiome, food sensitivities, nerve compression in our spine or wrong posture, lack of exercise, and many others. However, mental and emotional stress are difficult to avoid, but we can still manage them.
Long before iPhones and social media, humans lived in a world full of danger. One moment, you’d be gathering berries for dinner; the next, you’d be chased by a tiger. Because of this, our bodies have the fight-or-flight system baked into our biology.
Stress is beneficial until it overwhelms homeostasis—a state of balance. For instance, exercise is eustress, good stress, which improves health, while excessive exercise harms it. Distress, the harmful counterpart of eustress, disrupts homeostasis, leading to dysfunction in many areas.
Unfortunately, in our modern reality, our nervous system gets triggered by a wide range of mental and emotional distressors. Work stress, family problems, the news, social media, and even driving in traffic can activate this stress response. As a result, most people live in a permanent state of stress. Their bodies are always in fight-or-flight mode, never able to properly recover. This long-term chronic stress is the root of almost all diseases.
What is the stress response?
When any kind of distress influences us, the stress response usually starts in the limbic system, which houses emotional life, supports behavior, motivation, long-term memory, and olfaction. Acute stress creates an immediate response in its various components: the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary. The hypothalamus (a small area in the center of the brain) and the pituitary gland (a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain below the hypothalamus) communicate with the adrenals (small, triangular-shaped glands on top of both kidneys) through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The adrenals produce mineralocorticoids like aldosterone and cortisol, a catabolic stress hormone and painkiller.
When these stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, are released, our heart rate increases, we take shorter breaths, and our muscles tense up. This system gave us the best chance of defending ourselves from threats.
If your adrenals continuously pump out these stress hormones, your adrenal glands will be depleted, and you can start to feel physically and emotionally taxed. Adrenal fatigue can lead to a hormone imbalance, which can lead to a host of other bodily issues.
How to Manage Mental Stress?
Mental and emotional stressors are inescapable for most people. We cannot quit our jobs or avoid all stressful situations in society. Our nervous system is what takes the brunt of the damage. It’s constantly overburdened from all the perceived threats everywhere. So the solution isn’t running away from stress; the solution is supporting your nervous system.
Giving your nervous system the support it needs will help you build resilience to all the stress you face today. You’ll be able to help your body move into rest and recovery—where all the real healing happens. Adrenal support is nature’s way of helping us deal with stress.
Proper nutrition and supplementation is the foundation.
99% of the time, the natural choice, such as organic certified products containing real ingredients, is your most effective choice. Here are some products that I personally use and highly recommend:
White American Ginseng - Supports healthy responses to physical and psychological stress, healthy blood glucose levels, cholesterol levels, and cardiovascular function. White American Ginseng, also known as Panax quinquefolius, is a powerful adaptogen and non-toxic herb that naturally helps support the body’s response to stress by encouraging stable energy boosts and bringing balance to the body. It’s not to be confused with Asian ginseng or Eleuthero as these are completely different plants with different effects. White American Ginseng has been used throughout history because of its ability to revitalize and restore balance in the body. Purium’s White American Ginseng contains at least 28 active ginsenosides which promote increased energy without the jittery side effects. Ginsenosides are pharmacological components of ginseng that can aid blood flow, the nervous system, and certain brain neurotransmitters.
Bee energetic - Supports healthy adrenal function, recharges stored energies, and supports the body’s response to stress. Top athletes around the world have unlocked the secret to restoring adrenal energy using a unique combination of herbs, whole foods, and extracts. When used properly, this synergistically combined proprietary formula can support your body’s reserve energy tank and enable you to deal with the ever-increasing levels of stress that our lives create. Purium’s Bee Energetic contains nature’s most energizing foods without ephedrine or added caffeine. This powerful blend of plant powders can help build up immune systems and support adrenal glands while giving you the sustained energy you really need as a busy bee. Bee Energetic contains adaptogenic ingredients that work synergistically to support sustained energy, encouraging healthy immune and adrenal health, while giving you the sustained energy, strength, and vitality you desire. I recommend combining it with Revive-It-All for optimal mental and physical health.
Revive-It-All - Supports mental clarity and focus, assists memory, cognition, and alertness, and aids healthy neuroreceptor function. Purium’s Revive-It-All contains two very important ingredients that have been proven to help support healthy brain function and increase energy and vigor: Acetyl L-Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic Acid. To those, we have added Ginkgo Biloba and GliSODin®, a complex with potential antioxidative properties.
Can’t Beet This - Supports energy and endurance, heart health, healthy blood pressure, and vascular integrity. Purium’s Can’t Beet power up performance naturally without the jitters from highly caffeinated alternatives! Cordyceps is a main ingredient in Purium’s pre-workout, Can’t Beet This. Cordyceps is a traditional Chinese medicine that supports endurance and helps increase oxygen uptake, making it a great support for fatigue. It’s so powerful that it once confused an Olympic judge panel. The panel felt that some athletes may have been using illegal drugs because their performance was so good! Really, they were just using cordyceps.
BIO Relax Capsules - Supports healthy circadian rhythms, contains calming, sleep-inducing phytochemicals, and helps in the appearance of firmness of skin and overall vitality. Relax the facial stress and skeletal tension that cause age lines and wrinkles. Purium’s BIO Relax formula provides for deep, restful sleep and tension relief while awake.
Bio Regen - Supports skin’s moisture levels, may fight the visible signs of aging, and may prevent oxidative damage after exposure to UVA radiation. Purium’s Bio Regen effectively accelerates the regeneration, rejuvenation, and rehydration of emerging skin cells for younger and fresher skin. This proprietary blend of 200x organic aloe concentrate, astaxanthin, and all-natural superoxide dismutase is unlike anything else on the market today.
Super Xanthin - May protect muscle tissue from damage, may provide some protection for the skin from UVA and UVB damage, and may reduce lactic acid build-up and improve athletic recovery time. Purium’s Super Xanthin (ZAN-thin) contains a carotenoid that is considered a more potent antioxidant than beta carotene. Astaxanthin helps protect eyes and skin from UV A and B damage by quenching singlet and triplet oxygen. It helps combat free radical damage to muscles and helps reduce the buildup of lactic acid that causes post-workout soreness. I recommend combining this product with our Super Amino 23 so you can get the most out of your workouts.
Super Amino 23 - Helps to create lean muscle, burns fat, enhances elasticity (tightens skin), and supports mental function. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are the molecules that all living things need to make protein, and you need 20 of them to help your body function properly. Your body makes 11 of the necessary amino acids. Nine essential aminos—phenylalanine, valine, tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, methionine, histidine, leucine, and lysine—we need to obtain from food. But we often do not eat enough complete protein which contains all essential amino acids, and especially the 3 most important—methionine, leucine, and lysine. Purium’s Super Amino 23 is 100% pre-digested vegan protein tablets. A core Purium product, Super Amino 23 is featured in the Physician's Desk Reference for rapidly absorbing protein into the bloodstream in 23 minutes to make sure you do not have deficiencies in all microelements.
Ionic Elements - May reduce the effects of aging, support the healthy growth of hair, skin, and nails, and support healthy immune function. Purium’s Ionic Elements is a supplement recommended for everyday use—a combination of electrolytes such as fulvic acid and ocean trace minerals. An adequate amount of microelements, including vitamins and trace elements, is key for supporting all aspects of our health—from immune, nerve, and cognitive function to energy metabolism, DNA synthesis and repair, hormone synthesis, cardiovascular health, and bone and skin health. If you have deficiencies, unfortunately, all other biohacks will not work for you.
Spirulina - Can help increase endurance and stamina, is a rich source of carotenoids, and may support healthy immune system function. Purium’s Spirulina is nature’s ultimate wholefood multi-vitamin. It is nutrient-dense, packed with protein, and loaded with marine omega fatty acids. These energizing superfood capsules are easy to digest and assimilate.
Here are some practical techniques for healing and supporting your nervous system:
Mindfulness Meditation: Practicing mindfulness helps reduce stress and anxiety by promoting a state of relaxation and awareness of the present moment.
Breathing Exercises: Techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing, box breathing, or the 4-7-8 method can help calm the nervous system and reduce stress.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This involves tensing and then slowly relaxing each muscle group in the body, which can help reduce physical tension and stress.
Regular Physical Exercise: Engaging in regular physical activity, such as yoga, walking, or swimming, can help regulate the stress response and improve overall well-being.
Adequate Sleep: Ensuring you get enough quality sleep is crucial for the proper functioning of the nervous system and overall health.
Balanced Diet: Consuming a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants supports brain health and reduces inflammation, which can benefit the nervous system.
Hydration: Staying properly hydrated is essential for the optimal functioning of all body systems, including the nervous system.
Social Connection: Maintaining strong social bonds and engaging in positive social interactions can help reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being.
Time in Nature: Spending time outdoors and connecting with nature can have a calming effect on the nervous system and reduce stress levels.
Limiting Stimulants: Reducing the intake of caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants can help prevent overstimulation of the nervous system.
Journaling: Writing about your thoughts and feelings can help process emotions and reduce stress.
Massage Therapy: Regular massages can help relieve muscle tension and promote relaxation.
Acupuncture: This traditional Chinese medicine practice can help balance the body’s energy and reduce stress.
Music Therapy: Listening to calming music or participating in music therapy can help reduce stress and improve mood.
Biofeedback: Using biofeedback devices to monitor and control physiological functions can help manage stress and improve nervous system function.
Join our Stress Management workshop at Faena Hotel, where we not only explain all kinds of stress and how it influences your body, but also empower you with the practical techniques you need to know for healing and supporting your nervous system.
Sending Optimal Health & Ultimate Wellness,
Julia Smila, FDN Practitioner & Pranic Healer.
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