Soften stress! | A supplemental approach to stress management and lifelong wellness

Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. For many worldwide, psychological stress is considered a “way of life” – a way of life that negatively affects mental and physical well-being. 

Stress + Rest = Growth

Stressors come at us in all kinds of ways, but when kept in check (with adequate recovery), they lead to healthy personal, professional, and physical growth/development. For example, the physical stress of consistent exercise leads to increases in physical strength and endurance. As well, the psychological stress felt in the days leading up to important speaking engagements dampens as you gain experience. 

That which doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger?

We’ve all heard the saying, “that which doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”, well this is only partially true. Although the body has a remarkable ability to adapt to stress, it can only do so if there is sufficient recovery between stressful events. Conditions of unmanageable long-term stress, without adequate rest, lead to states of anxiety and depressive symptoms that detract from overall health and wellness. 

In this article we highlight the science behind 3 novel nutraceuticals that target different parts of the body and serve to decrease your feelings of stress and improve your wellbeing.  

• GLORIFY YOUR GUT: PROBIOTICS 

Believe it or not, the brain and gut communicate back and forth (known as the gut-brain-axis) and recent data indicate that gut inflammation, due to imbalances in the gut microbiome (known as dysbiosis), contribute to mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. Probiotics can restore normal microbial balance in the digestive tract, and research suggests that probiotics may aid in the treatment and prevention of anxiety and depression [1]. 

The gut microbiome is constantly challenged by changes in diet, stress, and antibiotics— this leads to dysbiosis. As a result, the intestines become ‘leaky’ which allows important bacteria and metabolites to enter into the circulation, known as leaky gut syndrome [1]. 

Current research suggests that dysbiosis promotes increased inflammation throughout the body and central nervous system. In the end, neuroinflammation (inflammation of nerves in the brain) leads to neurochemical and hormonal changes that affect motivation, learning and memory, and promote anxiety and depression. Under this umbrella of science, probiotic supplements are showing positive effects on neuroinflammation, cognitive function, anxiety and depression [2]. 

How to use probiotics to glorify your gut: For the best results find a product that contains an array (5-10 strains) of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. The best products will guarantee at least 10 billion live colony forming units (CFU) per serving. Take 10-50 billion colony forming units (cfu), 1x daily (with food), for 2-4 weeks then follow with 10 billion cfu daily for maintenance. Since probiotics are live, refrigerate when possible and always eat an abundance of prebiotic foods (fermentable fibers) like inulin and greens, this will ensure you support a viable and sustainable colony of good bacteria in your gut. 

REFERENCES:

1. Clapp M, Aurora N, Herrera L, Bhatia M, Wilen E, Wakefield S. Gut microbiota’s effect on mental health: The gut-brain axis. Clin Pract. 2017 Sep 15;7(4):987.

1. Frank MG, Fonken LK, Watkins LR, Maier SF, Lowry CA. Could Probiotics Be Used to Mitigate Neuroinflammation? ACS Chem Neurosci. 2018 Aug 15. [Epub ahead of print]