Your presentation at work is on Tuesday, the big move is on Saturday, your kids start at their new school on Monday, and then you need to figure out what to make for dinner tonight?! Life doesn’t stop for anyone, and with so many things to do, it can feel stressful. Everyone experiences stressful times or situations, but stress CAN actually be a good thing! Good stress can be motivating, in situations like a competitive sports game, public speaking, interviews, or even when finishing an assignment ^[1]. However, when stress doesn’t ease, or is not happening because of a specific circumstance and instead is occurring daily, this is where issues can arise. Cortisol, our stress hormone, is naturally high in the morning, which is a good thing as it gets us up and going to start the day! The problem is when cortisol continues to stay high after the morning, leading to chronic stress. Chronic stress can lead to a cascade of other negative health outcomes like anxiety, depression, brain fog, forgetfulness, low mood, and illness ^{[2] [3]}.

There is no one ‘cure’ for chronic stress. The first thing to consider when experiencing chronic stress is to look at lifestyle changes. Try adding in more physical activity, as exercise can reduce levels of stress hormones in the body like adrenaline and cortisol ^[4]. Other recommendations include trying therapy, getting more sleep, and even supplementing with natural health products ^[5].

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to increase energy and resistance to stress ^[6]. There are numerous clinical studies done on this herbal extract that showcase its benefits in clinical settings surrounding stress ^[7]. Saffron is also an adaptogen that has been used in many countries as traditional medicine for hundreds of years for its antioxidant activity, cardiovascular benefits, inflammation, and stress ^[8]. In recent years, saffron has been emerging in research, and clinical studies have found benefits surrounding saffron for stress, but also mood and memory.

Genuine Health’s product development team noticed the increase in research around stress and started looking deeper into combining traditional medicine with modern-day research, which resulted in the product: Stress. Everyone experiences stress in their lives, but why suffer? In those times of prolonged stress, instead of suffering, take Stress and be supported with all-natural, science-proven ingredients. With saffron, ashwagandha, and passionflower, Stress is a blend of ingredients that will help you feel calmer and more rested. The saffron in this product is called affron^®, a branded saffron that has been proven to support occasional sleeplessness in a human clinical study and is speculated to influence sleep hormones to provide a more restorative sleep ^[9]. Another branded ingredient, KSM-66 Ashwagandha is also in the formula, with research showing that it reduced serum cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone) by 28% ^[10]! Lastly, to finish this product is passionflower, an ingredient that’s been used traditionally for its benefits as a sleep aid during times of mental stress and to help relieve restlessness and/or nervousness ^[11].

Stress provides a natural product you can trust, that’s supported by a multitude of research to help you feel calm, better rested, and more equipped to deal with stressful situations.

References:
[1] CNN Health. Stress can be good for you, and here’s why. https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/01/health/stress-good-for-you-wellness/index.html
[2] Woo JM, Postolache TT. The impact of work environment on mood disorders and suicide: evidence and implications. Int J Disabil Hum Dev 2008;7:185–200
[3] Tafet GE, Nemeroff CB. The links between stress and depression: psychoneuroendocrinological, genetic, and environmental interactions. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2016;28:77–88.
[4] Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. Exercising to Relax. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax
[5] American Psychological Association. Stress won’t go away? Maybe you are suffering from chronic stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/chronic.
[6] Choudhary D, Bhattacharyya S, Joshi K. Body Weight Management in Adults Under Chronic Stress Through Treatment With Ashwagandha Root Extract: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017 Jan;22(1):96-106. doi: 10.1177/2156587216641830. Epub 2016 Apr 6. PMID: 27055824; PMCID: PMC5871210.
[7] National Institutes of Health. Ashwagandha: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep? https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Ashwagandha-HealthProfessional
[8] Lu C, Ke L, Li J, Zhao H, Lu T, Mentis AFA, Wang Y, Wang Z, Polissiou MG, Tang L, Tang H, Yang K. Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and health outcomes: a meta-research review of meta-analyses and an evidence mapping study. Phytomedicine. 2021 Oct;91:153699. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153699. Epub 2021 Aug 8. PMID: 34419735.
[9] Kell, G. et al. affron^® a novel saffron extract (Crocus sativs L.) improves mood in healthy adults over 4 weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2017;33:58-64.
[10] Chandrasekhar, K. et al. A Prospective, Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Safety and Efficacy of a High-Concentration Full-Spectrum Extract of Ashwagandha Root in Reducing Stress and Anxiety in Adults. Indian J Psychol Med 2012;34(3):255-262.
[11] EMEA 2007. European Medicines Agency. Community Monograph on. London (UK): EMEA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC), 31 October 2007. http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/human/hmpc/passiflorae_herba/23096206enfin.pdf

About the Author: Genuine Health Team

Genuine Health is a Canadian company that makes all natural, non-GMO supplements and is one of the original vendors to partner with HFN back in 1999. Genuine Health has a history of firsts, including: First superfood formula and first to launch a superfood designed for the gut, First with fermented supplements and the first complete fermented protein, and the First natural health supplement company to become a B Corporation worldwide.