Now more than ever, Canadians are feeling the pinch. I’m talking about stress! So much has changed… our normal daily routines, people are less active, getting less time outdoors, and socializing less with the ones we love. Everyone is trying to figure out their “new normal” and adapt to our ever-changing world.

All of these changes really throw our bodies out of whack. Recent studies show 54% of people are more emotionally exhausted,¹ 42% report a decline in mental health,¹ and 50% say stress is having an impact on their sleep patterns.²

When our bodies are under stress, they initiate the fight or flight response. Cortisol, the stress hormone is released and alters the functioning in many areas of the body including, increasing our blood pressure, slowing down digestion, altering our mood and making us more anxious, turning on our brains which makes it harder to sleep, and even suppressing the immune system. This is definitely not the picture of health!

Other very common complaints with stress is poor sleep and lack of focus or concentration, or as many call it ‘brain fog’. Having difficulties finding the right word, or recalling someone’s name is not a coincidence, as it has been found that chronic stress can cause loss of brain volume leading to both emotional and cognitive impairments.³

Luckily, there are things we can do to help support our stress response and become more resilient to the ever-changing world we live in. Resilience means being able to adapt well in the face of adversity.

Supporting your Stress Response and Building Resilience

For added support, which I feel is something that we all need right now, I like to use various botanicals with adaptogenic activity. Adaptogens are a class of botanicals that help restore and balance the body, they help you respond to stress by normalizing your body’s physiological functions⁴, such as supporting mental focus and stamina, supporting physical performance and relieving symptoms of stress.

Health Canada tells us that several herbal ingredients have long been used in Herbal Medicine as adaptogens to help increase energy and bolster resistance to stress.

Ashwagandha help increase energy and resistance to stress and is used for memory enhancement.⁵

Siberian Ginseng helps relieve general weakness and fatigue and helps improve mental and physical performance after periods of mental and physical exertion.⁵

Rhodiola rosea temporarily relieves symptoms of stress, such as mental fatigue and weakness, and helps support cognitive function.⁵

Choline is an important nutrient involved in brain development and neurotransmission,⁶ and studies show it influences cognition later in life.⁷

GABA has been shown to temporarily promote relaxation.⁸

Progressive^® Resilient Mind™ can help!

Progressive recently launched an amazing formula with a combination of all of these herbals and nutrients to help support your stress levels as well as your mind. What sets this formula apart from other stress supplements, in addition to the added support for cognition, is the peace of mind knowing that it is TRU-ID^® certified to guarantee the authenticity of the herbal ingredients on the label.

If you’re looking for a premium formula that will have you feeling more resilient, more focused, more relaxed…more like you, it’s time to look no further, Progressive Resilient Mind™ is here for you!

By: Dr. Danielle O’Connor ND

References:
1. The other COVID-19 crisis: Mental health. Accessed Feb 24, 2021 at: https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/confronting-mental-health/
2.  Stress becoming a way of life for Canadians. Accessed Feb 24, 2021 at: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/stress-becoming-way-life-canadians
3, How stress and depression can shrink the brain. Aug. 12, 2012. Science Daily. Accessed March 9, 2021. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120812151659.htm
4. Panossian A et al. 2009. Adaptogens exert a stress-protective effect by modulation of expression of molecular chaperones. Phytomedicine 2009. Jun: 16(6-7);617-22. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2008.12.003. Epub 2009 Feb 1.
5. Health Canada. Single monographs. Accessed May 6, 2021 at: http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/monosReq.do?lang=eng&monotype=single#S_SINGLE
6. Natural Medicine Database. Choline monograph. Accessed Feb 17, 2021 at: https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=436
7. Linus Pauling Institute. Micronutrient Information Centre. Cognitive Function in Depth. Accessed Feb 19, 2021 at: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/cognitive-function#choline-deficiency
8. Health Canada. Cognitive Function monograph. Accessed Feb 17, 2021 at: http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=fonc.cognitive.func&lang=eng

About the Author: Dr. Danielle O’Connor, ND

Dr. Danielle is a Naturopathic Doctor in Burlington, Ontario that has been in clinical practice for over 15 years. She uses functional medicine to help people achieve optimal wellness.