Listen, I get it. Life is such an enjoyable experience, but not without the rollercoaster of emotions and stress that comes with it. And we always choose to focus on the stressors that are going on in our life rather than the blessings and joy that we experience. But did you know that we do this because it’s actually how our bodies and brain were wired? Hear me out!
Rumination: Stress hormones can also influence cognitive processes, such as rumination or repetitive negative thinking. When under stress, individuals may find themselves dwelling on negative thoughts or experiences, replaying them in their minds repeatedly. This rumination can further amplify the focus on negatives and contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression. Rumination also plays a part on a genetic level, contributing to lower levels of telomerase, an enzyme essential for DNA health.
Like you, I can also get wrapped up in my emotions and the stressors that I am currently experiencing and overlook the positive. Stress is such a beast and something that we often cannot control much of. And with so many different products on the market to help combat stress, it can be very confusing to know which ones are actually helpful, vs which ones are most likely gimmicks. And I know because I’ve been there! Which is why I created Your Calm + Clarity. This incredible supplement contains a blend of botanicals and nutrients specifically formulated to counteract the effects of daily stress, improve mental performance, and support healthy energy levels. Benefits include memory, focus, attention, stress resilience, mental + physical performance, improved sleep, and healthy cortisol and energy levels. Let’s take a deeper dive into the ingredients that I chose and how they can help combat stress and calm the body.
Bacopa is a botanical frequently used in Ayurvedic medicine and has been described as a calming cognitive enhancer. Research suggests that Bacopa helps reduce stress and anxiety by elevating your mood (through serotonin) and reducing levels of cortisol, which is a hormone that is closely linked to stress levels. Bacopa also supports memory, learning, attention and focus.
Ashwagandha, an herb that I am sure you are all very familiar with by now, is native to parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East, and has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine for over 3,000 years. Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen, which is a natural substance that is considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. This incredible herb has been proven to increase energy, reduce inflammation & pain, reduce anxiety, improve cognitive function, enhance stamina, improve stress resilience, and boost our immune systems.
Chronic stress can lead to adrenal fatigue. Our adrenals play a crucial role in the body’s stress response system. When we encounter stress, the adrenal glands release cortisol, which is our main stress hormone. Over time, chronic stress may lead to an excessive demand for cortisol production, which results in adrenal fatigue. Rhodiola Rosea Root is an herbaceous plant native to high-altitude, cold regions in Europe and Asia, and has been used for treating symptoms of fatigue, depression, and pain through its ability to maintain levels of serotonin and dopamine. But it is more widely studied as an adaptogen to help prevent adrenal fatigue. Additional supports are mental clarity, work performance and sleep cycle.
Eleuthero root is a woody shrub that’s native to northeast Asia and is another type of adaptogen that helps combat stress. The benefits of Eleuthero root include brain & cognitive support, increase energy, decrease stress, and enhance our immune system. It’s been shown to improve endurance, fight fatigue, and reduce heart rate response to stressors.
L-theanine is an amino acid found primarily in green and black tea and some mushrooms. Research has shown that L-theanine can elevate your levels of GABA, dopamine and serotonin, which promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety levels. L-theanine can also help increase focus, decrease stress perception, and boost the immune system. Its ability to promote alpha brain waves has potential for increasing attention span and promoting relaxation. It even provides neuroprotection as well as reduction of glutamate, an excitatory compound in the brain.
Phosphatidylserine is a chemical that is important for many functions in our bodies, but more so in the brain where its highest concentration is found. It helps to improve cell-to-cell communication and cognitive function. After exposure to physical, emotion, or mental stress, phosphatidylserine mitigates stress-induced cortisol production. This chemical has also shown to have antioxidant activity, which helps to protect brain cells from free radicals that we are exposed to everyday.
So, if you are like me and you need something to help relax you, while also helping to lift that brain fog, give this one a try!
