As this season progresses, and we continue to wait for news on when things will fully reopen, I am finding myself feeling increasingly stressed about pretty much everything.  With this endless waiting for restrictions to be lifted, and the uncertainty of what is to come in our future, it’s hard not to let things get to you.   What will our new “norm” look like?  Will our jobs be safe? Will our economy bounce back? It’s enough to drive anyone a bit sideways.  Certainly, we can all use some help managing this stressful time.

So, there are the well-known stress-busting techniques that you can implement such as meditation, exercise, singing at the top of your lungs while driving, etc.  Albeit helpful, these techniques provide short-term relief.

Adding nutritional support to help combat stress should be incorporated into everyone’s daily regime at every age.  We know that anti-oxidant rich foods like berries, fish oils, greens, nuts and seeds, and dark chocolate are great for fighting oxidative stress, but there is another group of foods and botanicals that really helps the body manage mental and physical stress over a longer period.  These are called adaptogens.

Adaptogens are herbs and botanicals that increase bodily resistance to physical, chemical, and biological noxious agents, and encourage homeostasis in the body without disturbing body functions at a normal level – well that’s the more scientific explanation any way.  In a nutshell, these botanicals and herbs help the mind and body deal with stress in a way that prevents exhaustion and over-release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, that keep us in a constant state of fight or flight.

The negative side-effects of consistent over-release of cortisol include weight gain, generally around the abdominal area, mental and physical exhaustion, and a number of other undesirable conditions.

Take note that adaptogens are effective when taken over a period of time, so they are not meant to be a quick fix.

Which adaptogens are the best?  Depending on what you’re trying to achieve health-wise, there is no wrong choice.  Adaptogens are found in botanicals and herbs like – ashwagandha, ginseng, reishi mushrooms, aloe vera, rosemary and milk thistle, to name a few.   They are able to help the body balance out in a number of ways such as soothing exhausted adrenal glands, boosting energy levels and cognitive function, lowering blood sugar, boosting mental performance and physical stamina, and so on.  The possibilities are truly endless.

If you would like to learn more about adaptogens and which ones are the best for your needs, feel free to send us an email to info@monkeytreewellness.com.

Until then, we wish everyone a peace and tranquility, and a positive outlook for tomorrow.  Namaste.