Stress is physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension. All of us endure stress but it is very subjective and difficult to measure. It’s how you deal with stress that can make all the difference between a positive lifestyle and feeling your best or an unhealthy lifestyle and feeling drained, tired, overwhelmed and ill. Although some stress is good and can motivate and exhilarate us, chronic stress is bad for our health and takes it toll on the body and mind. At this point, many are experiencing some form of chronic stress with the economic turmoil of the last few years.

Do you feel stressed?

You are not alone. The latest Rasmussen Reports finds that 67% of American adults say the state of the economy is causing more stress for their family. That finding is up 10 points from last year. Add to that, the hectic pace of life with work, children, spouse, keeping house, etc. and we are all understandably stressed out.

When we become stressed and worried, stress hormones are produced in the body and many changes occur. Many of our vitamins and minerals become depleted during stress. Some stress hormones stay in the brain too long and eventually kill some brain cells needed for memory and learning. The digestive tracts tenses up and slows down. The cells in our have a shorter lifespan which translates into overall premature aging: grey hair, wrinkled skin, weakened muscles, fading eyesight and hearing, organ failure, and diminished thinking abilities. Stress may be the single greatest aging factor. Stress also negatively affects our blood pressure as well as the immune system causing greater chance for illness and disease.

So what can be done?

Stress cannot be eliminated, but it can be managed. Exercise is important to reduce stress hormone production and stimulate endorphins to release the anxiety. Proper sleep is necessary too, in that at least six hours of sleep is necessary to recharge the mind and body. Diet and overall nutrition are probably the most important factors in successfully coping with stress. A healthy, low fat diet gives you the energy you need. Adding nutritional supplements into the diet may boost your body’s ability to produce its own anti-stress hormones and help your body repair the damage of long-term stress. A daily multivitamin/mineral supplement can help to decrease feelings of stress and fatigue and encourage relaxation. In addition antioxidants are beneficial in they work like scavengers pulling free radicals from the cells, to prevent stress and reduce the damage caused by oxidation. Antioxidants can also provide a more effective stress coping mechanism.

At MHL, we have products specifically formulated for stress management. These formulas emphasize proper nutrient intake to support health.

Key Formulas for Stress Management: