Beat Back Stress This Holiday and BEYOND
Last week, I told you one tool I use to keep stress from taking over my life.
I practice gratitude.
It sounds simple (and it is).
But if you’re like many people I know, you want a more tangible way to tackle the stress you feel this time of year.
Don’t worry… if that’s how you feel, I’ve got you covered, too.
Being stressed out is MUCH more than a feeling.
Stress contributes to weight gain, poor sleep, high blood pressure, fatigue, poor blood sugar control, and more.
The culprit behind these reactions is cortisol.
Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone produced by your adrenal glands. It affects everything from energy and sleep to metabolism and blood pressure.
When you’re dealing with a stressful situation, your body releases cortisol to help you manage it.
This can be lifesaving in the short term. However, over time, it can lead to all the health issues I mentioned earlier.
One of the best herbs for conquering excess cortisol is ashwagandha. As an adaptogenic herb, it helps your body better adapt to stressors.
Ashwagandha and other adaptogens interact with the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, which initiates the stress response and helps maintain balance.
People who take ashwagandha report…
- reduced stress,
- lower cortisol levels,
- and better sleep.
It also effectively reduces anxiety and stress.
One crucial reason it reduces stress is because it dials down cortisol levels.
Since we’re smack dab in the middle of what many folks consider the most stressful time of the year, now is the perfect time to see if ashwagandha can help you, as it has helped countless others.
Additionally, if you also start practicing gratitude, as I told you about last week, you’ll be giving your body the tools it needs to make the holidays merry, bright… and peaceful.
P.S. Go from groggy to great with THIS sleep mineral secret.
View Sources
Lopresti, A. L., & Smith, S. J. (2021). Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for the treatment and enhancement of mental and physical conditions: A systematic review of human trials. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 28, 100434.
