Natural Factors Guest Post
The holidays are meant to be a time of cheer and goodwill, but the reality for many is that December is a difficult month full of stress and anxiety. Fortunately, there are many natural ways to improve your resilience in the face of stress and help yourself get through the seasonal hustle and bustle without breaking a sweat.
To forestall holiday burnout, here are 5 top stress-busting supplements to help you maintain merriment:
GABA – To Calm a Racing Mind
Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA for short) is a calming neurotransmitter that actually alters brain waves patterns to induce a state of calm, but without making you snoozy. GABA has undergone extensive research and is known to switch brain activity to increase alpha brain waves (associated with a relaxed but alert state), and to decrease beta brain waves (associated with anxiety, worry, and a racing mind).
Scattered, stressful thoughts can make it hard to focus and get anything productive done, so if you have a million and one things to do, but are having trouble concentrating and staying calm, give GABA a shot!
Serenity Formula – Tap into Your Inner Calm
The herbs and nutrients included in the Serenity Formula work together to not only combat feelings of anxiousness, fatigue and low mood, but to also improve your body’s ability to resist the negative physiological effects of chronic stress. Rhodiola rosea and ashwagandha are adapatogenic herbs that support healthy adrenal function and enhance energy to fight stress-related fatigue and ‘burnout’ – making the Serenity Formula ideal for those who tend to always be on the go until the point of exhaustion and breakdown.
3.) Tranquil Sleep – Say Goodnight to Stress
When your to-do list is longer than your arm, it can be difficult to stop your mind racing at night and get restful sleep. Without proper sleep, however, we’re less productive, more sensitive to pain, and more vulnerable to seasonal colds and flu.
Tranquil Sleep is a fantastic formula that, contains melatonin to support natural circadian rhythms and proper neurotransmitter levels. Melatonin lets the body know that it is time to rest and recuperate, and offers a great way to reset the body-clock for those with an erratic schedule, jetlag, or who find that they have developed unhealthy sleep routines. 5HTP is also included in Tranquil Sleep, alongside L-theanine, to help boost mood and enhance our ability to stay relaxed and focus, even when things get hectic.
4.) Magnesium Citrate – The Calming Mineral
Magnesium is an essential mineral needed for a whole host of physiological functions. Specifically, we need magnesium to support muscle relaxation and healthy brain activity. Without sufficient magnesium we are more prone to feelings of stress, tense muscles, and poor emotional well-being.
Magnesium citrate is a well-absorbed form of this mineral and can be ideal for those who feel a bit wrung out, nervous, and tense, with cramped muscles, poor sleep, and irritability. Face the crowds of shoppers with equanimity and resolve by stocking up on Magnesium Citrate Powder!
5.) Mental Calmness – For a Sunny Disposition All Year Round!
L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves, particularly green tea (Camellia sinensis), and is known to help people to keep calm and carry on even when things seem overwhelming. Natural Factors Mental Calmness formula features Suntheanine®, which is extracted from green tea leaves using a specialised enzymatic process.
Mental Calmness is ideal for daytime use as it is non-drowsy. It can, however, help promote good quality sleep by relieving scattered thought processes and restoring a state of calm relaxation and reduced stress. L-theanine is also helpful in minimising the likelihood of stress-related overeating during the holidays, and improving mental performance making it a great stocking filler for fans of after-dinner trivia!
Happy Holiday!
Leigh Matthews
