When it comes to ensuring mental well-being, knowing how to regulate stress levels is one of the most important factors.

Stressful experiences do not only appear at times that we consider very important for our lives, but they are part of everyday life; many times, without us realizing what it is that makes us feel uneasy and prevents us from acting normally.

This is because our nervous system is designed to react as quickly as possible when it detects risk situations, but… what happens when we enter an unnecessarily intense state of alert that presents us with an extra problem? In this case, it’s good to be prepared and know how to manage stress by using certain supplements , products that help us to do so.

Learn about the best stress management supplements

As with any psychological or physiological phenomenon, stress does not come out of nowhere, but has its causes in the way the nervous system functions .

That’s why there are brands that market supplements whose effects are very useful in regulating the impact that stress has on us and preventing us from losing control of the situation and having a bad time.

The HSN brand, for example, has a line of products among which several are aimed at the modulation of stress and anxiety . In general, as these products are not medicines but supplements that boost the levels of substances already present in our bodies, it is easy to acquire them over the Internet.

So let’s look at a selection of products that are useful for maintaining reasonable stress levels and that allow us to adapt well to the challenges of everyday life, regardless of whether our goals are related to work, sport, study or any other area of life.

Tryptophan

Tryptophan is an amino acid from which several hormones are produced and are constantly circulating in our cardiovascular system. Therefore, has effects both on the brain and on various glands and organs distributed in the body that, in a coordinated manner, play a role in our state of activation.

In particular, serotonin, which is known as “the happiness hormone” because of the way it generates a feeling of well-being when it comes into action, cannot be produced if there is not the right amount of tryptophan in our body.

In this sense, the effectiveness of tryptophan to control stress is an element to take into account in our psychological well-being. Sometimes, having a balanced diet is enough to have the necessary intake of tryptophan, since this substance is naturally present in healthy foods , but this can be complicated for many people depending on their lifestyle or their biological predispositions.

GABA

Gamma-aminobutyric acid, better known by its abbreviated name GABA, is a neurotransmitter, which means that it is one of the substances naturally present in our nervous system that allows our neurons to communicate with each other.

In mammals, moreover, GABA is the main inhibitory substance in the brain, i.e. it reduces the level of neuronal excitability and makes it less likely that we will enter a state of very intense alert and stress.

On the other hand, the action of GABA can be reinforced thanks to an extra contribution of this substance, by means of capsules made from vegetables.

5-HTP

5-Hydroxytryptophan, is an amino acid present in nature that is involved in the process by which tryptophan gives rise to serotonin and melatonin (the hormone that regulates sleep levels).

Supplements with this substance can be made from the seed of the shrub plant known as Griffonia.

This allows us to regulate our brain’s activity level more quickly and effectively, thus promoting sleep at the right time. It is very useful for those who notice that the stage of stress they are going through produces insomnia or an irregular sleep schedule.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a plant whose roots and fruits can be used to prepare compounds that reduce stress levels .

On the other hand, it reduces the inflammations that sometimes affect the brain and promotes good blood circulation, which serves to optimize the resources available to the body and makes it unnecessary for it to enter a state of alert.

It is recommended to take these herbal formula supplements during specific stages of several days in a row, as no short-term harmful effects have been seen, but not during long term periods, as studies on their effects are missing for months.

How to use these products?

It should be noted that although supplements are based on the natural functioning of the nervous system, overdoing it with the amount ingested can have harmful effects on health.

That is why it is important to follow the instructions that go with each product . On the other hand, it is also recommended that pregnant or lactating women make sure that the supplement to be used is considered safe for them. In general, people who have previously suffered allergic reactions to any of the compounds in these tablets should also avoid using them.

Bibliographic references:

  • Purves D., Fitzpatrick D., Hall W.C., Augustine GJ, Lamantia AS, (2007). Neuroscience (4th ed.). Sunderland, Mass: Sinauer.
  • Schaechter J.D., Wurtman R.J. (1990). Serotonin release varies with brain tryptophan levels. Brain Research. 532 (1 – 2): 203 – 10.