The feeling of stress

Stress can come at any moment in a person’s life. It is typically associated with a negative feeling of anxiety or frustration. In its most basic definition it is simply your reactive mechanism to a challenging or dangerous situation (1). It allows the human mind to decide whether to “fight or take flight.”

Whilst short periods of stress in certain situations can be beneficial in allowing us to react appropriately to threatening situations, prolonged or constant stress may have negative effects on our health.

Before going into how ginkgo and brahmi can help you with stress, let’s learn more about stress itself.

The science of stress

To better understand stress, we first have to get to know cortisol, a steroid hormone. Cortisol and stress are closely related. When stressed, a hormonal reaction tells your brain to adapt to a situation through a fight or flight mechanism. Through a combination of nerve and hormonal signals, this system prompts your adrenal glands, located at the top of your kidneys, to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol (2).

Also known as the primary stress hormone, cortisol helps control the body’s use of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates; suppresses inflammation; regulates blood pressure; increases blood sugar; and can also decrease bone formation. It also controls the sleep/wake cycle, giving you a boost of energy to better handle a stressful situation (3).

Stress and health problems

A small amount of stress can lead to increased alertness, energy, and productivity. For example, an athlete playing in a sport gets a rush of adrenaline, allowing him or her to perform with higher levels of energy.

However, repeated or prolonged exposure to stress can have detrimental effects physically and mentally. Too much cortisol may lead to weight gain (particularly around the abdomen and neck), fatigue, muscle weakness, and easily bruised skin, among other health issues (4).

While we may not be able to control all the situations we face, there are some lifestyle changes we can make to counter uncontrollable stressors.

4 Tips for dealing with stress

Here are some ways to relieve day to day stress:

Exercise and healthy habits

Regular physical activity reduces inflammation and the risk of insulin resistance. It also stimulates the release of growth factors—chemicals in the brain that affect the health of neurons, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells (5).

Exercise also improves your mood and sleep quality, as well as reducing stress by increasing your endorphins (5). The production of endorphins during a workout is also why you can associate the feeling of good mood that you feel after a quality workout (5). Aside from exercise, lifestyle factors can significantly impact the way you deal with stress. Avoid unhealthy habits that can lead to more complications later on, such as too much caffeine, binge drinking alcohol, or smoking (6).

Mental stimulation

Like most other muscles in your body, regularly flexing and exercising your brain can help maintain its health (6). Mental stimulation helps form new connections between nerve cells and may even help the brain generate new cells, developing neurological "plasticity" (6). Staying sharp and maintaining strong brain health helps to fight off overbearing stress.

Rest and relaxation

Relaxation is a crucial tool in fighting work stress. There are several online resources you can find on deep breathing techniques, meditation, among many other relaxation techniques. Of course, regular exercise and a balanced diet have also been well-documented to aid in stress relief, but when it can not be avoided, you can also look to incorporate some natural herbal vitamins into your daily routine.

Diet

Certain nutrients we take in may help us adapt better to stress. These include omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, which support brain function. Vegetables also contain many vitamins that can help your body deal with the harmful molecules produced by your body when under stress. These include vitamins A, E, C, zinc, and copper (7). Supplements like ginkgo and brahmi may also help you better adapt to stress.

Ginkgo and brahmi as stress relief supplements

The traditional brain herbs ginkgo and brahmi have been traditionally used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to support good sleep and enhance brain health (8).

Ginkgo and brahmi in supporting brain function

The ginkgo leaf has been used medicinally for thousands of years and is one of the world’s oldest living tree species (9). Also known as the brain herb, ginkgo is a powerful adaptogen that supports brain function, concentration, and memory recall (9).

Brahmi is a common herb that is also used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It is renowned as a powerful brain tonic. The nerve tonic exerts nootropic activity to enhance cognitive performance (9).

Ginkgo and brahmi in relieving stress and mild anxiety

Together, ginkgo and brahmi can support the relief of symptoms of stress and mild anxiety (9). Separate studies have found that ginkgo shows a similar effect to anxiety-relief medication (9). Brahmi, on the other hand, has been found to have mild anxiety reducing effects greater than what is found with a placebo. Brahmi also has adaptogenic effects by normalising the changes in the brain brought about by stress (9).

Stress relief supplements

One way to ensure you incorporate ginkgo and brahmi in your diet is through supplementation. The high dosage of Vitable Australia’s combination of 3,000 mg for both herbs in our ginkgo and brahmi blend makes it a powerful formula to enhance the quality of memory and recall in everyday life.

Using high quality plant extracts and gentle solvents, the ginkgo and brahmi extraction ensures that the supplement resembles the composition of the natural plant. The high dosage combination of both herbs makes it a powerful formula to support brain function and reduce stress.

Enhance your body’s adaptation to stress with a natural solution today. Opt for Ginko and Brahmi extract vitamin supplements by Vitable Australia. We offer a vitamin subscription box where you can create the best vitamin packs tailor-made for you. For your convenience, we also have a vitamin delivery service that delivers your package right to your doorstep!

Find out more about other supplements that can support stress:

Ashwagandha | Magnesium | B complex | Calcium Plus | Vitamin B12 | Ginkgo Brahmi

*Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional. Vitamin and/or mineral supplements should not replace a balanced diet.

References:

1. Health Direct. Stress. Health Direct. Published September 2019 on https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/stress. Accessed Dec 8, 2021.
2. Mayo Clinic Staff. Chronic stress puts  your health at risk. Mayo Clinic. Published July 8, 2021 on https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037. Accessed Dec 8, 2021.
3. John Hopkins Medicine. Adrenal Glands. Published on https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/adrenal-glands. Accessed Dec 8, 2021.
4. Health Direct. The role of cortisol in the body. Published May 2020 on https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/the-role-of-cortisol-in-the-body. Accessed Dec 8, 2021.
5. Harvard Health Publishing. Regular Exercise Changes the Brain to Improve Memory Thinking Skills. Published April 9, 2014 on https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110. Accessed Dec 8, 2021.
6. Harvard Health Publishing. 12 Ways to Keep Your Brain Young. Published Jan 29, 2020 on https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/12-ways-to-keep-your-brain-young. Accessed Dec 8, 2021.
7. Campus Health. "Nutrition and Stress". The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Published n.d. on https://campushealth.unc.edu/health-topic/nutrition-and-stress/. Accessed Dec 19, 2021.
8. Vitable. Gingko and Brahmi. Published on https://www.vitable.com.au/products/ginkgo-brahmi. Accessed Dec 8, 2021.
9. Vitable. Ginkgo & Brahmi. Vitable. Published n.d. on https://research.vitable.com.au/ginkgo-brahmi. Accessed Dec 19, 2021