What are adaptogens?

They are a set of natural substances that stimulate our defense against the effects that occur at the cellular level when we are exposed to different forms of stress.

They are metabolic regulators that increase an organism's ability to adapt to environmental stressors, thus preventing the damage they can cause to our body.

Thus, adaptogens increase your resistance to stress and decrease your sensitivity to stressors so that their consequences on your well-being are minimized. They exert this beneficial effect thanks to the ability of these compounds to act by reinforcing our internal defenses responsible for compensating for the bodily alterations that occur in response to a chronic stressful stimulus such as: work, personal conflicts, pollution, hormonal disruptors, or illnesses. The main property of adaptogens is that they help the body to 'help itself'.

What are adaptogens used for?

A healthy body maintains a balance between the consumption and availability of resources, known as homeostasis, which is essential for life. In stressful situations, processes are activated in the brain, specifically in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, to meet the increasing demand for resources.

Normally, if the stress does not overcome our defenses, the balance is restored at a higher level of activity. However, chronic stress can overwhelm these mechanisms, where adaptogens play a crucial role.

Adaptogens enhance the body's ability to adapt to environmental, emotional, and physical stressors, helping to restore internal balance.

They achieve this by stimulating the release of neuropeptide Y (NPY), which reduces the stress response, and promoting the synthesis of heat shock proteins (Hsp), which protect cells from damage associated with chronic stress.

Adaptogens not only offer specific therapeutic effects in stress-related disorders but can also improve quality of life when used as complements in the standard therapy of various chronic diseases and pathological conditions, such as post-surgical recovery, asthenia, congestive heart failure, etc.

Furthermore, they could have potential use in age-associated disorders, such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.

Types of adaptogens that can help you manage stress

REISHI

It has a regulatory effect on the central nervous system, reducing neuronal hyperactivity. Thanks to a terpenoid present in it: ganoderic acid. Additionally, beta-glucans are capable of optimizing the immune response against infections.
Likewise, ganoderic acids act as antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress and rebuild damaged tissues, improving pain and inflammation.

ELEUTHERO

Eleuthero can help regulate the activity of the HPA axis, which is the body's central stress response system. By influencing this axis, eleuthero could help normalize levels of cortisol and other stress hormones (adrenaline and noradrenaline), whose normal secretion rhythms are altered as a consequence of chronic stress.

Furthermore, this adaptogen has also been associated with increased physical resistance by improving VO2max (a key indicator of aerobic capacity and the efficiency with which the body can supply and use oxygen during physical activity), allowing the body to better manage stressful situations and thus reducing associated fatigue.

Additionally, eleuthero may have some benefits for the immune system, particularly in reducing exercise-induced immunosuppression.

SCHISANDRA

Schisandra chinensis is a medicinal plant used in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of purposes, including stress management. Current scientific evidence suggests that Schisandra may have several beneficial effects on the stress response and adaptogenic function due to its bioactive components, such as schisandrin lignans.

Schisandra has been observed to help modulate the overactivation of the HPA axis, preventing the loss of normal cortisol rhythm that leads to chronically elevated levels, without the necessary drops for rest or the peaks needed for daily energy. All of this allows Schisandra to improve physical and mental resilience during periods of stress.

Additionally, Schisandra possesses potent antioxidant properties, which can help protect cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. Oxidative stress increases during periods of chronic stress, and antioxidants can play a crucial role in mitigating this damage.

This is important because, while acutely cortisol (like corticosteroids) is anti-inflammatory, chronic stress leading to chronically elevated cortisol levels can result in cortisol resistance. This means the body does not respond adequately to cortisol, which can lead to chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation.

Furthermore, chronic stress can alter the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in favor of pro-inflammatory ones. This is why, under chronic stress, we tend to be more susceptible to infections and inflammatory situations.

Find these adaptogens inStress OFF, designed to help your body manage daily stress and promote overall well-being. This unique formula combines reishi, eleuthero, and schisandra, ingredients used in traditional medicine for their beneficial properties.

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