Did you know that, according to the 2023 State of the World’s Workplace Report, 2022 was reported as a record year for the highest levels of stress for workers around the world? According to this report, in 2019 and derived from COVID-19, 38% of employees worldwide perceived to be stressed by the closure of borders and workplaces and the reduction of jobs.
However, for the 2022 survey, this percentage increased significantly to 44% of workers, who said they feel stressed at work, either because of a lack of interest in their activities or because they have more arguments with their superiors. But what is stress and what does it cause us?
UNDERSTANDING STRESS
The word stress comes from the Latin “stringere“, which means “to provoke tension”. According to Selye (1956), a medical researcher, stress is the “non-specific response of the organism to any demand made on it”. In a stressful situation, the body presents different symptoms that mobilize energy reserves to defend itself.
The purpose of this reaction is to compensate for the stress so that the organism recovers its normal equilibrium (homeostasis) as soon as possible. The biological response to these demands by the metabolism is to produce different substances, which can be toxic and impact the person’s health depending on the level at which they are generated. Among the most common substances elicited during the different stress phases are adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, and aldosterone.
THE SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
The stress to which we are exposed daily due to our lifestyle can be physical, illness or injury; emotional, depression or anxiety; mental, obsessive thoughts; and environmental, extreme cold or heat, noise; or a combination of several of them. Symptoms affect our quality of life and usually manifest themselves in fatigue, memory gaps, decreased intellectual performance, headaches, muscle tension, gastrointestinal symptoms, and insomnia.
Have you ever felt this way, probably yes, since we are all constantly subjected to situations that generate stress. However, it is important to know how to manage and regulate the reactions that occur to reverse these symptoms, and thus prevent stress from becoming chronic and significantly affecting your performance.
A SOLUTION TO STRESS: ADAPTOGENS
Many tools can help you, such as psychological therapies, physical activity, meditation and breathing techniques, rest, and nutrition. A balanced diet is key to reducing the adverse effects of stress; however, many times we fail to supplement all the nutrients we need in our diet to help our body fight against stress.
Fortunately, today there are natural supplements that have proven to have a beneficial effect on health and decrease stress levels, among which adaptogens stand out. Adapto… what?! You may ask…
ADAPTOGENS: BENEFITS
As the name implies, adaptogens are plants or roots that can help the metabolism adapt to its environment and have been consumed as traditional medicine for thousands of years in India, China, Korea, and Japan. Today, scientific studies have demonstrated their benefits.
Its constant consumption can increase resistance to stress, increase the resilience, adaptability, and survival of the organism in the face of different factors, and favor normal physiological functions. These beneficial effects have been associated with various mechanisms, including the modulation of stress-related hormone levels, such as cortisol.
TYPES OF ADAPTOGENS
There are different adaptogens such as Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), Eleutherococcus (Eleutherococcus senticosus), and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), which can be safely consumed and used for the relief of stress symptoms has been endorsed by the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) of the European Medicines Agency.
Rodiola
Its consumption affects the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, helping to decrease endogenous secretion and balance plasma cortisol levels. It is recommended for its ability to stimulate the nervous system, improve work performance, reduce fatigue, and increase mental performance.
Eleutherococcus
This plant has been traditionally used as a tonic to combat symptoms of fatigue and weakness and has been found in several studies to have anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant activity. Recently, its effect on symptoms of neurosis, chronic fatigue, and bipolar disorders has been studied, with interesting results that motivate further research to provide specific conclusions.
Ashwagandha
Its intake can promote health and longevity, improve the immune system, slow the aging process, revitalize the body in situations of weakness, and create a sense of well-being.
Normally, you can find adaptogens in powdered form and you can simply add them to a smoothie or your morning coffee to begin to perceive their benefits. Dare to try them and be consistent and discover how your body reacts and adapts to the situations you live day by day. Remember that stress management is integral and that the use of adaptogens is simply one more factor that you can include in your routines to improve your health.