Supplements to help reduce stress and get better sleep
Phew! Finally September is behind us. The stress of back to school, as well as the sleep disorders that come with it are things of the past. We can now focus on autumn, which brings us big wool socks, warm lattes and hikes in leafy trails.
But, for some, October also brings cold, rain, gray weather and shorter days, and let’s not forget the daily routine that we hoped to have settled down to the core in September, but that’s still giving us a hard time because, let's be honest, we can't manage everything! Ok, let’s take a deep breath and realize that everything will be fine because by taking the time to read this article, you are already doing the right thing! Oh yeah… you have to exhale now!
Whether or not your stress and lack of sleep are related to the beginning of the school year or fall depression, the few minutes you devote to reading this text will indeed be beneficial to you. You will get clear and simple explanations from it and, above all, you will have solutions to help you reduce your stress and improve your sleep, as well as some of our best food supplements.
Stress, from protective to destructive
Why does stress exist?
Yep, we are still talking about stress! Why?! Because it’s an essential element of human and even animal life. If in the past stress kept us from getting eaten by a wild animal, today it keeps us from getting hit by a car. Stress is an incredibly fast chain of innate psychological and physiological reactions that allows us to adapt to an event.
When stress becomes destructive
Although it’s innate, stress can quickly become harmful if it’s constant and incessant. If stress has a negative impact on your daily life, your mood or your sleep, it’s important to find the cause and act on it. Usually stress occurs when you feel like you don't have the skills or resources to deal with a situation. Lack of time, lack of self-confidence, lack of money, etc.
In the middle of a tornado, it’s sometimes difficult to see clearly. This is where anti-stress supplements come in, or maybe a little before the tornado to save you from its inconvenience.
The right anti-stress supplement
Several health food supplements promise to help you reduce your stress. Although they have notable positive effects, it’s still necessary to identify the one or those that will suit you best. Remember that just because a supplement worked wonders for your neighbor doesn't mean it will do the same for you. Each person is unique and each person has even more unique needs.
Chamomile
We have known its reputation forever. It soothes, it calms, it relaxes and it promotes sleep. And how better to enjoy it than by consuming it in the form of herbal tea to drink before going to bed or whenever you feel the need. Chamomile is suggested for various reasons, including of course to counter stress. In addition, if you suffer from digestive difficulties, you will be doubly served by this plant since it supports digestion! We suggest Chamomile tea from Clef des Champs, an organic medicinal herb grown in Quebec.
Reishi
Reishi, on the other hand, has also been used for a number of years, but has recently experienced a boost in popularity alongside several other medicinal mushrooms. Reishi is an adaptogen. It helps improve resistance to stress, increase energy and limit mental fatigue often associated with stress. We suggest Rainbo's Reishi, grown in Canada and presented as a dual-extraction tincture.
The unbeatable B complex
B complex supports the health of the nervous system, promotes energy production and encourages the proper functioning of the adrenal glands. Qualities sought after in times of stress.
The B vitamins (8 in total) each have their particular roles, but if you want to take them to help your body in times of stress, synergy is often the best choice. We suggest BioActive B Slow Release from Pure Lab Vitamins. The slow release allows the body to benefit from the effects of the B complex throughout the day.
L-theanine
L-theanine is an amino acid that is extracted from tea leaves, often green tea. If you're the type to have a hyperactive hamster, L-theanine might be a supplement to consider. It helps to calm nervousness, the scattering of ideas and hyperactivity. We recommend Mental Calm 100% L-Theanine from Natural Factors, offered in chewable tablets.
Everyday tips that can help relieve your stress
As mentioned above, taking action on your stress is an excellent way to reduce it. Avoiding facing reality or minimizing your emotions won't help you and could even be harmful to your well-being.
If instead you want to prevent the invasion of stress, several methods have been shown to be effective. Here are a few:
- Organize your meals for the week
Planning your menu for the week in advance will allow you to do your grocery shopping only once a week.
Have you ever tried meal prep? Take a bit of your time off to calmly prepare certain items on your menu. Cook meat, legumes and rice. Prepare healthy snacks. Wash and cut your fruits and vegetables.
- Don't keep everything inside
Talk to someone or write down your feelings in a journal. Letting out your emotions will allow you to evacuate the negative, to see more clearly and possibly to find solutions.
- Move!
No matter what sport you choose, low, medium or high intensity, physical activity is an excellent solution to clear your mind, improve your mood and reduce your stress.
Good sleep, good day
If stress invades your days, chances are it's preventing you from getting quality sleep. In addition, with autumn setting in, we are all forced to suffer the consequences of a decreasing light, including seasonal change fatigue. We lose precious minutes of sunshine every day and the effects of lack of sleep set in.
Temporary or well-established fatigue, to suffer as little as possible from low energy during a period of stress or during the seasonal change, you must know how to make the most of your night’s sleep. In order to promote good sleep, your body can be supported by various supplements that aid sleep.
Did you know that you can do a light cure to foil seasonal fatigue with a light therapy lamp? Place it near you and let it do its job while you do yours!
To avoid lack of sleep, choose a food supplement according to your needs
To help you choose, here are some formulas among our best anti-fatigue food supplements.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone naturally secreted by the body when daylight begins to fade. It benefits the sleep cycle and, when well balanced, its synthesis helps us stay asleep and enjoy deep sleep. For some people with sleep disorders or even night workers or jet lag travelers, taking melatonin as a dietary supplement may be beneficial. We suggest the Melatonin Sustained Release from Innovite Health which allows diffusion for 6 to 8 hours.
Sleep 8
New Roots's Sleep 8 is a complete formula combining extracts of medicinal plants, flavonoids, magnesium and melatonin. Together, these components effectively support the sleep cycle, relaxation and the health of your nervous system.
Deep Sleep Super concentrated liquid capsules
Botanica's Deep Sleep, in the form of high-concentration liquid capsules, is made for you if your sleep disorders are directly related to stress. Its botanical formula contains herbs that promote relaxation and deep sleep, but also adaptogenic plants. As said above, adaptogens are practically essential in times of stress.
Deep Sleep with Reishi
Deep Sleep, the newbie in the Genuine Health line. This formula contains GABA and L-Theanine, both specialists in mental calm, as well as magnesium to promote relaxation, melatonin to support your sleep cycle, and finally reishi, an adaptogen that can help you fall asleep faster.
A healthy lifestyle that helps with sleep
As with stress management, it’s possible to improve your sleep by establishing healthy lifestyle habits. We often hear how important it is to establish a sleep routine to support the sleep phases of young children. As with babies and toddlers, such a routine promotes adult sleep as well.
The sleep routine allows your body to get into a state that promotes sleep. For example, you can close your screens and open a book, while drinking chamomile tea an hour before going to bed. As much as possible, make sure your routine leads you to a similar bedtime every night. These small actions will help you limit nocturnal awakenings and achieve deep, restorative sleep.
To learn more about the effects of screens on sleep, check out this article.
The benefits of magnesium for stress and sleep
The benefits of magnesium are numerous. Wondering why take magnesium? Well, here's a great reason: magnesium is a very effective natural relaxant for the whole body.
If you'd like to try magnesium supplements, we suggest ATP Synermag formula. In addition to providing 500 mg of magnesium (Malate and Bisglycinate), the precious mineral is accompanied by 200 mg of taurine. This amino acid facilitates absorption by the body and optimizes your magnesium intake.
Sources of magnesium in your diet
Despite the many magnesium supplements offered on lamoisson.com, you can also prevent magnesium deficiency with magnesium-rich foods such as whole grains, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, dark chocolate, legumes and green vegetables, mainly leafy ones.
To learn more about the benefits of magnesium, which formula to choose or which foods to add to your plate, click here!
Essential oils to help reduce stress and promote sleep
Essential oils have an impressive effect on the nervous system and can promote sleep and relaxation. Try aromatherapy to help ease your daily life. Several essential oils could serve these functions, but we suggest lavender essential oil, sweet orange essential oil, Roman chamomile essential oil, and Somalia frankincense essential oil for diffusion or topical application, according to recommendations.
Be careful if you apply an essential oil on your skin, make sure to dilute it first in a vegetable oil.
Stress and sleep, the take-away
To limit lack of sleep and get out of your stress tornado, it’s important to promote good lifestyle habits, such as healthy eating, physical activity and organization.
In addition, choose food supplements that are effective against stress and fatigue. It’s important to find the product(s) that will suit your own needs. To help you choose, talk to one of our naturopaths.
If your stress becomes too overwhelming or if your sleep debt accumulates, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor. This article should not in any way substitute the advice of a health professional, rather give you general advice and recommendations.
