Steel Your Body Against Health-Robbing Stress

Another holiday season has come and gone—but the stress load it left along the way is like an unwanted gift that just keeps on giving. And unfortunately, its effects on your body can’t always be easily returned.

Consider its toll on your waistline, for example: Even with the best intentions to shed some pounds in the New Year, you may find that slimming down is easier said than done, as stress hormones like cortisol can sabotage levels of key appetite-regulating hormones, like leptin and ghrelin.^1-3 Not surprisingly, increased cortisol has been linked to increased food intake and fat accumulation—with studies showing that this stress marker encourages consumption of sugar- and calorie-laden food.⁴ And psychosocial stressors—like a demanding job, financial woes or relationship strains—have likewise been linked to increased weight gain and BMI measurements.⁵

What’s more, studies show that increased cortisol secretion also contributes to abdominal fat and can impact insulin efficiency—while stress boosts the likelihood that sugar metabolism may be affected in women.^6-7

Sleep quality and cognitive health are also on the chopping block when your body’s stress centers are activated and your cortisol levels are soaring—affecting both the sleep quality during your nights and your brain’s function during the day, as well as causing changes in memory, verbal fluency, spatial performance, and mood, both in the short and long term.^8-11 And as you may have already guessed, your heart and digestive health doesn’t fare much better under daily duress. Stress influences everything from blood pressure and endothelial function to cholesterol levels and inflammatory responses… while bouts of abdominal discomfort and occasional acid reflux can also be traced back to stress-related spikes in cortisol.^12-16

Last but not least, your immune responses—including white blood cell populations and activity—are also affected, with research having established links between stress and upper respiratory health.^17-18

Obviously, getting a leg up on that leftover stress is the first step to securing your health post-holiday—and the good news is that there are a number of nutrients that can help you do just that. So-called “adaptogens”—botanicals that boost your body’s resistance to stress and aid in modulating adrenal function—are among your most effective allies. Rhaponticum carthamoides and Ajuga turkestanica, for example, contain active compounds with stress-balancing, immune-supportive and antioxidant powers—while Aralia mandshurica can support mood, energy and immunity.^19-20

Rhodiola rosea, meanwhile, supports mood and improves sleep quality, energy, and overall physical and cognitive function, with users reporting more than an 80 percent effectiveness rate.²¹ You’ll find Rhodiola combined with the powerful adaptogens above in VRP’s daily formula AdaptaPhase® II.

A number of other botanical adaptogens can offer additional assistance in balancing cortisol levels—such as ashwagandha, which animal studies indicate can support mood and moderate your body’s stress response.²² Similarly, research shows that Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (which are combined with ashwagandha in VRP’s Cortisol Control) modulate evening cortisol levels, while curbing weight gain and perceived stress in women.²³

References:

1. Dagogo-Jack S, Umamaheswaran I, Askari H, et al. Leptin response to glucocorticoid occurs at physiological doses and is abolished by fasting. Obes Res. 2003 Feb;11(2):232-7.

2. Malik S, McGlone F, Bedrossian D, Dagher A. Ghrelin modulates brain activity in areas that control appetitive behavior. Cell Metab. 2008 May;7(5):400-9.

3. Rodríguez A, Gómez-Ambrosi J, Catalán V, Gil MJ, Becerril S, Sáinz N, Silva C, Salvador J, Colina I, Frühbeck G. Acylated and desacyl ghrelin stimulate lipid accumulation in human visceral adipocytes. Int J Obes (Lond). 2009 May;33(5):541-52.

4. Duong M, Cohen JI, Convit A. High cortisol levels are associated with low quality food choice in type 2 diabetes. Endocrine. 2011 Oct 9. Published Online Ahead of Print.

5. Block JP, He Y, Zaslavsky AM, et al. Psychosocial stress and change in weight among US adults. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Jul 15;170(2):181-92.

6. Purnell JQ, Kahn SE, Samuels MH, et al. Enhanced cortisol production rates, free cortisol, and 11beta-HSD-1 expression correlate with visceral fat and insulin resistance in men: effect of weight loss. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Feb;296(2):E351-7.

7. Heraclides A, Chandola T, Witte DR, et al. Psychosocial stress at work doubles the risk of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged women: evidence from the Whitehall II study. Diabetes Care. 2009 Dec;32(12):2230-5.

8. Buckley TM, Schatzberg AF. On the interactions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sleep: normal HPA axis activity and circadian rhythm, exemplary sleep disorders. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 May;90(5):3106-14.

9. Franz CE, O'Brien RC, Hauger RL, et al. Cross-sectional and 35-year longitudinal assessment of salivary cortisol and cognitive functioning: the Vietnam Era twin study of aging. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011 Aug;36(7):1040-52.

10. Beluche I, Carriere I, Ritchie K, et al. A prospective study of diurnal cortisol and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly people. Psychol Med. 2010 Jun;40(6):1039-49.

11. Lloyd RB, Nemeroff CB. The role of corticotropin-releasing hormone in the pathophysiology of depression: therapeutic implications. Curr Top Med Chem. 2011;11(6):609-17.      

12. Das S, O'Keefe JH. Behavioral cardiology: recognizing and addressing the profound impact of psychosocial stress on cardiovascular health. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2008 Oct;10(5):374-81.

13. Evolahti A, Hultcrantz M, Collins A. Psychosocial work environment and lifestyle as related to lipid profiles in perimenopausal women. Climacteric. 2009 Apr;12(2):131-45.

14. Black PH. The inflammatory response is an integral part of the stress response: Implications for atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome X. Brain Behav Immun. 2003 Oct;17(5):350-64.

15. Dinan TG, Quigley EM, Ahmed SM, et al. Hypothalamic-pituitary-gut axis dysregulation in irritable bowel syndrome: plasma cytokines as a potential biomarker? Gastroenterology. 2006 Feb;130(2):304-11.

16. Naliboff BD, Mayer M, Fass R, et al. The effect of life stress on symptoms of heartburn. Psychosom Med. 2004 May-Jun;66(3):426-34.

17. Arranz L, de Vicente A, Munoz M, et al. Impaired immune function in a homeless population with stress-related disorders. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2009;16(4):251-60.

18. Cohen S, Hamrick N, Rodriguez MS, et al. Reactivity and vulnerability to stress-associated risk for upper respiratory illness. Psychosom Med. 2002 Mar-Apr;64(2):302-10.

19. Kholodova Y. Phytoecdysteroids: biological effects, application in agriculture and complementary medicine (as presented at the 14-th Ecdysone Workshop, July, 2000, Rapperswil, Switzerland). Ukr Biokhim Zh. 2001 May-Jun;73(3):21-9.

20. Lupusoru CE, Zagnat M, Ghiciuc CM, et al. The antistress effect of the saponinic summ extracted from roots of Aralia mandshurica cultivated in Moldavia. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2008 Oct-Dec;112(4):1092-7.

21. Fintelmann V, Gruenwald J. Efficacy and tolerability of a Rhodiola rosea extract in adults with physical and cognitive deficiencies. Adv Ther. 2007 Jul-Aug;24(4):929-39.

22. Bhattacharya SK, Muruganandam AV. Adaptogenic activity of Withania somnifera: an experimental study using a rat model of chronic stress. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Jun;75(3):547-55.

23. Garrison R, Chambliss WG. Effect of a proprietary Magnolia and Phellodendron extract on weight management: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Altern Ther Health Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;12(1):50-4.