How Do Adaptogens Help With Stress?

Let's talk about stress. It's something we all experience, and it can really take a toll on our daily lives. Stress is a natural and necessary part of life. When we sense a threat, from life and death situations to emotional triggers, our body releases certain hormones to deal with the situation. However, in the 21st century, chronic stress is a real issue that negatively impacts our sense of well-being.

500 years ago, people had a different lifestyle compared to what we have now. While stress was certainly a part of life, people were often exposed to more physical stressors, such as long hours of manual labor or needing to brave harsh weather conditions. While they still experienced psychological stressors, they were able to manage it more naturally. They had a slower pace of life, and their daily routines were often dictated by the rising and setting of the sun. Their reliance on one and another also fostered a more healthy sense of community and meaning.

In contrast, today's world is characterized by chronic stress that is not always tied to a clear sense of purpose or meaning. We face psychological stressors like social isolation, financial stress, and blurring of work-life boundaries. This can make it difficult to find time for proper rest, relaxation, and meaningful social connections.

Enter cortisol, the "stress hormone." It's a big player in regulating blood sugar, immune function, memory, learning, digestion, and even wound healing. But when our cortisol levels are out of whack, it can lead to all sorts of nasty consequences like cognitive impairment, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and autoimmune disorders.

One of the most intriguing things about our modern day cortisol levels is that they aren't just high or low relative to baseline; they're frequently both. Chronic stress causes an overactive stress response, resulting in high cortisol levels that eventually deplete the adrenal glands, leading to low cortisol levels. Round and round, making us feel all over the map.

Luckily we have the solution!

Adaptogens are herbs and mushrooms that modulate the body's stress response system and help the body adapt to stress over time. They balance cortisol levels in the brain and naturally bring us to a healthy baseline.

Our Smart Mushrooms Coffee is packed full of adaptogens, including Ashwagandha Root, Holy Basil, Rhodiola rosea root, Eleuthero root (also known as Siberian ginseng), Bacopa Monnieri, Lion's Mane and Chaga. When we regulate our body's stress system, everything begins to work like a well-oiled machine. Our cognitive function, immune system, sleep, and energy levels all improve, leading to a sense of extraordinary overall well-being.

Cheers to stress-free living, my friends!