Confession: I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have stress in my life. Between my role as CEO of Kayo, my work as a fitness trainer, and motherhood—not to mention driving in LA traffic – my body and mind are in a constant state of fight or flight. If you have the typical modern lifestyle, chances are you’re pretty stressed, too. The APA’s Stress in America 2020 survey found that 67% of adults experienced an increase in stress last year, due mainly to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of my favorite ways to help my body adapt to my busy schedule? Taking a stress relief supplement with adaptogens.

Of course, there are lots of other ways to keep stress in check, like meditation, exercise, and spending time in nature. But let’s be real, sometimes our calendars get busy and we can’t make time for these things each day. In those cases, adaptogenic stress relief supplements are a great way to fill in the gaps and ensure a healthy stress response in your mind and body.

What are adaptogens and how do they work?

Adaptogens are a type of plant that helps protect the body from the negative effects of stress, such as physical and mental fatigue, lack of focus, anxiety, and low immunity . They’ve been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and they’re considered non-toxic and safe for most healthy people to take. (That said, check with your doctor if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on any medications, or navigating any health concerns.)

These are a few of the best-known (and best-researched) adaptogens that are widely available today—all of which are part of Kayo’s Stress Support Adaptogen Formula supplement:

1. Ashwagandha: Several studies have shown that the herb ashwagandha may help lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is one of the body’s key stress hormones, and too much of it can impact weight, thyroid function, blood sugar, bone density, and more.
2. Rhodiola: Research has linked rhodiola root with lots of positive health outcomes, from an improvement in stress and depression symptoms to a reduction in fatigue and improvement in brain function.
3. Gotu Kola: An herb used traditionally in Eastern medicine, gotu kola may help improve alertness and memory while reducing anger—all good things in times of stress.

In addition to this adaptogen power trio, Stress Support is also formulated with L-theanine—an amino acid found in tea that’s been found to help relax the mind without causing drowsiness—and a patent-pending delivery method that helps the body absorb all this good stuff more easily.

How to take stress relief supplements with adaptogens

Here’s the thing about adaptogens: It takes time for them to bring your body into balance. That’s why consistency is key.  Experts recommend taking them daily for at least one season (three months) to experience their full range of benefits.

That being said, many Stress Support customers tell me when they started taking the supplement, they felt calmer right away! Now it’s part of my daily routine to provide my body the internal stress support it needs through Zoom calls, filming, and chasing after my kids. If you try Stress Support, DM me on Instagram and let me know what you think at @christinebullock or @kayobodycare!