chill pills

Stressed? Ha. Like we had to ask. We quiz top naturopaths on the best supplements to help you cope

Cigarettes, sitting, sugar: you’ve all had your moment of naming and shaming. Step aside for the latest health assassin du jour: cortisol. “Our body’s way of dealing with a busy and stressful life is to pump out this stress hormone throughout the day,” says naturopath Lisa Guy. “And if you have consistently high cortisol levels, it will start negatively affecting your health in a variety of ways.”

The hormone is well-intentioned; it’s adrenaline’s trusty flight-or-fight sidekick – a survival tactic that’s meant to kick in during the most stressful, lifeendangering times (think lion versus cavewoman). But in 2017, life’s overstimulation has our adrenal glands (which release cortisol and adrenaline) working overtime, and these high levels of hormones are unfortunately sending everything out of whack and causing adrenal fatigue. “The effort of keeping all of life’s balls in the air can be very stressful and affect sleep, energy levels, digestion and hormonal balance,” says Danielle Steedman, Blackmores’ advisory naturopath. From suppressing our immune system, slowing our metabolism and creating inflammation in the body (which not only causes premature ageing, but can also lead to chronic diseases such as cancer), to sleep problems, low libido and increased fertility issues, stress is literally our worst enemy.

The good news (and yes, there is some) is that there’s a variety of supplements to help the body cope better. So if being told to just relax and meditate yet again makes you want to hurl a yoga mat out the window, we suggest you opt for one of these instead...

withania

Otherwise known as Indian ginseng, this herb WHAT IT IS: is used in Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. “It’s especially useful for immune and stress HOW IT HELPS:

support and helps decrease cortisol levels,” explains Cheryl Goodman, Swisse naturopath.

Swisse Ultiboost Stress Relief ($29.95, TRY: swisse.com), which combines withania with vitamin C, to support the adrenals.

licorice root

Popular in Chinese medicine, licorice WHAT IT IS: root is considered an “adaptogenic” herb that helps support adrenal health, says Guy.

Licorice root helps the body to HOW IT HELPS: regulate cortisol more efficiently, thus giving your adrenals a break and helping prevent adrenal exhaustion.

Bodhi Organic Tea Tranquilitea ($17, TRY: bodhiorganictea.com). The blend contains certified organic licorice, aniseed, fennel, valerian and passionflower.

magnesium

This essential mineral assists with WHAT IT IS: a multitude of functions, helping with blood glucose control, optimising muscle recovery and supporting a healthy nervous system.

“Stress, especially when experienced HOW IT HELPS: chronically, can deplete levels of magnesium in our body so it’s important to ensure we replenish what is lost during these times,” says Goodman. It also helps relax muscles, which often hold pent-up nervous tension.

Blackmores Bio Magnesium ($33.49, TRY: blackmores.com.au), which also includes vitamin B to help support the nervous system.

phosphatidylserine

A naturally occurring amino-acid WHAT IT IS: derivative, it’s found in cell membranes and plays a vital role in keeping cells functioning and communicating well.

It regulates and blocks HOW IT HELPS: excess levels of cortisol, helping restore healthy sleep patterns and preventing adrenal fatigue. Studies show that a 400mg dosage is the most effective for keeping cortisol levels in a healthy balance.

Jarrow Formulas PS 100 ($68.60, TRY: jarrow.com).

chamomile and passionflower

Naturopath David Jivan recommends WHAT IT IS: sipping a tea blend containing these herbs, which are said to support the nervous system, reducing anxiety.

Passionflower is actually listed as HOW IT HELPS: a herbal tranquilliser in Germany, while chamomile has been shown to reduce the symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder – even against an identically smelling placebo.

Koala Tea Organics Dreamtime Organic Tea TRY: ($4.35, koalatea.com.au).

turmeric

A herb praised for its high level of antiWHAT IT IS: inflammatory properties.

By reducing free-radical damage HOW IT HELPS: associated with inflammation (a side effect of cortisol), turmeric can help prevent cell damage, premature ageing and worse.

Swisse Ultiboost Curcumin ($39.99, TRY: swisse.com), which contains a high dose of turmeric’s active ingredient.