Saturday Star

Survey shows that 44% of people say the global health crisis has exacerbate­d their stress, anxiety

- VUYILE MADWANTSI vuyile.madwantsi@inl.co.za

EXPERTS preach about the importance of stress as a motivator, however, it should never consume you. Unmanaged stress and anxiety can start to interfere with your daily life and take a toll on your mental and physical health.

If there’s one thing anyone can learn from millennial­s and Gen Z, it is that we deserve to rest, take breaks, and simply exist without conditions.

Self-care and me-time are wellliked strategies for lowering stress and anxiety levels and emphasisin­g both mental and physical well-being.

Self-care is not just about doing things that make you feel good. In fact, taking care of yourself occasional­ly entails doing things you really don’t want to do. This entails reducing the amount of time spent on social media, declining social invitation­s, and paying less attention to the news.

A GWI survey shows that 44% of people say the global health crisis has exacerbate­d their stress and anxiety.

“Many people are experienci­ng high levels of stress and are beginning to think differentl­y about their health and how to manage it,” said Willco Janse van Vuuren, managing director of Releaf Pharmaceut­icals.

“In the past, people believed that eating healthy and exercising regularly were sufficient, but since Covid-19, people have realised there is more they can do to improve their overall health and well-being.”

Van Vuuren adds: “As more people prioritise their well-being, they are also looking for the support of vitamins and supplement­s; since the beginning of the pandemic, vitamin usage has increased from 36% to 43%.”

Health benefits of supplement­s

These three supplement­s can help reduce anxiety and stress:

L-theanine is a common compound found in green and black teas. It aids in mental relaxation, reduces anxiety and stress, and is a key ingredient in high-quality, clinically proven health and wellness supplement­s to alleviate stress and anxiety symptoms.

Saffron, valued for its therapeuti­c benefits and the most expensive spice in the world, works as an antioxidan­t to elevate mood and guard brain cells from stress. Studies have shown saffron, a component of mood-enhancing supplement­s, is as effective as some common depression medication­s when taken in the proper dosage.

Cannabidio­l (CBD) helps reduce anxiety and stress while also elevating your mood. It may also influence how the brain responds to serotonin, which is already present in the body and has been linked to depression and anxiety.

When selecting supplement­s to help you stay healthy, and reduce anxiety and stress, keep in mind that not all supplement­s deliver on their promises. “Consumers should be wary of extravagan­t claims, as no supplement can cure anxiety or stress,” Van Vuuren said.

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