5 Supplements to Calm Stress & Anxiety

Stress is an inevitable part of modern life. We all suffer from it - many become debilitated by it, and we certainly talk about it way too much.

So, how can we best manage it?

An accurate depiction of us dealing with life.

As you probably know, our bodies naturally release a stress hormone called cortisol when we're under pressure. However, if cortisol stays elevated for long periods (a condition known as chronic stress), it can negatively impact various bodily systems, including the thyroid and adrenal glands.

While most doctors agree that managing chronic stress requires a multi-pronged approach, many are now turning to adaptogenic herbs as a natural way to relieve stress and reduce prolonged cortisol levels.

What Are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens belong to a special group of healing plants, including certain herbs and foods. Nowadays, they are commonly available as supplements in various forms like capsules, powders, and tinctures.

According to naturopath Edward Wallace, adaptogens don't have specific actions. Instead, they help your body respond to different stressors, bringing your physiological functions back to normal.

The term "adaptogenic herbs" was coined by a Russian scientist in 1947 to describe their non-specific effects, enhancing the body's stress resistance. In 1958, two other Russian researchers defined adaptogens as substances that are safe, have a nonspecific action, and normalize physiological functions, regardless of the direction of the body's condition.

This stress-resistance effect has been observed in animal studies, showing that various adaptogens increase the body's tolerance to stress.

Top 3 Adaptogenic Herbs

1. Turmeric

Active Compound: Curcumin

Turmeric, known for its vibrant golden hue and extensive use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, has secured its place as a potent adaptogen. The active compound in turmeric, curcumin, exhibits strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These attributes not only help combat oxidative stress but also assist in managing inflammation – a common underlying factor in various chronic conditions. Turmeric's adaptogenic qualities lie in its capacity to modulate the body's response to stressors, promoting resilience and overall vitality.

In addition to these stress-related benefits, turmeric may potentially help:

• Improve joint health

• Soothe digestive discomfort

• Lower cholesterol levels

• Prevent cancer

• Improve liver function

2. American Ginseng

Active Compounds: Ginsenosides

American ginseng, a revered herb in traditional Chinese medicine, holds a special place among adaptogens due to its revitalizing effects. Often referred to as an "energy tonic," American ginseng is believed to enhance the body's resilience to stress while supporting physical endurance and mental clarity.

3. Black Pepper

Active Compound: Piperine

While commonly recognized as a culinary spice, black pepper also boasts adaptogenic qualities that complement other herbs. Its active compound, piperine, is known to enhance the absorption of various nutrients, making it a valuable addition to adaptogenic formulations. By facilitating better nutrient uptake, black pepper supports the body's overall vitality and resilience, aiding in the absorption of adaptogens and other essential compounds.

The Best Adaptogen Supplements

We here at Superfood Reviews have done the research to find out what the best adaptogen supplement for stress relief in the market is. We have graded each choice through a stringent grading based on the following criteria:

Our evaluation criteria:

PROS

• Potent formulation with 250mg of industry-leading Curcugen™ turmeric extract

• Contains complementary ingredients such as BioPerine® and also Ginseng extract

• Made in an FDA and HACCP certified facility in Taiwan

• No unnecessary additives or fillers 30-day risk free satisfaction guarantee

• Highly rated for customer experience

• Free express delivery on all local orders

CONS

• Only available online

• Regularly out of stock due to high demand

BOTTOMLINE

When life gets overwhelming, finding ways to calm stress becomes really important.

The Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice by The Purest Co serves as a potent stress-busting duo, utilizing Turmeric's curcumin and Ginseng's energy-boosting properties to offer effective stress relief.

One of the standout features of Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice is its inclusion of BioPerine®, a black pepper extract known for its role in enhancing nutrient absorption. By incorporating BioPerine®, this supplement maximizes the bioavailability of its key ingredients by up to 2000%.

*Results are based on Superfood Reviews system and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

2. Cytoplan

PROS

• 500mg of Turmeric Extract per serving

• Well-respected UK manufacturer

• Widely available

• With Longvida Optimised Curcumin®

• Suitable for vegetarians and vegans

• Contains ginger root

• Made in the United Kingdom

CONS

• Contains maltodextrin and soy

• No black pepper

BOTTOMLINE Cell Active Circumin Plus by Cytoplan is a quality option from a well-established and popular manufacturer.

This is a high strength formula with 500mg of branded Longvida Optimised Curcumin® per serving which the manufacturer claims is "up to 285 times more bioavailable" and has some promising reviews.

The vegan-friendly formula also includes ginger root extract - however the omission of black pepper was quite surprising - and we also noticed that the formula contains both soy and maltodextrin and so it may be unsuitable for some people.

Overall though, this is a good quality product that found favour with our readers and is also made in the United Kingdom to GMP standards - just like our top choice.

*Results are based on the Superfood Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

3. Higher Nature

PROS

• 500mg of 95% Turmeric Extract per serving

• Well-established retailer of 25 years

• Widely available

• No artificial flavours or preservatives

• Free from added sugars and non-GMO.

• Made in the United Kingdom

CONS

• No complimentary ingredients

• Powders aren’t great with absorption rates

BOTTOMLINE

Higher Nature has been in the supplements business for more than 25 years and has firmly-established itself as one of the UK's most well-respected supplement manufacturers.

This product is widely available, non-GMO and free from unnecessary ingredients and fillers.

The formula is clean and potent - containing both 95% extract and as well as Turmeric powder (although as previously mentioned it's the 95% extract that's going to offer the real benefits here). We would have ideally liked to see some of the powder sacrificed in exchange for more of the highly potent 95% extract instead.

However, we were concerned by Higher Nature's limited returns policy which only offers you a refund if you return your items back to them unopened and unused.

*Results are based on the Superfood Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

4. Vitabiotics

PROS

• 525mg of Turmeric extract per tablet

• From the UK's largest manufacturer

• Provides 210mg of circuminoids

• With Black Pepper and Vitamin D

• Suitable for vegetarians and vegetarians

• No artificial colours or preservatives

• Pricing is reasonable

• Good if you find capsules difficult to swallow

CONS

• Tablets generally aren't as bioavailable

• No discounts for multiple purchases

• Mixed reports of effectiveness

• No money back guarantee

BOTTOMLINE

Coming in at number 4 in our list is Ultra Turmeric by Vitabiotics which is a popular offering from the UK's largest vitamins and supplement manufacturer that is widely available on the high street.

The vegan-friendly formula delivers 525mg of Turmeric Extract in the form of tablets rather than capsules (which some people may prefer if you have difficulty swallowing capsules). It also contains decent doses of black pepper to help with absorption, as well as Vitamin D to support your immune system.

On the downside, tablets aren't usually as bioavailable as capsules and because Turmeric has relatively low bioavailability already, we think you might be better off with a capsule-based product in terms of effectiveness.

It's also worth noting that Vitabiotics doesn't appear to offer a money back guarantee so you won't be protected if things don't work out as you expected.

*Results are based on the Superfood Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

5. Nature's Truth

PROS

• Peach-flavoured gummy vitamins

• Impressive taste

• 450mg of Turmeric Extract per serving

• Contains ginger root

• Suitable for vegans and vegetarians

• Well-established manufacturer

CONS

• 3 gummies per serving.

• Lower dosage of Turmeric Extract

• Contains sugar, fructose and additives

• No multiple bottle discounts

BOTTOMLINE

Turmeric Curcumin & Ginger Gummies by Nature's Truth come with a real novelty factor - delivering their turmeric 95% extract in the form of peach-flavoured gummies that proved to be a real hit with our readers for their taste.

Each serving of 3 gummies provides 450mg of Turmeric Extract as well as 75mg of ginger root. While the unique gummy format will be popular with some, it does unfortunately also make the product unavoidably quite high in sugar content and additives so it's definitely not the cleanest way to get your daily dose of Turmeric if that's something that matters to you.

The amount of Turmeric Extract per serving is also lower than some of its competitors(especially as each serving is 3 gummies rather than 2) and there are also no discounts for multiple bottle purchases so if you plan on taking this long-term it may start to get quite expensive.

*Results are based on the Superfood Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

Best Product Overall

The Best Supplement for Stress Relief: The Purest Co.

With ample research and testing, the Superfood Reviews conclude that the Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice from The Purest Co is the number one choice in the market today. While there are a number of cheaper options, we feel that because of the more effective liquid form paired with a generous amount of turmeric & its complimentary ingredients, the turmeric drink deserves the top spot.

The Purest Co's Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice is of high quality, made with premium and natural ingredients, and the only concentrated turmeric drink available today. On top of all that, its effectiveness and positive reviews about joint pain & inflammation relief, assures you that you're getting your money's worth.