Stress is very detrimental to the mind and body. It's been linked to many chronic illnesses and diseases. For example, it can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, anxiety, weight gain and gut irritability. Cortisol from stress also reduces the body's immune response, dampening its ability to combat common colds, bacteria and other foreign bodies. Stress can also cause insomnia, eating disorders, diabetes and more. It impacts the entire body from your hormones to cells. Those who suffer from chronic stress and heightened cortisol levels will see shorter lifespans, reduced life quality and greater risk of a range of diseases and cardiovascular problems. How can we prevent stress or deal with it when it occurs? Supplements like CBD are one method that can provide support. Many supplements have compounds in them that can help the body and mind fight against stress and its symptoms. Let's take a look at 3 of the best and most useful. Each of these are ideal tools to help your stress management program.

What causes stress?

Stress is a response that your brain automatically produces to deal with threats and dangers in your environment. The brain is a complex machine with many parts. One of these parts located in the ancient reptilian section of the brain is known as the hypothalamus. This component of the brain is responsible for helping the brain and body defend itself and survive in hostile situations. When a threat is encountered like a lion on the savannah, the brain triggers the stress response or ‘fight and flight’. When this occurs, the brain has sensed imminent danger and triggers this response to deal with it. You might escape quickly or fight to survive. The response is typically accompanied by an adrenal response with adrenaline being released into the bloodstream.

Unfortunately for us, our bodies and brains haven’t caught up with the fact we no longer run into lions anymore (unless you’re living in the savannah). In modern society, there are very minimal risks to our physical safety. We rarely ever encounter a life-or-death scenario where we need to escape or fight a true threat. However, the brain can often struggle to distinguish between a real external danger and a stressor that can be the result of negative interactions with other humans, conflicts in relationships, financial stress, emotional stress and more. Each of these issues can trigger the fight or flight response and resultantly cause a chemical known as cortisol to be released in significant quantities. In cases where this becomes a chronic problem, it can affect mental capacity and lead to worse issues like anxiety or panic attacks.

Does CBD oil help with stress?

CBD is great for reducing stress - this comes down to several key reasons. The biggest of these is hemp extract’s interaction with the endocannabinoid system or ECS which is present in all mammals. This system has a broad-reaching effect on many organs of the body as well as the mind, enabling improved homeostasis, balance in the body, mood improvement and stress reduction. It was originally discovered by scientific researchers in the 1980s. It operates through a network of enzyme receptors that are located in almost all of the body’s organs across the nervous system, gut, liver, spleen, brain and even skin. These are known as CB1 and CB2 receptors – triggered by the intake of cannabidiol as well as other cannabinoid compounds. When these nutrients enter the bloodstream and eventually land on and bind with these receptors, the receptors can activate and trigger the release of strong anti-inflammatory endogenous compounds and enzymes which have a great boon of health benefits and outcomes for the cells throughout the body.

As a result of this mechanism, the body can benefit from improved mood, cognition and calmness through reductions in cortisol, enhanced emotional state, better control of appetite and hunger, and potentially even better retention of memories. Cannabinoids in CBD oil bind with the CB2 receptors in our immune system and lymph nodes also, which could help explain its potential to assist with reduced stress. This response is seen with CBD which causes the excretion of endogenous endocannabinoid compounds from the CB1 and CB2 receptors that are then transported via the bloodstream to the cells and tissues of the various organs throughout the body. These enhance the powers of homeostasis and balance of the body’s hormones, assisting in calming the body and mind. It does this by repressing the autonomic arousal process that occurs in the brain which is the initial source of stress. CBD can help to prevent it from activating unnecessarily to reduce our nervousness. It's a property being displayed in both animal and human studies.

How does CBD work on the mind and brain? The exact mechanics are not fully understood. But it is likely through endocannabinoids like anandamide. These are highly anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic. Its thought that these compounds assist with homeostasis, and metabolic balance and work to create calm in the mind. This has been corroborated by thousands of anecdotal reports as well as increasingly by clinical studies. It explains why CBD can assist with stress so well and reduce over production of cortisol with its associated negative health impacts.

Ashwagandha

You might have heard of ashwagandha - it's been used for millennia in the Indian subcontinent and is widely used in traditional medicines like Ayurveda. It is taken from the roots of the ashwagandha plant and typically crushed into a powder form to be consumed either in tea or capsules. Ashwagandha is known as an adaptogen, helping the mind build resilience against stress and cortisol release. Multiple clinical studies have been made on ashwagandha extract. It is been proven against placebo to have both real and perceived reductions in stress and anxiety levels in subjects. A similar study from 2013 on over 1000 patients indicated it also had anxiolytic effects and assisted with managing the stress response (or fight or flight), helping individuals remain calm through stressful scenarios. These effects may mean it also assists with sleep, by assisting the mind in calming down and easing into a rested state similar to CBD. The paralimbic system is responsible for this. Ashwagandha can operate on this system to reduce daily stress levels.

Magnesium

Minerals are critical for the proper functioning of the body and its cells - from muscles to the brain. Many like manganese, zinc and magnesium are important electrolytes that the body can't function without. They're critical in signalling pathways and neuron activity, providing a path for electrons to travel through the nervous system and carry electrical signals which control our motor neurons (used to control limbs and muscles) and brain neurons (responsible for thought and cognition). Interestingly though most people are entirely deficient in Magnesium. In new research in the US from 2020, the author explains how the majority of adults - up to 70% - were not obtaining enough potassium, zinc or magnesium in their daily diet. It is a major concern as magnesium is core to the body's regulation and modulation of the stress response and cortisol. Some foods such as hemp seeds are rich in magnesium.

Excessive physical or mental strain over time can deplete the body's magnesium and other critical electrolytes. They're needed for important neurotransmitters in the brain, supporting cognition and the production of many enzymes and hormones that the body needs each day to function. Many studies are now linking low magnesium and zinc intake to an increased risk of depression, anxiety and mood disorders. It makes sense to supplement magnesium in powdered form - it's very hard to overconsume it and there is no risk of addiction or overdose for excessive amounts. The body will simply flush it out if too much is taken. Sleep is another area magnesium assists with by helping regulate the GABA hormone that is needed to calm the brain, produce melatonin and get to sleep. It is used to help tell the mind when it's time to nod off and for sleep and wake times - all part of circadian functions. Yet while many get some magnesium from their diet, most people are still deficient. It is a key nutrient to be aware of and consider supplementing if you're looking to improve your sleep and manage stress levels.