Are you one of the 47% of adults who have experienced feelings of occasional stress or 39% who say they’ve experienced occasional anxiousness in the last year?[1] Between the economy, climate change, worrying about your kids, burnout at work… there are a lot of reasons to feel stressed from time to time, and occasional stress and anxiety are normal.
In fact, not all stress is bad. The body’s stress response — aka your “fight or flight” response — is essential to your survival. However, repeated exposure to occasional stress can contribute to long-term health outcomes that may negatively affect mental health, immune health, digestive health, cardiovascular health, cognitive function and microbiome balance.
Stress can also have a major impact on your endocrine system. When cortisol — a hormone responsible for the body’s stress response and circadian rhythm — increases, it affects several of your body’s other hormones, including female sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone, neurohormones like dopamine and serotonin, insulin, thyroid hormones and more.
8 Ways Stress Can Manifest In the Body
While most of us know what occasional stress feels like, it’s not so easy to know what it looks like. So, what sneaky ways is your body telling you excess cortisol might be affecting your health?
- Trouble sleeping
- Occasional digestive upset
- Brain fog
- Mid-section fat gain + food cravings
- Low libido
- Increasingly visible wrinkles
- Getting sick more often
- Muscle tension
Trouble Sleeping
What’s happening in your body…
You’re likely familiar with the term “circadian rhythm” but what exactly is it? In a nutshell, cortisol helps you wake up in the morning, while its counterpart, melatonin, helps you fall asleep at night, adhering to a 24-hour sleep/wake cycle.
When cortisol increases due to occasional stress, melatonin decreases, which can make it hard to catch those ZZ’s. And your circadian rhythm impacts more than just sleep. It’s the master clock for other biological clocks (think menstrual cycle, metabolism, body temperature, etc.).
How to de-stress for sleep health…
The Sleep Foundation recommends these 10 tips for a nighttime routine that helps your brain shift into sleep mode:[2]
- Digitally detox at least an hour before bed — blue light from electronics disrupts melatonin
- Listen to calm music or ambient sounds like white noise
- Turn down the thermostat to 65-68 degrees Fahrenheit
- Try aromatherapy with a calming scent like lavender
- Journal or write a to-do list for the morning
- Practice meditation or yin yoga
- Try to adhere to a set bedtime
- Take a warm bath
- Read a book
- Sip herbal tea
For additional support, try a sleep aid like Modere Sleep Health, formulated with melatonin, neurotransmitter GABA and the amino acid L-theanine. If mild and occasional night sweats are to blame for keeping you awake in perimenopause, try Modere Ova-m. This hormone-free and soy isoflavone-free supplement for menopausal women contains ingredients shown to improve night sweats and support sleep health, along with improving other normal menopausal symptoms.*
Occasional Digestive Upset
What’s happening in your body…
With more and more scientific evidence supporting the impact of the gut-brain axis on overall wellness, it’s really no surprise that occasional stress affects digestion. After all, who hasn’t had butterflies or occasional nausea when feeling worried or anxious? So, if you’re experiencing occasional digestive upset (and last night’s nachos are ruled out), it could be stress related and a sign your microbiome is out of balance.
Comprised of an estimated 38 trillion microorganisms, your microbiome is touted as your master switch to wellness. And while it lives in and on virtually every inch of your body, it’s most densely populated in the gut. What’s more, your gut microbiome is responsible for the majority of the body’s dopamine and serotonin production, which directly impact brain health and mood.
How to de-stress for gut health…
There are many probiotic strains available that help support a healthy gut microbiome, but not all strains of bacteria are shown to be as effective at supporting stress response and brain health.
NeuroFlora™ Probiotic Complex in Modere Axis™ TreBiotic delivers L. plantarum DR7, L. brevis and P. acidilactici, specifically paired for their ability to support both the gut and the brain. Plus, Axis TreBiotic is formulated with GOS Prebiotic (a preferred food source for good gut bacteria) and EpiCor® GI+ Postbiotic, which helps support a healthy gut lining for optimal nutrient absorption.*
If you’re experiencing occasional digestive upset related to your menstrual cycle, pairing Axis TreBiotic with Modere Ova™ can offer comprehensive support. Ova syncs to your cycle and delivers ingredients shown to help relieve mild abdominal cramps and bloating, plus supports mood, improves feelings of wellbeing and helps reduce occasional stress. Shop these two products together in the Ova Balanced Body System and save $12.99.*
Brain Fog
What’s happening in your body…
Women often associate brain fog with “period brain,” and it’s true — hormonal changes play a big role in cognitive health, whether its fluctuating hormones and nutrients throughout your menstrual cycle or declining estrogen levels in perimenopause and menopause. However, one of the most common culprits of brain fog is occasional stress and anxiousness. Heightened cortisol, adrenaline or norepinephrine levels can literally exhaust the brain and make it difficult to focus.
How to de-stress for cognitive health…
When you feel brain fog sneak up, it’s a sign to take action. Deep breathing exercises, a walk to clear your head, yoga or meditation are all great ways to help you feel centered and refocused, but if you’re looking for additional support, try science-backed nootropics.
Nootropics promote cognitive function to help enhance mental performance and improve memory, concentration and creativity. They work by facilitating the transmission of information in the brain by improving blood flow to the brain, aiding in normal inflammatory response, supporting neurotransmitter levels and even helping to tune your brain waves.[3]
Our favorite nootropics are found in Modere GO, packaged in convenient on-the-go packets you mix with water for an energizing brain boost. Each packet delivers 8 nootropics like bacopa, ginkgo and shatavari paired with vitamins and minerals to increase the brain’s alpha waves for a Zen-like state of concentration.*
And if you find that your brain fog flares up around your period or in perimenopause, a daily supplement for female health like Modere Ova™ or Modere Ova™-m provides intuitive nutritional support. Choose Ova-m if you’re experiencing normal symptoms of perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause. Otherwise, choose Ova, which features 3 proprietary formulas for targeted support during your period, pre-ovulation and post-ovulation.*
Mid-Section Fat Gain + Food Cravings
What’s happening in your body…
Curious about the connection between cortisol and body composition? If your circadian rhythm is disrupted, it can also affect your metabolism including your hunger cycle, how quickly your body processes the food you eat and where your body stores excess calories. What’s more, cortisol and inflammatory response are linked, and your inflammatory response plays a key role in gut barrier integrity and gut microbiome balance.
Good, gram-positive gut bacteria are health magnets. They thrive on nutritious, fiber-rich food like fruits and vegetables. But when your microbiome balance is disrupted and gram-negative bacteria increase, these microorganisms seek out refined carbs and sugar. In other words, stress eating is a scientific fact — when occasional stress affects your microbiome, it can literally change your food cravings!
How to de-stress for healthy weight management…
If your pants are fitting tighter than usual or you find you can’t resist late-night cookie cravings, it could be signal that you need to find ways to reduce occasional stress, get more sleep and address your digestive health. Emerging research suggests two of the most effective relaxation techniques for stress reduction and weight loss are deep breathing exercises and meditation.[4]
To help you get rid of any inches you may have already gained, nothing works quite like Modere Lean Body System. First, Activate 3-day cleanse helps detox your digestive tract. Meanwhile, Burn thermogenic turns up your metabolism and fat-burning power, while award-winning Trim delivers CLA + Collagen/HA Matrix® Technology may help shrink fat cells, improve muscle tone and even support skin and joints.*
Low Libido
What’s happening in your body…
Fact: Feeling stressed kills your libido. Increases in cortisol are proven to lower sexual hormones testosterone and estradiol in women, resulting in reduced desire and less pleasure. Plus, daily stressors are shown to have a greater impact on libido than major stress events like a death or divorce.[5]
How to de-stress for libido…
Unfortunately, daily stressors are often unavoidable — but that’s where adaptogens come in. Studied for their ability to help the body self-regulate so it can better adapt to occasional stress (get it, adapt-ogens), these natural ingredients range from common ginseng and certain mushrooms to lesser-known plants like ashwagandha, holy basil and schisandra.
You can find several of these scientifically studied adaptogens in Modere Axis™ OptiPack — a daily vitamin and supplement pack biologically integrated to support your body’s major systems. Not only does OptiPack deliver daily nutrition critical to overall wellness, but its adaptogen formula is shown to help reduce both oxidative stress and occasional stress.*
If your libido needs an extra boost, or if vaginal dryness is an issue, pair OptiPack with Modere Ova™–m with Estro-OS™ Complex, shown to support libido and improve vaginal dryness better than soy isoflavones.† Ova-m also contains ingredients to help support mood and reduce oxidative stress.*
Increasingly visible wrinkles
What’s happening in your body…
Most women are aware of the stress-skin connection, but few know the science behind it. Studies show cortisol levels directly impact the skin’s ability to produce collagen and elastin, key elements in plump, youthful-looking skin.[6] Changes in hormone levels and micronutrient levels throughout your cycle also affect skin’s appearance, as estrogen and collagen are linked. Plus, cortisol affects the body’s inflammatory response, which can show up in your complexion in the form of uneven skin tone or texture and skin congestion.
Environmental stressors also contribute significantly to visible signs of premature aging. UV exposure, urban pollutants, harsh skincare products and the elements can all cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals disrupt your skin’s natural moisture barrier and microbiome.
How to de-stress for healthy looking skin…
One tried-and-true method to replace lost collagen is by supplementing with multi-patented, award-winning Liquid BioCell®. Its type II hydrolyzed collagen micromolecules, together in a single-source matrix with hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, are shown to improve skin’s hydration, firmness and elasticity, reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles and fine lines, and may even reduce hyaluronidase — an enzyme that contributes to skin aging.*
What’s more, Liquid BioCell is also shown to support joint health — great news if you rely on exercise as your go-to stress buster. In fact, exercise is one of the best ways to de-stress for healthy looking skin. Not only does it clear your head, it also helps promote circulation and detoxification by increasing blood flow and helping the body sweat out toxins.*
To help defend against environmental stressors, support your complexion topically with Modere CellProof skincare. Formulated with cosmetic-grade Liquid BioCell in the form of BioCell Collagen® CG, plus potent botanicals like antioxidant astaxanthin, CellProof is ideal for all skin types and delivers visible results in as little as 5 minutes.‡
Getting Sick More Often
What’s happening in your body…
Would it surprise you to learn occasional stress can, in fact, boost your immune system? It’s true! However, when all those little stressors add up, it can result in heightened suppressor T cell levels that suppress the immune system. What’s more, it can trigger the body to release more histamine — which impacts your inflammatory response — and can influence insulin, stomach acid and cardiovascular health.[7]
How to de-stress for immune health…
If you’re noticing you’re taking more sick days and/or experiencing longer recovery times, managing stress levels is key to maintaining optimal immune function. Sufficient sleep, regular exercise, eating healthy, staying hydrated and meditating are the top 5 ways to keep stress levels low and immune function high.
If you need further support, Modere offers several clean label solutions:
- Liquid BioCell® Immune delivers joint + skin benefits with its award-winning, multi-patented Collagen/HA Matrix® Technology, plus it offers immune + respiratory support with Modere TriPlex Immune Complex™, featuring 13 superfoods, elderberry and zinc.*
- Modere Immune Health helps support your body’s natural immunity, antioxidant capacity, respiratory + circulatory health with 8 potent herbs including echinacea, hawthorn berry, thyme leaf, Asian ginseng and more.*
- Modere D3 boosts immune function + promotes cardiovascular health with 125 mcg of highly bioavailable, high potency D3 in chewable, easy-to-take dots.*
- Modere Axis™ TreBiotic is key to supporting immune health because 70% of your immune system lives in your gut. Not only does Axis TreBiotic deliver 3 strains of highly studied probiotic bacteria to support gut health, it’s also formulated with GOS prebiotic and EpiCor® GI+ postbiotic, backed by 15 scientific studies for its immune benefits and ability to help reinforce a strong gut lining.*
Muscle Tension
What’s happening in your body…
When occasional stress triggers your “fight or flight” mode, the brain signals the nervous system to tighten up your muscles and get ready for action. Over time, this can lead to knots and muscle tension that causes occasional discomfort and can even inhibit your ability to perform physical activities you love, like working out or playing with your kids. Plus, lingering tension can make it difficult to sleep, which disrupts your circadian rhythm, which affects your metabolism, which causes weight gain, which creates more stress on muscles and joints…
How to de-stress for muscle and joint health…
It may seem counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to reduce muscle tension is to move! Because your muscles are tight and bracing for action, physical exercise can help dissipate the energy so your body can relax. Yoga and stretching are also great ways to de-stress for muscle and joint health.
For additional support, Liquid BioCell® Sport is shown to support comfortable joints and promote healthy tendons, joints, muscles and ligaments. In addition to its Bio-Optimized™ Collagen/HA Matrix®, the Liquid BioCell Sport formula provides BCAAs, L-carnitine and 9 superfoods that stimulate muscle cell recovery.*
Another great option is Modere Recover, which reduces lactic acid buildup and muscle soreness after exercise and bolsters hydration to fight muscle cramping.* Each single-serve packet features a scientifically formulated blend of minerals and phytonutrients, including l-glutamine and essential electrolytes, plus natural cranberry citrus flavor. Mix it with water for post-workout support or anytime your muscles feel tight.*
So, the next time you’re wondering, “Is it stress?”, look to your body for these 8 signs. Occasional stress and anxiousness happen to the best of us, but with the right tools and clean label supplements from Modere, you don’t have to let it affect your health. For more ways to #LiveWell, visit modere.com and be sure to bookmark The Latest blog!
†The ingredients Angelica gigas Nakai, Cynanchum wilfordii and Phlomis umbrosa together are shown to be more effective than soy isoflavones at improving normal menopausal symptoms and vaginal dryness.
‡Modere CellProof Serum, within 5 minutes.
| *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. |
[1] Kantar Profiles/Mintel, October 2022
[2] https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/bedtime-routine-for-adults
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/nootropic
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6296480/
[5] Hamilton LD, Meston CM. Chronic stress and sexual function in women. J Sex Med. 2013 Oct;10(10):2443-54. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12249. Epub 2013 Jul 10. PMID: 23841462; PMCID: PMC4199300.
[6] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/stress-may-be-getting-to-your-skin-but-its-not-a-one-way-street-2021041422334
