Today’s stress management ingredients boast body-wide benefits

Photo © AdobeStock.com/Annibell82 Melissa Kvidahl Brain Health , Herbs & Botanicals , Trends & Business America may be a diverse place, but there’s one thing we all share: stress. And not the healthy kind, which in small doses can help you tackle a to-do list or reach long-term goals. According to the American Psychological Association’s 2018 Stress in America survey 1 , nearly three-quarters of adults say they have experienced at least one symptom of stress in the past month, and almost half say they lay awake at night due to stress. APA’s survey also found that one in five adults don’t feel they’re doing enough to manage their stress. So while they may look to friends (48%), significant others (44%), or family members (31%) to help manage their woes, it may not be enough. “When stress becomes too much—common signs include the inability to concentrate or complete tasks, body aches, more frequent illnesses, and trouble falling asleep—it may be time to look at remedy alternatives,” says Chase Shryoc, vice president of sales and business development at Gencor (Irvine, CA). And it seems consumers are doing just that. In fact, data from market researcher SPINS show that U.S. dollar sales for mood-support supplements posted double-digit growth over the past year at 18%, to reach $114.5 million. “There is certainly a demand for natural ingredients that can help address the challenges around stress management and relaxation,” agrees Josh Beaty, marketing director at NuLiv Science (Brea, CA). “The anxiety phenomenon is taking an increasing toll on the general population due to the ever-growing demands of the workplace, personal commitments, financial stress, and overall health. When consumers are experiencing overload, they want to alleviate the symptoms.” Alleviating Ingredients Herbs still have a dominant role to play in the relaxation and stress-relief category. […]

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