Mood Enhancing Formula

Promotes natural stress relief

• Natural ingredients to support relaxation
• Contains important nutrients depleted during stressful situation
• Promotes relaxation without drowsiness
• Helps the body deal with and recover from stress
• Contains no Kava Kava

Do you have stress in your life?

Your health not only depends on what you eat, but also on what is eating you. Everyday most of us are forced to deal with stress. In ordinary times a missed appointment, and argument, traffic jam, or a crying baby may make us feel irritable and tense. In these troubled times, we must not only deal with ordinary stressors but also with the possibility of terrorist activities that may threaten our lives and well-being.

Stress is epidemic. It has been referred to as the 20th Century disease. In today's busy and stressful lifestyle, people often feel 'blue', anxious and stressed out. Many find relief in drugs, such as Prozac and Valium or resort to alcohol. The phychopharmaceutical market rakes in billions of dollars a year on the sales of tranquilizers, anti-depressants, barbiturates, amphetamines, and other psychoactive drugs. Frequently, these drugs are more dangerous than the disease they are designed to treat. Many antidepressants are addictive, impair mental functions, and have undesirable side effects. It is truly unfortunate that so many millions of people suffer from stress related illnesses and excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs. We must learn to control stress in safer, saner, and healthier ways.

Minor symptoms of stress like headaches, stomach aches, mild depression, and anxiety should not be ignored. They are early warning symptoms that you need to reduce or better manage the stress in your life. Prolonged stress is a clear and present danger to your health. Stress also diminishes the quality of life by reducing feelings of pleasure and accomplishment. Camouflaging symptoms of stress with alcohol and drugs may deprive you of the signals you need to act upon to maintain optimal health.

Stress: The Silent Killer

In no other system of the body is the connection between the physical and psychological aspects of our being as apparent as in the nervous system. If left untreated, stress can be a serious health hazard that affects both mental and physical well-being. Continuous and prolonged stress is a major contributing factor either directly or indirectly, to coronary artery disease, cancer, respiratory disorders, accidental injuries, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide; the six leading causes of death in the United States. Stress aggravates other conditions such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, herpes, mental illness, alcoholism, drug abuse, family discord, and violence. In addition, stress may negatively impact the body in many other ways. Stomach problems, ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, acne, hives, frequent colds, mood disorders, impaired memory, twitches, excessive sweating, disturbed sleep, low back pain, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, drug addiction, and excessive gambling may be stress-related disorders. (Stone AA; Broderick JE. Colds and the stress-illness connection: Cohen et al. (1991). Adv Mind Body Med 2001 Winter; 17(1): 41-3 and Vanitallie TB. Stress: a risk factor for serious illness. Metabolism; 51(6 Suppl 1): 40-5, Jun 2002).

What is stress?

The first published medical studies on stress were conducted by Walter B. Cannon in 1896. Cannon used an x-ray like machine called a fluoroscope to study the digestive system of dogs. When the dogs were under stress he noticed that the digestive system did not function properly. Later studies revealed that a hormone, cortisol, is released by the adrenal gland during periods of stress. Cortisol helps provide the nutrients your body needs to manage stress. While cortisol is critical to survival, too much cortisol is a health hazard. Continual stress can have a negative impact on your health.

Stress is a response to a perceived threat -- whether it is physical, psychological, emotional, or imaginary. Some forms of stress may be beneficial, as it acts to motivate people and can help them be more productive. The "fight or flight" response allows us to mobilize energy quickly and either escape from or confront danger. Stress causes the sympathetic nerves to secrete a chemical called norepinephrine, which directly enters the heart, abdominal organs, sweat glands, and pupils. Blood surges to vital organs and muscles, increasing strength and enhancing mental clarity for a few seconds. At the same time, the adrenal glands, in response to signals from the sympathetic nervous system, secrete both epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine into the blood stream, which carries these chemicals to tissues throughout the body.

The adrenal cortex also produces the hormones cortisol and aldosterone to help us withstand stress. Cortisol acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and promotes the conversion of stored sugars and fat into energy. While this chemical response is adaptive and helpful in the short run, long-term elevations can overwhelm the body's restorative capacity, resulting in major health problems. Research now correlates chronically elevated levels of cortisol with blood sugar problems, fat accumulation, compromised immune function, exhaustion, bone loss, heart disease, and memory loss. Chronically elevated cortisol levels can even stop a woman from ovulating and may lead to infertility. Stress may exacerbate PMS symptoms, and contribute to osteoporosis. Persistent and unrelenting stress requires intervention and medical attention.

Stress Reduction

Zero stress is, of course, impossible to achieve. However, you can reduce stress by shortening your exposure - take a break or leave the situation that is causing the stress. Since there are some stressful moments in life that we cannot walk away form, it is imperative to adopt a combination of attitudinal and behavioral changes to manage stress. Managed stress makes life tolerable - mismanaged stress is disastrous to your health and is potentially deadly. There is a far higher probability of dying from a stress related illness than a terrorist bomb. Perhaps, the best advice on the subject of stress was given by the eminent theologian, Reinhold Neibuhr:

"G-D, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. "

Working out stress:

Regular exercise can lower blood pressure commonly associated with stress. Endorphins are anti-stress hormones produced during prolonged, continuous exercise, resulting in a sense of euphoria that has been popularly labeled "runner's high." Scientific research confirms that exercise positively affects mood and helps with depression. (Salmon P., Effects of physical exercise on anxiety, depression, and sensitivity to stress: a unifying theory. Clin Psychol Rev; 21(1): 33-61,Feb 2001).

Physical exercise helps us cope with stress, and physically fit people are better able to handle stress. A healthy person in good physical condition is less prone to negative tension and anxiety, and is better able to handle the enduring problems and frustrations that we are confronted with daily. Walk, swim, cycle, dance, hike, play ball, get up and move around on a regular basis.

Stress management:

• Plan your life so stress does not overwhelm you.
• Stress management strategies include relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, and prayer.
• Take breaks and enjoy some leisure time with people you enjoy.
• Expect some failures and frustrations as part of your life experience.
• Laugh
• Get sufficient rest and adequate sleep.
• Enjoy fresh air, sunlight, and wholesome foods.
• Turn to healthy serotonin-producing foods during times of high stress- preferably complex carbohydrates.

Stress reduces the ability of the body's immune system to function properly, therefore vitamin supplementation is helpful in counteracting the depletion.

A comprehensive approach to good health includes practices that aid in stress management, regular exercise and proper diet. Diet and nutritional supplements provide the building blocks to form a healthier, more vital organism.

Nutrition and diet:

Excessive stress robs the body of nutrients, harms the cardiovascular system, and lowers the effectiveness of the immune system. Good nutrition is an important stress-fighting tool. When our bodies are poorly nourished, the effects of stress are even more pronounced.

Herbs vitamins, and minerals may reduce or even eliminate some of the negative effects that stress can cause. Some herbs are the best treatment for physical ailments, while others work better for psychological problems. Herbs can play a fundamental role in any stress management program. When used within the context of a program that addresses a range of factors, herbs can facilitate a dramatic change in the quality of life experienced by anyone under stress.

Stress can lead to a variety of disorders that can be traced back to poor nutrition. B-vitamins in particular, which help support the nervous system, are often depleted by stress. MD Healthline's Stress FreeT offers a safe, natural, and effective combination of herbs and vitamins that not only replenish depleted vitamins, but also promote a calming effect. In addition to these important vitamins, Stress FreeT addresses the mechanisms of stress through the use of other essential ingredients.

Dosage: Take three capsules daily or as recommended by your health care professional. Not for use by persons under the age of 18 years of age, pregnant or nursing women. This product is hypo-allergenic and contains no yeast, wheat, corn, soy, milk, salt, sugar, starch, artificial colors or artificial flavors.

Stress Free T is manufactured in the United States under exacting health standards and regulations. Each ingredient is tested for purity before it is utilized. Please read About MD Healthline for detailed information on our rigid quality control process and 30 day money back guarantee.

Inositol has been used to help people with anxiety who have panic attacks. Up to 4 grams three times per day has been reported to help control such attacks in one double blind trial. (Benjamin J, Levine J, Fux M, et al. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of inositol treatment for panic disorder. Am J Psychiatry; 152:1084–86, 1995).

Magnesium: When you are chronically stressed, you can become magnesium deficient. The more stressed you are, the greater the loss of magnesium. The lower your magnesium level to begin with, the more reactive to stress you become and the higher your level of adrenalin in stressful situations. Higher adrenalin causes greater loss of magnesium from cells. Administering magnesium as a nutritional supplement breaks this vicious cycle by raising blood magnesium levels and buffering the response to stress, building your resistance. (Kawano Y, Matsuoka H, Takishita S, Omae T. Effects of magnesium supplementation in hypertensive patients. Hypertension; 32:260, 1998).

Betaine HCI: The digestive system often tires and slows down, especially under stress. Hydrochloric acid is depleted and digestive problems result. Hydrochloric acid (from Betaine HCI) activates pepsinogen (a natural gastric enzyme), and facilitates absorption of phosphorus, iron, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B12 to optimize the health and functioning of the digestive system. This formula restores a normal and healthy balance of necessary digestive acids. (Selhub J. Homocysteine metabolism. Annu Rev Nutr; 19:217–46, 1999).

Siberian Ginsing (Eleuthero) is an “adaptogen”. Adaptogens promote stress relief. It is thought to help support adrenal gland function when the body is challenged by stress. (Wagner H, Nörr H, Winterhoff H. Plant adaptogens. Phytom; 1:63–76, 1994).

Valerian has been used for centuries for anxiety and insomnia. Valerian is well known for its sedative qualities and its ability to relax the central nervous system and the smooth muscle groups. Valerian root contains many different compounds, including volatile oils that appear to contribute to the sedating properties of the herb. Central nervous system sedation is regulated by receptors in the brain known as GABA-A receptors. According to test tube studies, valerian may weakly bind to these receptors to exert a sedating action. (Mennini T, Bernasconi P, Bombardelli E, et al. In vitro study on the interaction of extracts and pure compounds from Valeriana officinalis roots with GABA, benzodiazepine and barbiturate receptors. Fitoterapia; 64:291–300, 1993).

Schisandra is another adaptogenic herb that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to improve the ability of the body to respond to stress by promoting energy and alleviate exhaustion caused by stress. Lignans are a main constituent of Schisandra; these compounds are a concentrated component of the seeds of the Schisandra berry. Lignans appear to stimulate the immune system, protect the liver, increase the body’s ability to cope with stress, and may cause a mild sedative effect. (Li XY. Bioactivity of neolignans from fructus Schizandrae. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz; 86 Suppl 2:31-7, 1991).

Chamomile is widely used for relaxation. The flowers of chamomile contain the flavonoids, apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin. Apigenin may be responsible for chamomile's anti-anxiety and sedative effects, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. (Viola, H., et al., "Apigenin, a component of Matricaria recutita flowers, is a central benzodiazepine receptors-ligand with anxiolytic effects," Planta Medica, 61(3): 213-16, 1995).

Dosage: Take three capsules daily or as recommended by your health care professional. Not for use by persons under the age of 18 years of age, pregnant or nursing women. This product is hypo-allergenic and contains no yeast, wheat, corn, soy, milk, salt, sugar, starch, artificial colors or artificial flavors.

Stress Free ™ contains a synergistic combination of herbs, vitamins, and minerals that work together to relieve stress and lift your spirit without affecting your mental clarity and without side effects.

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