Chronic stress, anxiety and depression can strike anyone at any time. Although it can often be difficult to pinpoint why you might be feeling that way, these feelings can often be triggered by a traumatic or stressful event, such as the loss of a loved one or even just a stressful period at work. 

However, physical stress on your body can have as much of an impact on your wellbeing as psychological stress, so it’s important to manage these levels in order to keep yourself feeling like the happiest, healthiest version of yourself. In addition to traditional therapy and medication, turmeric may be able to boost your mood naturally. But how exactly could turmeric boost your mood and how often do you need to take it?

The best natural remedies for stress

All of us will experience stress of some sort during our lives. From a global pandemic to moving home – it’s hard to avoid stressful situations as you move through life! Chronic stress can also have a huge impact on your overall mood and mental health, and often sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

Physical stress on the body can occur for a number of reasons, including surgery, over-exercising and even dehydration. Although these stressors may not initially affect your mental wellbeing, they all raise the cortisol levels within the body which, over time, can lead to burnout, lowered immunity and symptoms of depression.

Women meditating on her bed in a bright room

So if you’re looking for some ways to reduce those cortisol levels and boost your mood naturally, some remedies for stress include:

  • Gentle exercise (think walking or swimming!)
  • Meditation
  • Journaling
  • Some supplements, such as raw turmeric shots and ashwagandha
  • Aromatherapy
  • Prioritising sleep

Can turmeric help with stress?

Whether it’s physical stress, psychological stress or a combination of the two, it’s important to keep your cortisol levels down as much as possible to avoid any adverse effects. Some studies have shown that curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, may be able to reduce cortisol levels within the body by inhibiting large increases in cortisol production stimulated by the hormone ACTH.

Additionally, chronic stress is thought to contribute to increased levels of inflammation within the body due to the decreased sensitivity to cortisol. However, the good news is that turmeric’s purported anti-inflammatory properties may help to reduce some of this inflammation through regular supplementation, potentially helping to reduce the negative side effects. You may be looking at ways to boost your mood naturally, and turmeric could be just the thing to lift it.

Turmeric for depression

Research has suggested a link between the effects of curcumin and an improvement in brain health and memory retention. Whilst turmeric boasts a number of health benefits, perhaps one of the most interesting is its alleged ability to contribute towards an improvement in symptoms of depression.

man sat with his head in his hands feeling sad

Some studies have suggested a link between certain forms of depression and elevated levels of inflammation, which is why some people are turning to natural remedies such as turmeric to see if it could alleviate some symptoms of depression.

This is because turmeric is said to have incredible anti-inflammatory properties, which could potentially reduce the inflammation associated with major depressive disorder and ultimately have an antidepressant effect. In fact, one study found that curcumin did produce antidepressant-like effects by helping to reduce the inflammatory responses and neuronal abnormalities derived from stress exposure. 

But remember - although these studies look incredibly promising, it’s important to seek medical advice before looking at anything natural that can boost your mood.

Is turmeric good for anxiety?

If there is evidence that turmeric could help to alleviate symptoms of stress and depression, then it probably comes as no surprise that its health benefits might include boosting your mood naturally and relieving some of the symptoms associated with anxiety too.

Decreased levels of serotonin and dopamine can lead to low mood and increase your risk of developing anxiety and depression. However, the effects of curcumin have been linked to increasing serotonin and dopamine levels within the brain!

But is turmeric a mood enhancer? One study showed that just 1 gram of curcumin may have similar effects to Prozac when it comes to improving mood and decreasing anxiety, so it’s certainly worth exploring if you’re looking for a natural anxiety remedy or ways to boost your mood naturally.

If you’re wanting to reap some of the suggested benefits of turmeric  – including the potential reduction in feelings of stress – or want to see if turmeric improves mood, then the best way to consume it is in liquid form, as this increases its bioavailability.

 Explore our range of turmeric shots today to find the perfect one for your lifestyle.

Thomas Robson-Kanu

The Hal Robson-Kanu Guide To Fitness & Nutrition

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