Cortisol and DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) are the 2 primary hormones released by the body when we're stressed.

The normal reaction of the body to stress and anxiety is to produce greater quantities of both cortisol and DHEA. When the stress is gone, the body reduces its output of cortisol and DHEA to resting levels and everything is fine. This is what happens with short episodes of stress. However, when the stress or anxiety is prolonged or constant, the body makes greater amounts of cortisol and less DHEA.

As companies downsize and global competition intensifies, everyone is working longer hours. Technology may have eliminated many tedious, mind-numbing tasks but it has increased workload and the pressure for instant response.Job insecurity and the spectre of unemployment haunts many people. Add events such as divorce, the birth of a child or bereavement, plus the daily pressures of balancing home and work, then its little wonder the figures for stress are so high.

Increased Cotisol and lower DHEA has devastating consequences:

• Cause you to crave carbohydrates excessively especially in the evening
• Make you feel fatigued and exhausted
• Increase cholesterol and triglyceride production ·
• Decrease serotonin levels in your brain leaving you feeling emotionally flat and even feeling depressed.
• Increase the demands for nutrients like B vitamins Calcium and magnesium
• Increase inflammation markers in your immune system which can weaken your body's defenses.
• Lead to weight gain by training your body to become more efficient at storing fat. The weight gain is particularly apparent around the stomach and hips.
• Makes your body more insulin resistant so that the carbs and sugar that you do eat are more likely to be stored as fat.
• Prevent proper rest. If cortisol levels are too high at night, rather than getting the rest and recovery necessary to maintain optimal physical repair and regeneration, the body will be in a catabolic state (high night time cortisol levels inhibit the release of growth hormone necessary to repair and rebuild body tissues). This high cortisol will also have a negative effect on brain function, memory, learning and mood. This is especially true if this condition is ongoing.

Not all of these effects of high cortisol and low DHEA occur in everyone. What does happen in each individual is dependent upon genetic predisposition and lifestyle/environmental factors. But stress will cause some reaction in everyone, no one is immune to the effects of stress.

Relora has been shown to support normal, healthy levels of cortisol and DHE. Studies carried out in the U.S measured cortisol and DHEA levels in patients with mild to moderate general stress.
A two-week regimen of Relora® caused a 227% increase in salivary DHEA and a 37% decrease in salivary Cortisol levels.