The bridge between stress and immunity

A strong immune system that protects the body from invasion by foreign pathogens is critical to maintaining good health and well-being. Because of this, products that boost immune health are in increasing demand by consumers. A recent SPINS Inc. survey found that consumers spend over $10 million each year on products marketed specifically toward support of the immune system with sales increasing 15% annually. This makes it one of the fastest growing categories for dietary supplements. Yet most of these products overlook one of the most important factors that can negatively impact components of the immune system and increase the risk of getting sick…stress.

In fact, scientific research has proven that a person’s risk of getting sick is highly correlated with their stress level and that stress exacerbates symptoms of colds and flu. Chronic stress inhibits the body’s white blood cells, including neutrophils,monocytes, and lymphocytes such as T cells, B cells, and Natural Killer (NK)cells, and negatively impacts levels of cytokines (chemical messengers that are a key component of the immune system). Stress also reduces antibody levels which are produced by B cells. These negative effects of stress on immunity are also compounded by the aging process because the immune system in older adults is less resilient than in younger people.

The deleterious effects of stress on immunity are mediated by the stress hormone, cortisol, which is the end product in the body’s physiological response to stress that involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, sometimes called the “stress circuit”. When stressed, the body responds by releasing corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus. CRH travels to and stimulates the pituitary gland, which results in the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)into the blood stream. ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys,to release cortisol, which has wide-ranging effects in carrying out the stress response, including suppression of the immune system.
A New Dimension in Immune Wellness because increasing resistance to stress and reducing cortisol levels are integral to maintaining a strong immune system for optimum health, the next generation of immune support ingredients should be multi-functional, containing both an immune modulating component and a stress and cortisol reducing component.

WellBody 365™, which is marketed by Nutragenesis, sets a new standard in this category because it exhibits each of these comprehensive properties.*

WellBody 365™ combines the power of a clinically tested, multi-patented immunomodulating Maitake mushroom extract with an advanced, multi-patented, adaptogenic botanical extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).*

This botanical extract is clinically proven to decrease stress and promote a calmer, more relaxed state of mind through a reduction in cortisol levels.*