I want a life without stress. I want to take on the high-octane pace of my working hours and social afterhours cool as a cucumber. And if I had to guess, you also desire a life without stress. But sometimes it seems like no matter how many yoga classes or deep breaths we take — stress always wins, right? The National Institute of Mental Health defines stress as “the brain’s response to any demand.” The physiological process of stress goes like this: a “demand” triggers the amygdala (the emotional center of the brain), which signals the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus then cues the physiological fight-or-flight response, and the stress-hormone cortisol trickles into the bloodstream throughout the body to create physical symptoms like increased heart rate and sensory perception, increased adrenaline, and suppression of other bodily systems like digestion. But again, rewind the tape and we’ll see that stress starts in our mind. And the stress-less support from Brain Food was intensely satisfying.* Ashwagandha, a popular Ayurvedic herb that has been used for thousands of years to help with stress, is a main ingredient in this formula.* As is phosphatidylserine, a phospholipid/fatty acid that’s important for brain cells.* So, I decided to make this yummy-gummy a part of my morning routine: breakfast for my body along with Brain Food for my mind.* That journey is about doing whatever it takes to master our mind, so that the things we once perceived as “super stressful” are just neutral circumstances to be dealt with. Massive tax bill? All good. Spilled a cup of water? No worries here! We can support our mind — whether that’s through daily vitafusion™ Brain Food gummies, breathwork techniques, or meditation (more like, all the above). If I can do it, you can do it! If we can stress together, we can stress less together. Devon’s first book, Earth Women, is coming soon. To learn more, join the mailing list, and receive updates, head to www.devonbarrowwriting.com.