Did you know that some degree of stress is actually beneficial? It keeps us safe and even motivates us at times. To manage healthy levels of stress, the human body is equipped with two primary stress response systems: One that acts quickly, the Sympathetic-Adreno-Medullar System (SAM), and a slower response system, the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal System (HPA axis), which is responsible for releasing the stress response hormone cortisol, among other functions. The goal of both systems is to dial stress up and then back down to calm and balance when the inciting incident subsides — but when chronic levels of stress remain with us, it can lead to some adverse effects.
If not adequately managed, constant stress can lead to problems in immune and brain function, skin and gut health, sleep, and even severe mood disorders and reproductive challenges. Stress support supplements are a safe and fast way to trigger your body’s natural process of de-stressing and support your body’s HPA-Axis. Some supplements offer immediate relief, while others replenish and support the stress support systems over the long term. In either case, these supplements can help to reduce anxiety symptoms, lower or balance cortisol levels, and help you restore sleep. They can even facilitate resiliency to stress, which is essential to managing the exposures we know we cannot avoid (aka life!).
Although cortisol plays an essential role in the stress response — controlling mood, motivation, and fear — too much or too little is no good. Spikes in cortisol due to chronic stress cause weight gain, tension headaches, joint pain, and even fibromyalgia. So, balancing cortisol is extremely important. Adaptogens — compounds that increase a person’s ability to resist, adapt, or become resilient in nonspecific ways to any type of stressor — are a popular way of managing the cortisol response. In addition, many stress supplements provide vitamins and nutrients to help with mood and cellular processes. Here are some ingredients to look for in a quality and effective stress support supplement:
Our editors have taken, researched, and corresponded with the top clean supplement brands on the market. For this list, we’ve rounded up our favorite supplements to support you when stress is high. We regularly update this list with new options that meet the below criteria.
If you’re hoping to further support your wellbeing, check out our guide to women’s multivitamins and immune support.
1% for the planet American made B corp Climate neutral Dairy free Eco friendly packaging Gluten free Science backed Soy free Subscriptions available Third party tested Woman owned
Best For | General women’s health,including before & after pregnancy
Functional Ingredients | Sensoril® Ashwagandha, Affron® Saffron, shatavari, holy basil, rhodiola
Prices Starting At | As low as $40/month
Needed Stress Support tops our list for the best stress relief supplements – and for good reason. Thousands of women joined the waitlist for its recent restock, and it’s easy to see why. This supplement contains clinically studied ingredients like Sensoril® Ashwagandha and Affron® Saffron to support healthy cortisol levels, emotional well-being, and relaxation. Most solutions focus on helping women cope with stress instead of addressing what’s happening at the physiological level, but the ingredients in Needed Stress Support work with your body’s natural stress response to help you feel calm, supported, and resilient through the everyday demands of life. We love that it’s clean, third-party tested for purity, and made without artificial colors or unnecessary fillers. (P.S. If you’re in need of improving your sleep quality, Needed’s Stress + Sleep Support Plan can help support optimal sleep and relaxation, too!)
Customer Review | “I notice such a difference in mood and stress levels by taking these daily. I just had my fourth child and my postpartum has been notably better. I believe these make the difference.”– Caitlin C.
Subscriptions available Third party tested Vegan
Best For | All-day support
Functional Ingredients | Ashwagandha, L-theanine, saffron
Prices Starting At | $54 for one month’s supply
The strategic and patented time-release capsule design of Ritual’s Stress Relief has us hooked. Stress Relief soothes the HPA-axis, balancing cortisol levels over the course of eight hours, providing all day support. And since cortisol is not all bad, Stress Relief ensures it’s present when needed and dials back when not. Ritual recommends this supplement be taken first thing in the morning when cortisol tends to peak. Stress Relief is effective thanks to L-theanine for an immediate, non-drowsy sense of calm, and continues to work as Ashwagandha reduces overall stress, and the saffron facilitates an upbeat, happy mood. All Ritual products are backed by a scientific advisory board composed of medical doctors, nutritionists, and scientists. Ritual products are “Made Traceable,” – meaning they are transparent about the supplier, ingredient source, and final place of manufacture.
American made Budget friendly Dairy free Soy free Third party tested USDA organic Vegan
Best For | Supporting healthy cortisol response
Functional Ingredients | Shatavari, ashwagandha, amla berry, rhodiola
Prices Starting At | $25 for one month’s supply
Meet your new daily dose of calm. Quince’s Certified Organic Daily Stress Support supplement blends four powerhouse adaptogens — shatavari, ashwagandha, amla, and rhodiola — to help your body handle stress while boosting mood, focus, and energy. Think of it as balance in a bottle: Shatavari supports resilience and hormonal harmony, ashwagandha promotes calm and clarity, amla delivers antioxidants for immune health, and rhodiola gives you that extra mental edge when life gets overwhelming. Free from fillers, allergens, GMOs, and third-party tested, just two capsules a day will have you ready to take on whatever comes your way.
Customer Review | “I can’t believe how well this has worked for me, I am always hesitant about buying expensive supplements because they might not work. I was very surprised how well this has changed my mood even in the first full week I felt my self feeling more relaxed and focused!” – Kara
American made Budget friendly Dairy free Gluten free Third party tested Vegan
Best For | Probiotic with stress support
Functional Ingredients| Three main ingredients including l. paracasei (to help with stress response)
Prices Starting At | $45 for one month supply (discount with subscription)
FullWell’s new Women’s Daily Probiotic includes beneficial strains that help promote a normal stress response, digestive health, and vaginal health. It’s the only probiotic designed to support women through every age and stage, including pregnancy and breastfeeding. We love that each capsule contains three types of clinically effective bacteria with 32 billion colony-forming units (CFU) and that it works to support stress resilience. How’s that for two birds with one stone!? For new customers, use code FULLWELL20 for 20% OFF.
