Ethical Naturals Points to Stress Awareness Month with Focus on Clinically Studied AlphaWave® for Stress-relief and Mental Focus

Studies Report a New Understanding of the Stress Hormone Cortisol

Redwood City, California (April 10, 2025) – As consumers continue to report heightened stress levels, it’s no surprise that health care centers across the U.S. are trying to raise awareness about the impact of stress and promote healthy coping strategies for April as National Stress Awareness Month.

Ethical Naturals Inc. (ENI), makers of AlphaWave® L-Theanine, a leading  clinically supported stress-relief ingredient, is using this month to call attention to how AlphaWave® can lower levels of cortisol and reduce the negative impact of this stress hormone on multiple aspects of health.

“It’s understood that reducing salivary cortisol levels is an important step people can take to protect themselves from the impact of stress,” said Cal Bewicke, CEO of ENI. “This April, as National Stress Awareness Month highlights the importance of reducing  stress, is an appropriate time to point out that reduction of salivary cortisol was one of the beneficial results noted in one of the clinical studies on AlphaWave®.” 

A current publication from National Institute of Health makes the comment that National Stress Awareness month ‘this year coincides with a very challenging time in our country’.1 The American Psychological Association reports stress levels of 70 – 75% in adults in their most recent (2024) report2. Data from the analytics firm SPATE states that public awareness of a core stress hormone cortisol has surged by over 300% in the past year3.

Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress, playing a crucial role in regulating metabolism, blood sugar levels, and the immune response. While it’s essential for survival, chronic elevation of cortisol can lead to a variety of health issues.

  1. Mental Health Effects: Elevated cortisol is linked to anxiety, depression, and memory problems. Chronic stress in known to impair brain function and increase the risk of mental health disorders.
  2. Weight Gain and Metabolic Issues: High cortisol often leads to increased abdominal fat, insulin resistance, and a higher risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
  3. Cardiovascular Problems: Excess cortisol can raise blood pressure, contributing to heart disease and stroke.
  4. Weakened Immune System: Chronic stress suppresses the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections and illnesses.
  5. Bone and Muscle Loss: High cortisol levels can reduce bone density and muscle mass, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and frailty.
  6. Digestive Issues: Cortisol impacts digestion and can exacerbate conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or acid reflux.
  7. Hormonal Imbalances: It can interfere with reproductive hormones, leading to irregular menstrual cycles, fertility issues, and low libido.
  8. Poor Sleep: Elevated cortisol disrupts the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, leading to insomnia and fatigue.

A study on AlphaWave found there was a significantly greater decrease in salivary cortisol at 1 h post-dose and following the MAT test, when participants were administered a single dose of AlphaWave® l-Theanine as compared to placebo4. A further published study supported safety and efficacy of the ingredient5.

Supported by clinical studies and growing popularity with consumers, AlphaWave L-Theanine has been a key ingredient of choice for many supplement and beverage brands over the past decade as formulators develop products to meet the high demand for stress-relief supplements. AlphaWaveL-Theanine is GRAS Affirmed in the US and is the only source of L-Theanine to be approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Widely used in supplements, AlphaWave is also ideal for beverage use as it is fully water soluble and stable at a wide range of temperatures and pH conditions. AlphaWave is inventoried and supplied though ENI’s NSF certified cGMP facility.