Chronic stress keeps cortisol elevated → anxiety, weight gain, immune suppression, insomnia. Ginger acts as an adaptogen, normalizing excessive cortisol without suppressing normal stress response.
Three Anti-Anxiety Mechanisms
1. HPA Axis Modulation
6-gingerol normalizes hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response → reduced ACTH → less cortisol from adrenals. Adaptogenic: doesn't suppress cortisol, normalizes excess.
2. GABAergic Effect
Ginger potentiates GABA (main inhibitory neurotransmitter) → calming effect without sedation. Same pathway as benzodiazepines, but at physiological dose — no dependence.
3. Neuroinflammation Reduction
Chronic stress activates NF-κB in the brain → neuroinflammation → anxiety. Ginger breaks this cycle: NF-κB ↓ → less amygdala reactivity.
Sugar CAUSES Anxiety
Sugar → glycemic spike → reactive hypoglycemia → adrenergic response (adrenaline + cortisol) → anxiety symptoms. A 33g sugar ginger shot feeds the stress-sugar-stress cycle.
INTI — ginger + curcumin (↑ serotonin + BDNF) with 1.1g sugar. Anti-anxiety without anxiety-causing sugar.
Your calming drink shouldn't spike your cortisol.
