Strength. Agility. Endurance. Athletes go to great lengths to build up these and other skills.

"The athlete is always bordering on the edge of optimum training and over-training," said Larry Mayol, CEO of Star Care Inc., a sports training and rehabilitation center in Largo, Fla., and former New York Mets head athletic trainer. "The elite athlete is under high amounts of stress with a need for proper recovery to perform at their next event or training session."

As a result of such stresses, an athlete's body may produce high levels of cortisol. This steroid hormone is naturally secreted throughout the body, but high amounts of stress have been shown to raise cortisol levels. For athletes, elevated cortisol levels can inhibit performance, endurance and recovery time.

There is relief for stressed athletes, however. Studies show that some all-natural products, such as Vital StressX, can help athletes better cope with the effects of stress.

Vital StressX, available from CyberWize.com, contains a combination of seven herbs, known as adaptogens, that has proven to control cortisol levels. Experts at CyberWize.com say these adaptogens help your body adapt to stressful conditions, boost energy and endurance, promote heart health, sharpen memory and alertness, supercharge immune power and help fend off and repair damage to your body's cells.

According to CyberWize.com, adaptogens were first introduced by the Russian Academy of Sciences nearly half a century ago. Russian scientists developed this herb blend to help cosmonauts and high-performance athletes manage the effects of stress. Decades later, elite athletes continue to rely on the benefits of the adaptogens found in StressX.

"Athletes that I've treated who take Vital StressX have reported improved focus, quicker recovery between workouts, increased energy and stamina, and minimal jet lag when crossing multiple time zones," Mayol said.