10 Best Vitamins for Stress
Life can get overwhelming, and as we lead busier lives than ever before, managing stress is becoming an important and difficult task.
Stress release and maintenance is critical for our well-being and healthy functioning. Stress is created in the adrenal glands, and produce a hormone known as cortisol. Large amounts of stress produce large amounts of cortisol, that can severely damage our health and well-being, leading to disease, auto-immune diseases.
Stress can be exasperated by not having a well-balanced diet. Specific nutrients are known to help alleviate the symptoms of stress.
Specifically, a lack of vitamins may be leading to why you may not be in the best emotional shape, and the fix is quite easy. Just stock up on some vitamin supplements.
The best vitamins for stress are part of the Vitamin family, and each of them plays a specific role in helping the body regulate its nervous system, cell metabolism, and general homeostasis.
When looking at stress relief vitamins, here are the ones worth upping the dose on:
Vitamin Bs
The Vitamin B family is known for being extremely effective in mood and energy regulation. They help boost cognitive performance and many clinical studies have proven its ability to lower stress.
The best part about Vitamin Bs is that they don't need to be naturally monitored in one's diet. Even supplemental intake of Vitamin Bs has been proven to reduce stress and even manage depression.
It's the best vitamin to help promote a sense of ease, calmness, and control over one's stressful moments in life.
So here are the Vitamin B's one should stock up on:
1. Vitamin B1 - Thiamine
Vitamin B1, also known as Thiamine, is found in food such as nuts and seeds, fish, yeast extract, and soybeans.
It's beneficial in mood stabilization, improving one's nervous system, and helping to improve concentration and memory.
2. Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin
Next up to help add a sense of calm to one's life is Vitamin B2. Found in eggs, milk, salmon, and spinach - this one's known to help regulate energy levels and contribute towards fewer mood swings.
It also helps improve metabolization when it comes to fats and carbohydrates.
3. Vitamin B3 - Niacin
Vitamin B3 or Niacin is rich in beetroot, and any liver or kidney dishes. It's helpful in mood regulation, and a deficiency of Vitamin B3 has been linked to more irritability, mood swings, and even contributing to depression.
The vitamin is also great in helping regulate energy throughout the day, partly by helping normalize blood sugar levels.
4. Vitamin B6 - Pyridoxine
Pyridoxine or Vitamin B6 is what forced parents to always encourage kids to ear their bananas while growing up. It's great in neurotransmitter growth and helps with the
production of serotonin. As a result, it can help improve cognitive performance and help with managing stress and anxiety.
The vitamin is also helpful in boosting one's immune system, and it can be ingested through tuna or chickpeas as well, not just bananas!
5. Vitamin B9 - Folic Acid
Folic acid or Vitamin B9 is essential in helping carry out important brain functions. It's what makes the ingestion of Broccoli or Spinach a vital inclusion in one's diet.
The vitamin, as a result, is critical in helping regulate one's mood and ability to stay focused.
6. Vitamin B12 - Cyanocobalamin
Vitamin B12 or Cyanocobalamin is another essential vitamin that's important in cognitive development and functioning. It also helps regulate melatonin and serotonin production - both essential to helping regulate sleep and one's mood.
The vitamin is found in dairy products, fish, and shellfish. Many soy or rice milk products commonly have a healthy dose of it as well.
If it's not clear yet, the various Vitamin Bs can be hugely beneficial in helping with stress relief, managing anxiety, and overall cognitive performance.
Beyond Vitamin Bs, there are a few other Vitamins you should also consider that can help relieve stress and better manage their mental health.
7. Vitamin A
When it comes to stress management, Vitamin A is a great supplement to take.
It's known to be a potent antioxidant that can help boost your immune system and regulate mental health. More specifically, it can help remove free radicals that are causing cellular damage in the body. These free radicals may be creating physiological damage but can manifest in mental ways too as health deteriorates.
Ideally, a vitamin A dosage of 700 to 900 micrograms per day is ideal for an adult. It's possible to get natural Vitamin A through foods such as eggs, baby carrots, and salmon.
