STRESS

Stress Supplements That Really Work

Stress is your state of mind that responds to a need or demand. Stress can be positive or negative; it can be productive or destructive. Stress has different responses from each person. Some feel pleasant and motivate them, but others may develop into stress symptoms that are mental and physical reactions that last only for a short time. With some people, these become long-lasting problems, like irritability, worry, sleeplessness, headaches, etc. When you’re in a state of stress, your body releases cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream. This response forces the heart rate and breathing to increase while the blood vessels constrict, muscles tighten, the immune system weakens, digestive function is reduced and production of stomach acid can increase. Feeling stressed regularly can deplete your body’s levels of nutrients, leading to damaging many vital organs in your body.

Stress management is a critical skill that we should all strive to develop. But most of us struggle with how to cope when things get hectic and stressful. 

Stress can do more harm than good for our psyche and bodies if left unattended for several months or years. Fortunately, there’s a range of supplements that can help support your body, brain and adrenals in dealing with stress.

When you’re more calm and collected, you’re much less likely to overreact to the inevitable frustrations of life – and far more likely to think clearly and respond appropriately.

If your hectic schedule is causing you too much aggravation, frustration, and irritability, take a deep breath and try nutrition support.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Niacin, otherwise referred to as Vitamin B3, is considered an essential nutrient for over 100 metabolic processes in the body, including brain processes like learning and memory. Niacin is a vitamin that is essential for converting food into cellular energy. Niacin plays a key role in breaking down fats, proteins and carbohydrates within the body. If a person is in principle well-nourished but only lacks niacin, it is reflected in mental health, learning and behavioural problems. 

There are 3 different forms of vitamin B3 on the market. They differ from each other in terms of effects on well-being and functioning. 3 versions of vitamin B3 are: Niacin, Niacinamide, Inositol hexaniacinate. We need to take it with a large enough amount, enough time and often enough to notice its effects.

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)

Vitamin B5 is a water-soluble vitamin and has three essential functions: converting food into energy, reducing stress levels, and creating red blood cells. It helps improve athletic performance, as well as energy levels in athletes. Vitamin B5 is essential for healthy brain and nervous system development. Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic acid is a potent anti-stress vitamin, among its many functions. Pantothenic acid helps your body convert food to energy as a coenzyme in several metabolic processes. It helps you break carbs down into glucose, along with fats and amino acids. 

Vitamin B5 occurs in most vegetables, cereal grains and fruits. It is particularly abundant in legumes, liver, yeast extract, bran, wheat germ and wholemeal flour. 

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble member of the vitamin B complex. Vitamin B6 is commonly used to treat stress due to its ability to increase GABA levels, a neurotransmitter that has an inhibitory effect on brain function. GABA levels can run low when people are faced with nervousness and anxiety. It is essential for the normal course of transsulfuration, and the folic acid cycle. Without vitamin B6, the kynurenine pathway is blocked, and with it also the breakdown of tryptophan and the formation of coenzyme NAD (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).  

Vitamin B6 is the nutrient naturally present in foods such as dairy, legumes, poultry, fish, liver and eggs, avocados, bananas, potatoes, prunes, spinach, nuts.

Vitamin C 

Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants that support the protection of cells from oxidative stress. It is a water-soluble vitamin that is constantly excreted, so there is no fear of an overdose. However, the notion of this vitamin is already wrong, as vitamins are taken in small doses, and vitamin C could be eaten in grams, not in mg. 

Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and plays a vital role in building hormones, neurotransmitters, connective tissue and bones. Vitamin C is also essential for detoxification, vessel closure, wound healing, and iron absorption. 

Food sources of vitamin C are camu camu, acerola, sea buckthorn, black currant, rosehip, peppers, kiwis, citrus fruits, tomatoes and broccoli. With food, however, it is difficult to achieve improvement in the seriously ill. Then higher doses need to be added.

Suitable supplement forms of vitamin C are L-ascorbic acid (not suitable for people with gastric ulcer), sodium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate.

Chromium 

Chromium is an essential trace mineral found in trace amounts on earth. The human body utilizes it for various functions, including its role in glucose metabolism. Chromium also helps metabolize protein and fat for energy use and to maintain healthy immune function. Chromium works as a catalyst in various systems in our body. Stress depletes chromium levels. Intake of the chromium mineral has been shown to protect brain tissue from damage during stress. Chromium is found in brewer’s yeast, broccoli, whole grains, meat and fish. There is also some absorbable chromium in vegetables and fruit. 

Magnesium 

Magnesium is the most abundant dietary mineral in your body and is critical to more than 300 biochemical reactions. Magnesium works with calcium, phosphorus, zinc and B vitamins such as niacin, thiamin and riboflavin to form structures for cells, nerves, muscles and bones – without magnesium, these cannot be formed. Research has shown that improving your daily magnesium intake, especially through the use of magnesium supplements, can help support cognitive function and performance. Magnesium’s ability to support memory, recall mental function and calm the mind promote relaxation and help you sleep better at night. Magnesium is also essential in supporting your heart muscle activity, reduces stress reactions such as irritability and aggression. 

Natural sources are green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts, legumes, whole grains, bran, sprouts, yeast, soybeans. Magnesium is present in meat only in small quantities. It is added a lot of vitamin and mineral preparations and available in several forms.

L-Taurine

L-Taurine is an organic acid with an amino group, but in the classical sense, there is no amino acid. L-Taurine plays a major role in a good night’s sleep because it helps the body eliminate stress and can give individuals who experience poor sleep quality a good night’s rest. In addition to helping someone relax, the production of L-Taurine also has been associated with the excretion of bile. L-Taurine regulates Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which is required for neuron survival. In addition, it acts on neurotransmitters such as GABA and glycine to promote a feeling of calmness or even stress relief. L-Taurine protects cells as an antioxidant from oxidative damage and regulates heart rate and blood pressure.

L-Taurine is abundant in foods like fish, shellfish, meat.

L-Theanine

L-Theanine is a natural compound found in green tea leaves and some species of mushrooms. It helps promote relaxation without the drowsiness or negative side effects sometimes seen with other stress relievers. Research confirms that L-Theanine promotes a feeling of mental alertness and well-being — ideal for anyone dealing with the challenges of daily life. Many of the L-Theanine effects are caused by the neurotransmitters glutamate, which is involved in learning, memory, and improving GABA levels in the brain, which relieve anxiety. L-Theanine naturally reduces the signals of stress within the body, allowing you to stay calm and clear-headed when faced with every day potentially stressful situations.

L-Tyrosine

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid that helps your body to make other important substances such as hormones and proteins. L-Tyrosine is the precursor of dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine. Dopamine and norepinephrine contribute to the brain’s normal functioning. Under stress, epinephrine (adrenaline) is released from the adrenal glands, which are small glands located above the kidneys. Epinephrine increases heart rate, blood pressure and glucose levels in the blood. While it provides a temporary boost of energy, epinephrine can ultimately lead to an equivalent crash when it wears off. Stress depletes L-tyrosine stores in the brain and causes a noticeable decline in mental alertness, learning ability, and memory. For this reason, people who have to deal with stressful situations often consume L-tyrosine as a supplement.

L-Tyrosine should not be used by those with heart rhythm and blood pressure problems and if taking MAO inhibitors.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

GABA or Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is a natural amino acid that has a calming effect on your brain. It helps to restore the balance of neurotransmitters in your brain. It also helps to support long-term stress reduction and relaxation by supporting GABA receptors in your body, especially your muscles, nerves and brain.

The more GABA you have, the calmer you feel. It also has anti-anxiety, antidepressant and sedative properties. It’s not a sedative or a stimulant; it’s an all-natural way to ease away anxiety and relax. Our brains manufacture GABA from glutamate. Glutamate, a non-essential amino acid, is abundant in protein foods as well as green leafy veggies: spinach, broccoli, cucumber, cabbage and salad greens.

L-Glutamine

L-Glutamine is an amino acid that serves as a precursor to GABA, which is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter. L-glutamine has been shown to protect neurons against glutamate toxicity via its ability to elevate intracellular levels of glutathione. L-Glutamine improves mental ability, helps support healthy protein metabolism, brain function and endurance, eliminates brain stress. L-Glutamine amino acid is formed in the body from Glutamic Acid, an essential amino acid (one of the building blocks that make up protein). It is one of the most abundant free amino acids in the bloodstream and plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy immune system.

L-Tryptophan and 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HT5)

L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that our bodies need to make serotonin and niacin. L-Tryptophan acts as a calming agent in the brain, helping relieve stress and improve mood. Research suggests that supplementing with l-tryptophan can help increase feelings of well-being, focus, concentration, and relaxation. The highest quality L-Tryptophan is commonly converted to 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), which is the metabolite the body uses to produce serotonin for a positive mood. If we also use vitamin B3, the effect will be longer.

L-Tryptophan in the form of a serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) should not be taken by those taking antidepressants from the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). 

Lemon Balm Extract

Lemon Balm Extract or Melissa Extract, is a herb popular in herbal tea blends for its calming and soothing effects. The Melissa herb literally improves blood circulation, thereby means it increases the flow of oxygen to the brain. Therefore it is an excellent herbal remedy to treat one’s brain functions like memory power, concentration and focus and symptoms associated with the over-activation of the adrenal glands. 

Holy Basil Extract 

Holy Basil Extract, also known as Tulsi, is an amazing herb you can take daily to combat stress. Holy Basil Extract is a natural antioxidant extracted from the leaves. Basil is a plant that is mainly grown for culinary purposes, but it provides immense rejuvenating power and has a multitude of proven health benefits.

Holy Basil Extract used for reducing stress, fighting fatigue, and helping to promote restful sleep.

Valerian Extract 

Valerian Root Extract is extracted from the roots of the plant and is a potent natural sedative. Valerian root can calm the body and mind and has been used for centuries to promote a good night’s sleep, reduce stress, improve mood, and lift your spirits. The effect is shown only after prolonged use. Whether you have trouble sleeping or have an overactive mind, Valerian extract can help you. 

If you need holistic and personalized advice for specific issues, then book for naturopathic service HERE.
In addition to the advice, you will also receive a 30% discount to purchase the professional supplements HERE.