Stressed out?
Here are some of the best vitamins and minerals that can help take the edge off & reduce anxiety through withdrawal and recovery!

All stress is not bad. Most temporary stress is based on the body’s ability to send chemical messages to other parts of the body that need to take action. Noticing an accident within a few hundred feet ahead of you, stress chemicals known as cortisol are released and you immediately slam on your brakes. When the threat, or the perceived threat is over, your body works to return to normal. And in most cases, this goes off without a hitch.

But sometimes, stress lingers and your body continues to sense a threat, real or imagined. When this happens, the sympathetic nervous system stays chronically stimulated, risking long term health problems, which can include anything from migraines, anxiety-disorders, high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, a compromised immune system, alcoholism, love addiction, muscle pain, fatigue, insomnia and even death.

Taking action to de-stress is crucial to your health and overall well-being. It means finding a MANAGMEMENT PLAN that works, and getting your body and mind back in shape. As a supplement to your “plan,” these essential vitamins and minerals offer some a serious boost to mood.

• Omega-3s (EPA and DHA) Nothing has proved more potent than the effects of EPA and DHA on brain health. And let’s be real, that’s one of the first things anyone who craves de-stressing needs to address first. Calming their mind! With hormones fluctuating and moods rapidly changing due to, a good omega-3 can do wonders to regulate mood and improve overall brain health. But not just any omega-3 product or fish oil will do the trick. I highly recommend these . They are safe, doctor-recommended, highly potent and molecularly distilled. And they can be purchased online.

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) B vitamins are commonly utilized for depression, occasional stress, fatigue, irritability, healing and digestion, and a potent dose of Vitamin B1 is no exception. B1 may help mental function, thinking clearly and mood.

• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)Vitamin B2 has been used for fatigue, stress and migraines and plays an important role in the metabolism of amino acids and fats, which are beneficial for the brain.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacinimide) There are two types of B3, niacin, which is for cholesterol; and niacinimide, which is the form used for anxiety. Make sure to supplement with niacinimide for stress.

• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) This B5 Vitamin, the alleged anti-stress vitamin, aids the use of other B vitamins and helps produce neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, which can balance dopamine’s effect.

• Vitamin B6 Serotonin, the “feel good” chemical, and an important key chemical for mood and sleep, is made from an amino acid that uses an enzyme generated from Vitamin B6. Enough said!

• Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Any deficiency in B12 or folic acid could lead to a series of biochemical reactions, which could impair neurotransmitter production. Vitamin B-12 is one of the most important in the B group.

• 5-HTP This is an amino acid derivative, much like tryptophan, and basically works to safely elevate mood (and levels of serotonin). “Serotonin promotes a sense of well-being, decreases depression, and makes the glass look half full–and 5-HTP helps the body synthesize more serotonin in a more natural way,” says Russell Canfield, M.D., a clinical assistant professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque. Take 50 to 100 mg once or twice a day to start, and then you can increase dosage over time. If, however, you are taking an antidepressant, be sure to consult your doc on this first. Too much serotonin may cause confusion, increase in heart-rate and loss of coordination.

• CoQ10 CoQ10 is manufactured by the body, but decreases with age or after ingestion of certain medications over time. It may also decrease with long term stress. So to supplement with it is imperative if you are trying to de-stress. It’s known to help relieve migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome and heart conditions. The same company that sells omega-3s, also sells a fabulous CoQ10 product called Res-Q CellPower.

• Exercise While exercise is not exactly a vitamin or mineral, it does create a chemical reaction in the body very much like a potent vitamin. Exercising for at least 25 minutes a day should be part of your de-stressing/recovery plan, no matter what. Aside from studies which now prove exercise to be equally effective in curing depression, it’s good for you. WebMD has a great exercise guide to help you get started.

Keep in mind there is no “happy pill.” Even anti-anxiety meds don’t cure stress or remove the underlying cause of stress. Nor can all stress be eliminated from your life. But it can be managed. And remember, that’s the key–management of stress, not complete elimination. And always be sure to talk to your doc before taking any drug or all-natural product.