The Stress Vitamin Connection

A stress vitamin connection is something that has only recently been discovered, but more and more nutritionists and doctors are beginning to recognize the role certain vitamins play in our ability to successfully manage stress. Of course, there is no such thing as a magic bullet when it comes to battling stress, but anything that provides real help is certainly worth considering, especially when you realize just how common stress and stress related ailments are.

Stress affects just about everyone and can have a variety of causes. One of the biggest triggers of stress is the workplace. In today's tight economic times people are finding themselves working longer hours and having a harder time making ends meet, which only increases stress levels. At the same time, bullying in the workplace can add to that stress level, causing anxiety, depression and a series of other physical and psychological symptoms, which is why there is even more interest in taking vitamins for stress relief.

So exactly what vitamins should you take for stress relief and how do they work? When it comes to stress vitamin supplementation can make a real difference and among the vitamins with the biggest effect are Vitamin C, Vitamin A and especially the B complex vitamins. All of these nutrients can be found in various foods but most of us fail to get everything our bodies need from our regular diet, so supplementation with a daily multivitamin can help to fill in the blanks.

Among the vitamins for stress, the B complex vitamins are generally considered the most important. Vitamins B1, B6 and B12 all work to increase energy and combat feelings of depression, lethargy and anxiety. The B vitamins play a critical role in the body's production of key stress fighting hormones, including serotonin and norepinephrine, which help to improve mood and fight stress. The B vitamins can be found in foods such as pork, wheat germ, carrots, turkey and spinach.

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If You Are Under Stress Vitamin Supplements May Help

As a stress vitamin, Vitamin C has proven to be particularly helpful. It can help to alter your body's response to stress by lowering levels of the stress hormones cortisol and corticosterone. These are the substances that are responsible for most of the reflex reactions to stress, including increased heart rate, tension, headache and anxiety. Vitamin C is most commonly found in citrus fruits and cooked leafy greens and is also known to help boost immune system function in order to assist the body in fighting off colds and other illnesses.

Found in fish oil, pumpkin, spinach, meat, carrots and eggs, Vitamin A has powerful antioxidant properties that help to flush built up toxins out of the body. By improving your body's overall function, the ability fight off the effects of stress is improved, making this one of the more important vitamins for stress.

Because these vitamins have such a wide range of benefits, including the ability to help you handle stress caused by work related bullying, it is highly recommended that you supplement your regular diet with a multivitamin to ensure that your body is getting everything it needs. Stress can do a lot of damage, but by simply getting enough of the right vitamins, you can hold stress at bay and stop it from having a hold on your life.