Identifying the Top Five Supplements to Help Handle Stress – Flagstaff Business News

Today, Im going to discuss nutrients, herbs and amino acids that I have found helpful for my patients when they are stressed.

You may recall, Ive written about how to handle stress from a dietary and lifestyle standpoint. Today, Im going to discuss nutrients, herbs and amino acids that I have found helpful for my patients when they are stressed. Many of these supplements are focused on supporting the adrenal glands, which are responsible for producing stress hormones. Other supplements are focused simply on managing the stress load.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is usually thought of as an immune support nutrient, but, when under stress, our adrenal glands use a lot of vitamin C. In fact, the adrenal glands are one of the organs with the highest concentration of Vitamin C in our bodies! To correctly produce one of our main stress hormones, cortisol, vitamin C is necessary. This vitamin is also important for proper balance of another stress hormone, adrenaline.

Vitamin B5 (dexpanthenol)

Dexpanthenol is another vitamin that the adrenal glands utilize heavily when under stress to produce adequate cortisol. Without B5, cortisol output may not be able to meet the needs of the person who is under stress.

Ashwaganda

Ashwaganda, also known as withania, is an herb that I love to use to help with modulation of stress hormones. What modulation means is that the herb doesnt push the adrenals to produce more or less hormone but, instead, gently promotes balance and healthy function of the adrenal glands. Ashwaganda is also useful for balancing other hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone.

Rhodiola

Much like ashwaganda, rhodiola is an adaptogenic herb that helps us modulate our stress response. Rhodiola can increase the capacity to handle stress and help prevent the exhaustion that long-term stress can bring.

Magnolia bark

Magnolia bark has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine and I see it work very well as an anxiety and stress reliever. It can have a somewhat sedative effect, so it can be particularly useful for the type of stress that causes insomnia, which, of course, happens a lot!

L-theanine

Stress can often leave us tired, wired, unfocused, anxious and irritable. L-theanine is an amino acid that helps to calm and focus the mind. This amino acid helps with the production of dopamine and serotonin, which helps to improve mood. L-theanine also helps to maintain sleep and can promote alpha wave brain activity. Alpha waves are the prevalent brain waves we produce with meditation.

GABA

GABA is another amino acid that I utilize with my stressed patients. We make GABA naturally and it plays a big role in controlling stress, anxiety and fear. This amino acid works by decreasing activity in the nervous system, which results in a calming effect. Generally, the nervous system is overactive during a high stress time.

I hope you have found this list of supplements helpful. However, remember that this article should not be a substitute for medical advice. Its always best to get your medical advice from a practitioner who knows your health history, your current medications and a whole host of other facts about you as an individual. And, for expertise in herbs and amino acids for stress, your best bet is to see your friendly neighborhood naturopathic physician! FBN

By Amber Belt, N.D.

Amber Belt, N.D. is a naturopathic physician and co-owner of Aspen Integrative MedicalCenter where she helps patients get healthy from the inside out. She is also co-owner of Sage Sirona, which focuses on natural first aid and education. Dr. Belt has been practicing naturopathic medicine for more than 15 years and can be contacted viaaspenmedcenter.comorsagesirona.com. You can also call her office at 928-213-5828.

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Identifying the Top Five Supplements to Help Handle Stress - Flagstaff Business News