Stress and nutrition are directly related, as nutrient deficiency puts stress on the body. How well the body handles stress is also connected to how well the body is nourished. Adequate intake of vitamins and minerals is important in preventing the loss of nutrient stores in the body used to combat stress as well as being important contributors to immune response.
- The body releases hormones that suppress immune response when stress is present.
- The B-complex vitamins are needed to help maintain the nervous system.
- A deficiency in the B-complex vitamins can alter nerve function and increase the symptoms of stress such as depression and irritability.
- Vitamin E can help protect from the stress of free radical damage.
- Levels of vitamin C have been shown to decrease in stress related tissues during stress.
- Vitamin C can also help stress by strengthening the immune system.
- The minerals magnesium and zinc are also depleted in times of stress.
- Herbal remedies for stress include ginseng, valerian, and echinacea and goldenseal.
