Mar 29, 2011
At some point in our lives, all of us experiences stress. Stress is our body’s reaction to any change in our lives that requires an adjustment. Our body is able to experience stress and react to it with physical, mental and emotional responses. Stress is a normal part of life, and can be positive (eustress) or negative (distress). An example of positive stress is starting a new job or getting a promotion that you have been wanting, or the birth of a baby. While all are happy occasions, they also come with a good deal of stress. On the other hand, when a person is constantly facing challenges without a break, the result can be negative stress, or distress. Distress can interrupt the body’s internal balance and can result in physical symptoms such as headaches, upset stomach and even sleep problems. Chronic negative stress over time can have negative effects on the body.
Stress can deplete nutrients from the body: Stress, whether physical, mental or emotional, can cause certain nutrients to be depleted from the body more rapidly. During times of stress your body uses up certain nutrients more quickly, particularly water-soluble vitamins including vitamin C and many of the B vitamins. And, if your diet is lacking in these nutrients, supplementation can help.
How supplements can help: Nutritional supplementation during times of stress can help restore the body with essential nutrients that may be lost to help promote overall health and well-being. To start, a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement can help ensure basic nutritional needs are being met. Additional vitamin C and a B-complex supplement may help fight off the effects of stress and replenish levels of these key vitamins in the body. Fatigue and a lack of energy are also a result of chronic stress. If energy is lacking, consider supplementing with the herb ginseng to help maintain physical and mental stamina. Ginseng is an "adaptogen," an herb that helps the body cope with stress by relaxing the body during stressful times. NOTE: If individuals are on blood thinning medications (i.e. coumadin, aspirin), have high blood pressure, or are taking diuretics, they should consult with their health care practitioner before taking ginseng to avoid adverse side effects.