The Beauty Denominator

Everyone is trying to be kinder to their body because everyone wants to live longer in this stress driven world and I must say it is getting harder all the time. We are desperate to relieve the stress and there are many things we can use like massage therapy, a basic stress free diet and simply learning how to simplify our lives. Getting rid of all the clutter and possessions that we think we just can’t live without, I need this and I have to have that needs to go.

Below is a list of supplements that we may use to help combat stress. So to make sure that we aren’t deficient in any of these vitamins and minerals the easiest way is to take a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. You don’t have to buy the most expensive, but if you buy the cheaper ones you may need to buy extra vitamin C because the generics usually have a lower dosage. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a natural stress-reliever.

Fish oil is a source of good fat (EFAs) and I hate to recommend it because as children my aunt got a perverse pleasure in making us take a tablespoon of cod liver oil every morning and I always got sick. After leaving that hateful woman I didn’t eat fish till I was a grown woman and it had to be a very mild fish then…Yuck I still taste that horrible oil, but as I found out later it was actually good for us. Your skin will be smoother and it has been reported as helping maintain a more stable mood.

Many people find St. John’s wort helpful in dealing with stress, however I can’t endorse or swear by it myself because I really didn’t see a difference when I took it.  We all need to be sure we’re getting enough fiber in our diet because anyone can tell you that the results of not getting fiber are enough to cause stress for any of us. I personally like benefiber because you can’t taste it and it doesn’t get thick and you can add it to coffee or tea or your food, but it’s expensive.

Detoxing by fasting every once in awhile is not only good for the soul, but it will help clear out all those nasty toxins that build up in our system.

Choline — is a natural sedative.

Vitamin E (dry form, alpha-tocopherol) — helps get oxygen to the brain, vital for maintaining a stable mood.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) — can help alleviate depression and anxiety attacks.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) — dopamine and norepinephrine which are natural antidepressants can be produced by taking this supplement.

Tyrosine and Phenylalanine– speeds up the production of the natural antidepressants dopamine and norepinephrine.

Tryptophan — in conjunction with vitamin B6, niacin, and magnesium, produces
the neurotransmitter serotonin, the big daddy of natural anti-stress chemicals.

Pantothenic acid — is a natural stress-reliever.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) — helps maintain a healthy nervous system, improves concentration, increases energy levels, and helps relieve stress and irritability.

Folic acid — deficiencies can contribute to a number of different mental illnesses.

Zinc — healthy brain.

Magnesium — a mineral that combats stress and its negative effects on the body.

Manganese — reduces stress and irritability.

Niacin — needed for a healthy nervous system.

Calcium — alleviates stress and has a calming effect.

We all know that our body is made up of water, somewhere around 60% give or take for men and less I think for women and staying properly hydrated is vital for healthy skin, kidneys, and a healthy body overall. We need to consume water, but over a period of hours not all at once. There has been much discussion lately about the amount actually needed and as you can guess one of the symptoms of dehydration is stress and being irritable.

Nutrition for stress-free living is knowing what not to take in like nicotine, alcohol, sugar, saturated fat, artificial preservatives/flavors/colors, and substances that your body may not react well to (such as lactose, gluten, and caffeine) all start a chain reaction that ends in stress, among many other problems. If you really want to stop harmful substances from entering your body, consider switching to organic food, but that can also be very expensive. I have posted about these things before, but it never hurts to go over them again.