The words anxious, stressed, busy and no time to eat are the mantra of many individuals. Supplementing your diet with vitamins may be part of the answer to help you manage these symptoms and improve your quality of life. However, only use supplements after checking with your health care provider to determine their safety for you.
Types
If you eat a well-balanced diet, you are most likely getting all the vitamins you need. However, if you are like most people, you probably spend a great deal of time on the run, meaning that you have less time to prepare nutritious food. Additionally, if you are anxious, there are specific vitamins that may be helpful.
Some vitamins, minerals and herbs that are believed to combat anxiety include zinc, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B complex, C and E.
Functions
Vitamins are believed to positive affect several functions. For example, the vitamin B family helps to maintain the body's energy level and moods. Additionally, they help to protect the body from the effects of stress by offering support to the nervous system. This support has the added benefit of reducing the likelihood of anxiety and depression. Additionally, vitamins C and E both offer calming effects to the body, and can be used to reduce anxiety. Zinc, calcium and magnesium are believed to positively affect the health of the nervous system.
Side Effects
Some vitamins, such as calcium, can have an unwanted cumulative effect when doses are not properly managed. The serum level of a vitamin can become dangerously high and affect your metabolism if your liver or kidneys are unable to remove the excess. Calcium is contraindicated if you have chronic kidney disease.
Considerations
Supplementation can be costly, especially since many health insurances do not cover the cost of vitamins and minerals. Additionally, without expert guidance, it is difficult to determine which supplement is right for you based on your health considerations.
Warnings
As with all alternative and/or natural supplements and medications, it is essential to check with your health care provider before adding vitamins to your regimen. You may suffer serious health-related side effects from these products if they are incorrectly combined with prescription medications. Alternately, a chronic condition can be negatively affected by some vitamins and minerals. Finally, the purity of the products are not always assured. It is essential that you purchase the products, should you choose to use them, from a trusted source.
