B Complex Vitamins For Stress

Most people lack important nutrients due to modern-day diets and lifestyles. The B vitamins, in particular, are missing in most American diets because of regular consumption of processed and refined foods. Also, B vitamins are water soluble, so they don't stay in the body and daily stressors deplete B vitamins, decreasing the body's ability to cope with new stress. A healthy diet and B vitamin supplementation may help restore balance and energy.

B-complex Definition

The B-complex vitamins are a combination of vitamins that work together as a team to support many important functions in the body. They include thiamine/B1, riboflavin/B2, niacin/B3, pyridoxine/B6, folic acid/B9, cyanocobalamin/B12, pantothenic acid and biotin. All of the B vitamins are essential for sustained health and vitality and when long-term deficiencies occur, health issues can ensue, according to the Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia. People on diets for weight loss or who take certain prescriptions, such as seizure medications, are typically at risk for vitamin B deficiencies, according to The Vitamins & Nutrition Center. Also people with substance abuse problems, such as alcoholism, are greatly lacking B vitamins.

Stress

During stressful times, the lack of B vitamins can perpetuate the inability to properly deal with daily tension and problems. The B-complex vitamins work together to support brain and body systems that cope with stressors, according to The Vitamins & Nutrition Center. For example, thiamine is responsible for immune and adrenal gland function and the production of neurotransmitters; riboflavin and niacin promote energy production; and pantothenic acid is necessary for adrenal stress hormone production, as well as proper energy and immune function, according to the Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia.

Food Sources

The best source of the vitamin B-complex is food. Eat a variety of whole and fresh foods for optimal health but especially consume those containing B vitamins for stressful times in your life or after you've been ill. To consume a range of B vitamins, prepare meals with different wholesome foods, such as whole-grain products, seeds, nuts, citrus fruits, green/leafy vegetables, beans, eggs, dairy products, yeast, fish, poultry, meat and liver, according to the Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia.

Supplements

While the best way to obtain vitamin B is from a variety of nourishing foods, it's generally safe for most people to take a B-complex supplement, especially during times of stress or after illness when B vitamins are depleted, according to The Vitamins & Nutrition Center. However, always check with your health care provider before starting a new vitamin regimen. Keep in mind that B vitamins work together along with other nutrients and that taking just one or two B vitamins while deficient in other B vitamins isn't necessarily beneficial to overall health.

Multivitamins

Most health professionals agree that taking a daily multivitamin along with eating balanced and nutritious meals is the best way to obtain all essential nutrients. A good multivitamin typically contains recommended amounts of all necessary minerals, vitamins and other nutrients, as well as B vitamins, within the recommended daily allowance guidelines, according to television health crusader Dr. Oz. Taking a daily multivitamin "can be a good nutrition insurance policy," advises the Harvard School of Public Health website.