Vitamin B1: stress and anxiety relief

Let's examine the role of Vitamin B1 for stress and anxiety.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine or Thiamin) is the first of B-complex vitamins discovered. As other B-complex may help with your stress.

Stress drains your energy, affects your mood balance, your concentration and your memory. Vitamin B1 may help with all these issues.

* Energy Production: Vitamin B1 doesn't give you extra energy, but it helps turn the food you eat into energy. It is part of a complex enzyme system that helps in the oxidation of sugar. Vitamin B1 is required for the functioning of this enzyme system, which releases energy for the normal functions of your body.

* Positive mood balance: A study of young women have shown that there was an association between low vitamin B1 levels and feeling less composed, less confident and more depressed. After vitamin B1 supplementation there was a marked improvement in mood status. Another study have shown that an improvement in Thiamine status was associated with reports from the participants of being more clearheaded, composed, and having more energy.

* Improved memory: There are studies showing that vitamin B1 can improve your memory and concentration.

* Helps in nervous health and integrity: Vitamin B1 helps in the proper development of myelin sheaths around nerves. Deficiency of Vitamin B1, might result in the degeneration of these coverings, which might result in nerve death and damage.

* Neurotransmitter synthesis: Vitamin B1 is one of the cofactors helping to the neurotransmitter synthesis.

Obviously vitamin B1 stress and anxiety role is well established.

There are many good sources of vitamin B1 like: fortified breads, cereals, pasta, whole grains (especially wheat germ), lean meats (especially pork), fish, dried beans, peas, soybeans, asparagus, romaine lettuce, mushrooms, spinach, sunflower seeds, tuna, green peas, tomatoes, eggplant, Brussels sprouts, yeast extract, pulses, nuts, seeds.