Vitamins for stress and anxiety: Part 2

Talking about vitamins for stress and anxiety, vitamins A and E are very important. Vitamins A and E play a critical role in a variety of functions throughout the body. Their antioxidant action is very important. As antioxidants they protect neurons (nerve cells) from damage and they act against free radicals for better health and well being. There are studies suggesting that antioxidants may promote chemical reactions that encourage neurons to survive, repair and grow.

You can find vitamin A in many foods: eggs, meat, milk, cheese, cream, liver, kidney, butter, cod, halibut fish oil, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, cantaloupe, pink grapefruit, apricots, broccoli, spinach, and most dark green, leafy vegetables.

You can find vitamin E in foods: Wheat germ oil, almonds, sunflower seed kernels, asparagus, avocado,cucumber, nuts, olives,red palm oil,seeds, spinach and other green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils (canola, corn, sunflower, soybean, cottonseed), wheat germ, wholegrain food, milk, mango,kiwi.

Vitamin C is a major vitamin for stress and anxiety. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and helps your immune system. Vitamin C is necessary for the synthesis and metabolism of various stress-related hormones.

You can find vitamin C in all fruits and vegetables. The highest sources of vitamin C include green peppers, citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, turnip greens and other leafy greens, sweet and white potatoes, and cantaloupe, papaya, mango, watermelon, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, winter squash, red peppers, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and pineapples.

The most valuable vitamins for stress and anxiety are the B vitamins. In our next post we'll talk about their critical role to stress and anxiety.