Anxiety, Nervousness and Stress May Be Caused by a Lack of Vitamin B
Vitamin B is actually a group of vitamins that are called vitamin B-complex. The B vitamins are water soluble, meaning they aren’t stored in the body. They need to be replenished in our bodies every day, so a consistent supply from the foods we eat or from vitamin supplements is important.
The B vitamins are very important for our bodies to function properly and stay healthy. They help many parts of our body work– our eyes, ears, brain, heart and skin– so it’s not surprising that when we don’t get enough of them, these parts of our body suffer as well. In this case, what we’re talking about is vitamin B deficiency and stress. Stress is related to many ailments such as headaches, insomnia, depression and anxiety. And all four have been linked to vitamin B deficiency.
They say knowledge is power…the more you know about how your body works and what it needs to function optimally, the better choices you will make in life when it comes to your health and well being. So let’s take a look at how vitamin B affects your health when you’re stressed out. If you are
Anxiety, Nervousness and Stress May Be Caused by a Lack of Vitamin B
Anxiety, nervousness and stress have all been linked to a lack of vitamin B. Interestingly enough, there are some individuals who can actually use up more vitamin B when they are under stress. If you are one of these people, your body is probably already low on vitamin B stores. This causes the feeling of anxiety, nervousness, and stress to be even worse than normal. Therefore it is important to make sure that you get plenty of vitamin B in your diet to avoid anxiety, nervousness and stress symptoms.
Vitamin B is actually made up of eight different vitamins including thiamine or B1, riboflavin or B2, niacin or B3, pantothenic acid or B5 and pyridoxine or B6. In addition there is biotin which is also known as vitamin H or coenzyme R. The other two vitamins that make up the B complex are folic acid and the cobalamins which include vitamins B12, B12 and cyanocobalamin. All of these nutrients work together to keep your body functioning properly. One of their main functions is to convert food into energy.
I have always had a stressful job, but I’ve never suffered from stress in the conventional sense. However, I have always suffered from anxiety and nervousness.
When I was a child I had panic attacks and was prescribed tranquillizers (now called anti-anxiety drugs). As an adult, although I didn’t need drugs any more, I experienced feelings of anxiety when faced with social situations.
I found out that these feelings were due to my lack of Vitamin B – particularly Vitamin B6 – and once my levels returned to normal, the symptoms disappeared.
I also discovered that many other people suffer with low levels of vitamin B and in this blog I will share some of what I have learned about how to keep your vitamin B levels topped up so that you don’t feel stressed or anxious.
Have you ever felt that your nerves are getting the better of you and that you are unable to cope with the pressures of life? You may be suffering from a lack of vitamin B.
The vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12 have been proven to have an effect on stress levels. A lack of vitamin B in the body can cause anxiety and depression. This can be caused by a poor diet, lifestyle and exposure to pollutants in the environment.
In today’s fast-paced world we often don’t spend enough time looking after our health. The demands of modern living can often leave us feeling tired and exhausted. Many people turn to stimulants such as tea, coffee and cigarettes to help get them through the day. These substances will give you a short-term boost but in the long term they actually deplete your body’s supply of vitamin B thus leaving you more deficient than you were before.
Other causes for the increase of anxiety related problems include increased exposure to environmental pollutants such as pesticides and herbicides found in our food supply. Long term exposure to these chemicals can damage your nervous system leading to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Vitamin B is vital for normal functioning of the nervous system including muscle tone
If you are feeling a bit stressed out, anxious or nervous then there is a chance that you may be deficient in a vitamin that is essential for combating stress. I decided to write this article as I have been researching vitamins and their effect on the body and it seems to me that so many people are suffering from stress, anxiety and nervousness that it is worth knowing what can be done to help.
There are plenty of books out there on the subject but it seems that too many people still suffer with symptoms which could easily be treated by taking supplements or making slight changes to their diet.
First things first, stress, anxiety and nervousness are all different things. The main one is stress which causes us to feel tense, irritated and sometimes even angry. Stress can also cause us heart palpitations, sleep problems, sweating and headaches.
Anxiety is something entirely different and can cause feelings of panic or fear as well as feelings of dread or unease, I think most of us have felt anxious before without really knowing why – like when you have an exam coming up or you go for a job interview, these physical symptoms can include sweating and shaking as well as increased heart rate and dizziness.
Nervousness is another word that gets thrown around a lot
Vitamin B is an important vitamin in helping to fight stress. Niacin (B3) has a tranquilizing effect and helps to reduce anxiety and irritability. Pantothenic acid (B5) is needed for the adrenal glands and helps with the release of steroid hormones. Vitamin B6 plays an important role in brain chemistry and helps to maintain a healthy nervous system. B vitamins are essential for the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and GABA which help to regulate mood, emotions and alleviate depression. The best way to obtain these vitamins is through your food, but if you feel stressed out more than usual it might be worth taking a look at increasing your intake of foods that are rich in B vitamins through eating more fruit and vegetables, or alternatively taking them as supplements.
B vitamins are essential for our health, both mental and physical, but many of us don’t get enough of them from our diet.
The B vitamin family is made up of eight B vitamins. Although they are commonly referred to as a group, each of the vitamins in this family is chemically distinct.
B vitamins are water-soluble and therefore your body does not store them, so you need to get a regular supply from food or supplements to maintain good health.
B complex vitamins have been shown to reduce tiredness and fatigue by helping the body obtain energy from food. They also help maintain a healthy nervous system and support heart health by helping to normalise cholesterol levels.
