The stress response initiates a series of metabolic processes for physical survival (fight or flight). Vitamins are essential nutrients for cell metabolism that the body cannot produce on it’s own so they must be taken in from external sources (e.g., food). Vitamins are categorized two ways: Fat soluble (Vitamins A, D, E K) and water soluble (C and B-Complex). The B-Complex vitamin contains many (8) vitamins including one’s you read on cereal boxes such as niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin. The set of B vitamins does a great many things but ONE thing it is associated with is cell metabolism, specifically energy production, and energy is what you will need for fight or flight. For this reason, the B-Complex is often associated with stress as the “stress vitamin.” (The next time you’re in a grocery store or health store check out the labels on what is marketed as “stress vitamins”). Because the B-complex is in the category of water soluble, what you consume and don’t use you excrete in your urine. Many people who consume LOTS of vitamins have VERY EXPENSIVE urine. Generally speaking, B-complex vitamins can be found in vegetables, and whole unprocessed foods including meats, bananas, potatoes and lentils. Processed sugar tends to negate the efficacy of B vitamins.
• Stress Tip for the Day:
When vitamin supplements are processed, quite often a substance is used to bind these together (in a pill form). The problem is that for a great many people the pill goes in one end and out the other without ever being digested. In nutrition circles this is known as NOT being “Bio-available”. In other circles its known as a waste of money. The best source of all vitamins and minerals is in whole, unprocessed (let’s throw in the word organic too) foods.
• Link Worth Noting:
For more info on the B-Complex vitamin… here is a link to Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_vitamins
• Photo of the Day:
A sample of commonly bought vitamin supplements. (Note: if your supplements don’t dissolve in a glass of water with one table spoon of vinegar added to replicate the stomach’s acid, take them back where you bought them and demand your money back. Also… FYI. Many retail sales people make a commission on the sale of supplements and tend to steer you in the direction of the more expensive items.
• Quote for the Day:
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and the cause and prevention of disease.”
— Thomas Edison
(Note: many of us are still waiting for this day to arrive!)
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
