Important Vitamins
for
Stress Relief

The Best Vitamin for Stress Relief? 

Vitamin C

The first vitamin you should think about supplementing when you are under stress is vitamin C.  Your adrenal glands are largely in charge of the physical effects of stress on your body by releasing cortisol and adrenaline--the "fight or flight" hormones that are responsible for heightened feelings of anxiety or agitation.  Your body's largest stores of vitamin C are in your adrenal glands, and when this supply is exhausted, these glands cannot perform optimally.  An extended deficit of vitamin C can contribute to a stress-induced condition called adrenal fatigue, where your adrenal glands become unable to keep up with the demands placed on them to respond to continual stress, thus causing even more stress!

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, so your body is constantly excreting any excess, which is why it is important to take smaller doses more frequently as opposed to one large dose per day.  During periods of high stress or illness, 5,000-10,000mg per day (taken in divided doses: i.e. 1000mg every 2 hrs) is not unreasonable. The rule of thumb for vitamin C is bowel tolerance: when you start getting loose stools/diarrhea, reduce your intake by 500-1000mg or spread out your dosing more to return to balance.

Not a vitamin, but a mineral: Magnesium

Magnesium is also a great supplement for stress relief.  Sometimes referred to as "nature's tranquilizer", magnesium is a muscle relaxant, and if taken at bedtime can help you relax and fall asleep. Magnesium is also an important supplement for your adrenal glands, as well as your heart, relieving palpitations/PVC's.  Common starting points for supplementation are from 250-400mg. This is another supplement that, like vitamin C, can be monitored by bowel tolerance: too much will give you loose stools/diarrhea, which will indicate that you should reduce your dosage.