Nutrients for Holiday Stress

Guest · Guest

My mother-in-law tends to get very stressed over the holiday season. What kind of nutrients can she take to help?

Zoltan P. Rona · alive Expert Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 11

B-complex vitamins (50 to 100 mg three times daily), especially vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid-an additional 250 to 500 mg three times daily) as well as vitamin C (500 to 1000 mg three times daily) are the most important antistress vitamins. The most effective minerals to combat stress are calcium (500 to 100 mg daily) and magnesium (250 to 500 mg daily).

The best of the other stress relievers are L-theanine, an amino acid extract of green tea and maca, a Peruvian plant that has just recently become popular. L-theanine is thought to work by increasing alpha waves in the brain and by boosting the production of GABA (gamma amino butyric acid), an inhibitory neurotransmitter. L-theanine has also been documented to promote concentration, improve learning behaviour, decrease blood pressure (only if it's high), and enhance the immune system. For severe stress, one can take 500 mg every half hour as needed, but the average mother-in-law may only require 300 mg three times daily when needed.

Maca, on the other hand, allows one to cope with stress by way of its nutritional support of the adrenal glands. While itself containing no hormones, taking two capsules twice daily should boost DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and other adrenal hormone levels enough to help most adults cope very nicely with the holidays. Maca also boosts one's energy and sex drive, and prevents anemia.

Other better-known natural remedies that work to reduce the undesirable impact of stress are St. John's wort, griffonia, rhodiola, GABA itself, L-tryptophan, and a long list of homeopathic and Chinese herbal remedies. Of course, it is always important to acknowledge the cause of your stress and work to accept your emotions that often run high at this time of the year. (For more information see "The Encyclopedia of Natural Healing", Alive Books, 2002).

Solution · Guest

Just give her a BIG glass of wine.

Or two.