Ever wish you could ask a licensed nutritionist some questions free of charge? Well your wish has come true today!
Charity Elliott my wonderful daughter in law is doing a guest post for us today! I asked her 2 questions.
#1. Which vitamins help our bodies cope with stress?
#2. What should we eat to help us cope with stress?
Charity says….”A huge factor to consider when talking about stress, is our perception of stress and how it relates to our mental health.
For some people, spilling their coffee in the morning is a huge source of stress. For others, they mentally don’t perceive stress unless they are in crisis.
While our perception of stress can be a product of our upbringing, it can also be linked to our mental health and ability to cope with the curve balls life throws us.
For years I was very sick, during those years the smallest things could cause me to feel anxious and stressed out.
Now that I have regained my health, I have a much better grasp on my mental health and am better able to handle the stressors that come into my life.
A huge part of regaining my health was learning what foods and vitamins I needed for optimal mental health.
Regular blood work is an important part of managing your health, you should request blood work at least once a year from your doctor if it hasn’t already been recommended. They should check all your nutrient levels and help you set up a plan for reaching optimal levels.
Before starting a new vitamin/mineral you should consult your doctor or Naturopath. Here are a few of the vitamins/minerals that are important to your mental health.
Vitamin D
Up here in the North we see very little sunlight. From October to April we can go weeks, even months, with cloudy grey days.
Our body needs sunlight to synthesise vitamin D, without it we need to supplement.
Recommended dose is 1000 IU every day, but your doctor may recommend a higher dose depending on testing. Vitamin D serves many functions that can help decrease anxiety and depression.
Magnesium
Recently, magnesium has been making headlines in the news as a possible supplement for treating depression. Magnesium is needed in hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body.
It supports your immune system and your heart health. It also helps regulate bloodsugar and aid in the production of protein and energy. Your magnesium levels can easily be tested with blood work.
B Vitamins
B vitamins are crucial to a healthy body! They have a direct impact on your energy levels, brain function, and cell metabolism. The B vitamins help prevent infections and helps support cell health and the development of red bloodcells.
Being deficient in certain B vitamins can be life threatening, low B12 is also known as pernicious anemia and can have life altering side effects if not caught early enough.
Eat Your Vitamins
Even more important than supplementing, is eating a variety of whole foods that provide your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs.
I recommend at least 50% of your diet be made up of vegetables and fruit.
Vegetables are some of the most nutrient dense foods on earth. Most people aren’t eating near enough of them.
You also want to make sure that you are intaking enough protein and fat in your daily diet.
Including eggs, red meat, fish, chicken, nuts, seeds and avocado oil are all ways to increase your protein and fat stores. Your brain is made up of mostly fat, hence, it is so important to include it in your diet.”
O.K. friends now we know which vitamin supplements to talk to our doctors about.
Adding more protein and fat may be a bit of a surprise. I was part of the low fat diet for years and I was always hungry. Since I have added healthy fat into my daily choices I am satisfied and I feel full for much longer. The same goes for protein. When I eat a handful of mixed nuts as a snack I have the energy I need until my next meal.
Charity has a heart for everyone who struggles with health and well-being. Charity has a cool website to checkout. She features regular blog posts and recipes. She also offers individual nutrition services.
But she is taking the month of December off as she is expecting her first baby. Which also happens to be our first Grandbaby!
Today’s little step: Check with your doctor about vitamin supplements. Eat more veggies, protein and healthy fats!
