| We’ve all had stress at one point in our life or | | | | John’s Wort. St. John’s Wort has been |
| another. There are some types of stress that are | | | | shown to be effective in treating mild to moderate |
| healthy and beneficial to life. Unfortunately, the | | | | depression in clinical trials conducted in Europe. |
| majority of the stress we encounter in | | | | St. John’s Wort acts much the same as some |
| today’s world is destructive and may even | | | | medicinal serotonin inhibitors such as Prozac. St. |
| help to shorten our lives. | | | | John’s Wort helps to balance serotonin levels |
| According to a study done at Duke | | | | in the body. This leads to an overall elevation in |
| University’s Medical center and reported to the | | | | mood. |
| American Journal of Cardiology, a link can be found | | | | The biggest concern about St. John’s Wort is |
| between an “aggressive” personality and | | | | its possible interaction with other drugs and/or |
| the likelihood of death in people younger than age 61 | | | | supplements. The use of St. John’s Wort |
| who currently have heart disease. If you can’t | | | | should be discussed with a physician or health |
| find a way of managing stress properly, it will help to | | | | professional before beginning a course of stress |
| kill you. | | | | management therapy. |
| There are several tools available nutritionally for | | | | Another herbal remedy for natural stress relief is |
| stress management. Some vitamin supplements give | | | | chamomile. Chamomile has a sweet apple-like |
| natural stress relief and bring body balance when | | | | fragrance-in fact, it’s name comes from the |
| stress saps your energy. Some natural sources for | | | | Greek kamai melon which translates to “ground |
| managing stress are foods, herbs, and some from | | | | apple”. Chamomile can be taken as a |
| nutritional supplements. | | | | supplement but is likely a better tool for natural |
| Stress Management with Food | | | | stress relief as a hot tea. |
| When thinking of managing stress in the body and | | | | While the herb “kava-kava” has been |
| food sources, the key is maintaining a balance | | | | promoted as a possible herbal remedy for natural |
| between the many chemicals within the body that | | | | stress relief, the U.S. FDA has issued a warning about |
| control mood. | | | | the possible effects of this herb on the liver. Please |
| Serotonin is a chemical released within the body that | | | | read the article [ here. |
| works to control mood. | | | | Stress Reduction with natural supplements |
| Overall, when stressed, depending on what your | | | | When choosing natural supplements for managing |
| activity level it can be a good idea to eat a diet rich | | | | stress, it’s a good idea to look at those |
| in complex carbohydrates. These help to release | | | | natural supplements which directly combat stress. |
| serotonin into the body and elevate mood. Some | | | | The B-Complex of vitamins is a great place to start. |
| good food sources of complex carbohydrates include | | | | All of the B-Complex of vitamins are important in |
| broccoli, potatoes, squash, and brown rice. | | | | managing stress and elevating mood. While you can |
| In addition, you should likely look to increase your | | | | take them individually for a variety of issues, for |
| consumption of B vitamins in food as the B vitamins | | | | managing stress, it’s beneficial to take a |
| are essential in stress management. Foods high in B | | | | B-Complex tablet which includes all of the vitamins in |
| vitamins include asparagus, beets, soybeans and | | | | the B-Complex. |
| spinach. | | | | In general, natural stress relief is possible in many |
| Finally, including tryptophan in the diet is important in | | | | ways by the foods we eat, by herbal remedies and |
| maintaining a balance of serotonin levels in the body | | | | even by natural supplements. By learning how to |
| and stress management. Foods rich in tryptophan | | | | properly incorporate natural stress relief elements into |
| include poultry (chicken, turkey, etc.), eggs and nuts | | | | our diet, we can achieve stress reduction and live a |
| For more information on foods rich in stress | | | | happier life. |
| reduction properties, visit the food and stress page | | | | This has been a short overview of a few methods |
| at [ – Whole Health Natural Stress Relief with | | | | to use for managing stress naturally and nutritionally. |
| herbs | | | | For more information, please visit the reference |
| One of the biggest “stars” of the herb | | | | sources listed below. |
| world relative to stress management has become St. | | | | |