Keeping calm — naturally

Q: Are there any safe, natural remedies to help alleviate stress?

JVW: There are several natural supplements that are known to have a calming effect. First there are the nutrients niacinimide and vitamin B12 (which generally works best when taken intravenously). Both need to be used under a doctor’s supervision in order to have dosages and responsiveness closely monitored. Then there are the herbs kava and St. John’s wort, which have both been shown in numerous studies to help alleviate stress and anxiety.

But before you take any of these supplements, you may want to look at your diet to see if it is too high in refined sugar and carbohydrates. Eliminating refined sugar, white flour, and other highly processed foods from the diet can help the body regulate insulin. This is important because when the body’s blood sugar falls, adrenaline is released to compensate, which in turn, can induce the symptoms of anxiety. Eating smaller, more frequent meals containing a variety of protein and vegetables is a wiser choice, as is staying away from caffeine.