We all know that vitamins are necessary for good physical health, but they contribute to mental and emotional health as well. Common vitamins like A, C E and B-complex boost feelings of well-being. An introduction to mood enhancing vitamins needs to review the importance of these vitamins, but other natural substances play a part in good emotional health as well. Minerals such as zinc, potassium and calcium also add to a positive mood, defeat stress and help you maintain mental clarity, and they are ingredients in many mood supplements along with vitamins and holistic remedies. All these natural substances help lift your mood and contribute to energy and better health.
Even eating right may not keep your mood steady during trying times. That's when you should look into supplementing your diet with mood enhancing vitamins. Although all vitamins and minerals contribute to better brain and body function, some of them, like Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, magnesium and calcium, give you more mood lifting nutrients. Mood enhancing proprietary blends can boost your mood naturally when you're blue or sad. Of course, feeling blue because of life's ups and downs – or because you're tired- is quite different than long-term depression. A good diet and mood enhancing vitamins may help the occasional sour mood, but depression is sadness that lasts for two consecutive weeks or more and disrupts daily activities. Missing one day of work because you're blue over a break up is one thing; if you have ongoing disinterest in daily activities, you should talk to your doctor about treatment for depression.
How are Mood Enhancing Vitamins and Minerals Different from Antidepressants?
Mood enhancing vitamins are all-natural. You can take them daily without worrying the side effects of anti-depressants. Vitamins and minerals with mood enhancing qualities do a lot more than make you happy. All vitamins, minerals and herbs used in mood supplements provide nutrients necessary for more than one healthy bodily function.
Anti-depressants are usually prescribed for people with clinical depression. The everyday sadness and circumstantial depression we all feel once in awhile doesn't merit a physician-prescribed antidepressants. The use of mood enhancing vitamins and supplements, along with a healthy diet and lifestyle, will lessen the chance of sadness and anxiety getting the best of you.
B Complex Vitamins are Essential to Boost Mood and Energy
B-complex vitamins help form serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and other neurotransmitters necessary to regulate mood. B vitamins also metabolize harmful chemicals in the brain that may contribute to depression and anxiety. People with B-vitamin deficiencies have high amounts of the amino acid homocysteine, which is linked to depression, Alzheimer's disease, strokes and cardiovascular problems. A study cited in the July 2007 American Journal of Psychiatry explored “The Homocysteine Hypothesis of Depression” and the effects of Vitamins B6, B12 and B9 (folate) on improving mood and brain function.
Vitamin B12, in particular, is considered essential for good mood and energy. There are seven vitamins in the B-complex group. All of them are easily found in foods we consume daily, including fish, meat, eggs, poultry and green vegetables. Anyone suffering from light depression or the occasional sad or grumpy mood can benefit from taking mood enhancing B vitamins as part of a supplement containing other happiness-boosting ingredients. All B vitamins improve your health, not just your mood, and here's proof:
Get More Energy and Mood Support with B Vitamins
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) metabolizes carbohydrates to give you energy. It strengthens nervous and cardiac system function, prevents polyneuritis (inflammation of multiple nerves), keeps the immune system strong and improves the body's ability to withstand stress. Thiamine is added to breakfast cereals and other packaged foods, and you can find it in brown rice, oatmeal, groats, cashews, wheat bread and bacon. If you take a supplement with more than the recommended daily requirement of thiamine, it may significantly improve your brain function.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is another vitamin necessary for energy production. It contains antioxidants that fight harmful free radicals. By battling free radicals, Vitamin B2 guards against Alzheimer's, cancer and premature aging. It's important for red blood cell production and bone formation. Riboflavin is necessary for healthy eyes, skin and hair, and may prevent migraines and cataracts. Vitamin B2 deficiency can lead to sore throat, anemia, light sensitivity and cracks around the lips. Foods containing riboflavin include almonds, broccoli, spinach, organ meats, milk and yogurt.
Improve Circulation and Heart Health with Niacin
Vitamin B3 (niacin) occurs naturally in animal and plant tissue. It is often used to treat high cholesterol and blood pressure, and helps form red blood cells. High doses of niacin can regulate mood. Like other B vitamins, B3 metabolizes carbohydrates in your body into energy. It improves circulation and keeps the intestinal tract working properly. Niacin is plentiful in wheatgrass, a superfood ingredient found in some mood-enhancing supplements. Niacin is found in peanut butter, wheat germ, fish, meat and poultry.
Stay Happier and Less Stressed with Vitamins B5 and B6
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) keeps stress and anxiety hormones in balance, relaxing you to keep you happy and content. It's great for energy, too – so if you need more stamina, or your bad moods are related to fatigue, increase your Vitamin B5 intake. The chlorophyll in wheatgrass is full of mood enhancing pantothenic acid, so any mood enhancement supplement with wheatgrass will give you an ample supply of this vitamin.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) enables your body to metabolize amino acids, especially in the intestines. It helps to form serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline and other chemicals that regulate mood and other mental and physical processes. When present in healthy amounts, along with Vitamins B12 and B9, it can reduce PMS symptoms and prevent anemia. B6 rich foods include chicken, salmon, sweet potatoes, turkey and sunflower seeds. Any wheatgrass-based mood enhancer contains a substantial amount of Vitamin B6.
Maintain Mood, Energy and Body Health with B Complex Vitamins
Vitamin B7 (biotin) is essential for skin, nail and hair health. You'll see biotin listed as an ingredient in many beauty products. It helps increase metabolism and energy, which may lead to a better mood. B7 may reduce stored fat in the body, so it is used as part of both weight loss and mood enhancement supplements. Broccoli, liver, potatoes, bananas and milk are some of the foods containing biotin.
Vitamin B9 (folate or folic acid) is best known for its ability to prevent birth defects and protecting against low birth weight or miscarriage. While recommended highly for women of childbearing age, it also protects both men and women from heart attacks, stroke and cancer. Avocados, lentils, bananas, raspberries, tomatoes, pasta and whole wheat bread are some foods that contain vitamin B9.
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is necessary for cognitive function, a healthy energy level, the formation of red blood cells and nervous system function. It is one of the best mood enhancing vitamins, along with B6, as it supports anti-stress mechanisms, mental acuity and elevated mood. Vitamin B12 is a cofactor,a ter used to describe a component necessary for important body functions. Cobalamin deficiency may result in fatigue, irritability, confusion and depression. Meat, eggs, fish, poultry and dairy products contain high levels of Vitamin B12. Since it is found mostly in animal products, vegetarians and vegans must take a supplement to obtain enough of this important vitamin.
Vitamin C Does More than Prevent Colds – It Helps Produce Mood-Altering Dopamine
Vitamin C: Including a supplement with Vitamin C and drinking orange juice can do wonders for your mood and health. Vitamin C helps your nervous system by biosynthesizing amino acids, and its essential for the creation of several elements, including the neurotransmitter dopamine, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which carries energy within cells during the metabolism process, and the amino acid tyrosine, which acts as a building block for brain neurotransmitters. Dopamine and other neurotransmitters contribute to good mood and mental clarity. Vitamin C is full of antioxidants to keep your immune system strong. Vitamin C rich foods (besides oranges) include strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, kiwi and peppers. Wheatgrass contains Vitamin C, so if you take a mood supplement made with wheatgrass, you'll receive a good amount of the daily value of this vitamin.
Vitamin E – Another Free Radical Fighter
Like Vitamin C, Vitamin E fights free radical damage, keeping cells healthy. Free radicals are especially destructive to brain function, and the antioxidants in Vitamin E help prevent cardiovascular disease, heart ailments and eye disorders. Eating tofu, sunflower seeds, avocado and shrimp will provide you with adequate levels of Vitamin E. Wheatgrass contains a high level of Vitamin E, so any mood supplement (or other supplement) with wheatgrass can supply you with more than the daily requirement of Vitamin E.
Magnesium for Mood Enhancement and Detoxification
As may as 80% of Americans don't get enough magnesium in their diets. This mineral builds strong nerves and muscles, activates adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to produce energy and is essential for proper functioning of neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine. Without a steady supply of magnesium for mood support, an individual may experience mild depression and personality changes. Physically, a lack of magnesium leads to muscles cramps, abnormal heart rhythms and seizures. The heart, kidneys, teeth and bones need magnesium as much as the heart and muscles – it is an absolutely essential mineral for good health. If you can't get enough magnesium from your diet, a mood enhancing supplement with magnesium can help. Wheatgrass, which contains magnesium-rich chlorophyll, is the one of the best ways to get more magnesium in your system. Along with mood enhancing vitamins, it can give you optimum energy and health. It has additional health advantages for women. According to a study conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pavia, Italy, magnesium supplements can relieve premenstrual mood changes. You can get more magnesium in your diet through walnuts, spinach, oatmeal, bananas, almonds, peanuts, bran cereal and cocoa powder.
Zinc Reduces Depression and Keeps Your Immune System Strong
Zinc protects the immune system and is found in almost every cell in your body. You get this trace mineral through eating foods such as cashews, Swiss cheese, mushrooms, pumpkin, shellfish, poultry and red meat. Vegetarians and vegans may not get enough zinc in their diets, so it's important to take a supplement containing zinc if you don't eat meat. Depression is one of the symptoms of a zinc deficiency, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, along with acne, psoriasis and white spots on the fingernails. Alcoholism or Crohn's disease may inhibit the body's ability to absorb zinc/
Selenium Intake May Put You in a Better Mood
According to the article “Depression and Diet” on WebMd.com, if you're not getting enough selenium through food or supplements, you may suffer bad moods more frequently. You can get selenium from adding more seafood, lean meats or whole grains to your diet or taking a mood enhancement supplement. Selenium improves cardiovascular health, thyroid function and normal activity of glutathione peroxidases, an enzyme group which protects the body against oxygen-related damage.
Happy Girl Nutritional Supplement Provides Mood Enhancing Vitamins and More
The vitamins and minerals described above are just some of the ingredients in every bottle of Happy Girl Mood Enchancer. This complete nutritional supplement from WheatgrassLove is fueled by the magnesium-rich chlorophyll in wheatgrass. Its primary function is as a mood enhancer, but the vitamins, minerals and herbs in this proprietary blend do more than bring the smile back to your face. They give you more energy, and sharpen your cognitive skills for those tough days at school or work.
Happy Girl contains calcium to maintain strong bones and teeth, guard against PMS-related depression and minimize the chances of getting Type 2 diabetes. Green tea extract contains antioxidants and a handful of other nutrients to pep up your mood, give you more energy and even freshen your breath! Gingko Biloba improves mood and mental performance, and Citrus Aurantium builds muscle while it reigns in your appetite. We've perfected the Happy Girl formula through the years. WheatgrassLove has been in the nutraceutical field since the early 1990s, and we've outlasted many bandwagon-jumping companies. We research and test our supplements before approving them for sale. WheatgrassLove is dedicated to offering our customers safe, nutritionally sound product. Read more about Happy Girl Mood Enhancer.
