Mental balance
What is the best mood booster?
Whether you have a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, or just need assistance regulating your mood and mental capacity, certain dietary supplements can help replenish these all-important natural resources.
Mental health supplements: can supplements improve mood?
Omega 3 and magnesium are well-known mental focus supplements; omega helps build cell membranes in the body and brain and is, therefore, able to interact with mood-related molecules inside the brain, as it can easily travel through these brain cell membranes.
Magnesium plays a role in over 300 metabolic functions in our muscles and nervous system. It is considered one of the best supplements to improve mood, as it can calm your nervous system if you’re feeling particularly anxious.
However, there are many other vitamins and minerals that are important for maintaining your mental health. Vitamins C, B6, B12, D3, iron and zinc all play a part in maintaining nerve health, minimising fatigue and fighting depression with the production of serotonin, dopamine and melatonin to boost your happiness and mental well-being.
Hormonally, zinc significantly influences your mood, as it activates hormonal neurotransmitters and signaling pathways that regulate cognitive function.
Well-being supplements: what vitamins help with mood and anxiety?
- Vitamin B6 is great for improving energy levels, as it boosts blood oxygen levels and mood. B6 is also necessary for producing serotonin, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (neurotransmitters that regulate emotions), making it effective in reducing symptoms of depression.
- Vitamin B12 and folic acid are also involved in the synthesis of serotonin as well as preserving nerve health and cognitive function. B12 does this by maintaining nerve cells and red blood cells, which transport oxygen to the body and brain, minimising fatigue and low mood. Iron is also key in this function, allows oxygen to be carried by the red blood cells by helping produce haemoglobin.
Did you know that vitamins B6 and B12 also regulate the amino acid tryptophan, which promotes melatonin production – allowing us to sleep better and therefore feel better? Test your vitamin B12 levels easily with our Vitamin B12 Blood Test!
- Vitamins C and D also help to regulate your mood and ward off depression. Vitamin D is produced by the body naturally when exposed to sunlight, but many people need to supplement with vitamin D during the winter or if they tend to stay indoors – especially to ward off seasonal affective disorder. Vitamin C is a great immune booster that also helps improve cognitive function and lifts your energy levels.
Whatever your personal mental health needs, it is important to find the mental health supplements that will support you the best. All our well-being supplements have a list of uses and ingredients to help you find the right fit.
