When life feels like an endless to-do list, stress and overwhelm become the default setting. We push through fatigue and we tell ourselves it’s normal to feel restless, scattered or exhausted. But the truth is, living in constant stress is no way to live.
Chronic stress doesn’t just drain your energy, it erodes your emotional wellbeing, clouds your thinking and wears down your body. It robs you of focus, joy and resilience, leaving you running on empty. Today, we’ll explore the emotional, cognitive and physical toll of stress and overwhelm, and why breaking free from this cycle isn’t a luxury, but a necessity for a healthier, more balanced life. Most importantly, we’ll look at how nutrients can provide support to help you restore calm, energy and resilience.
First let’s look at the signs of stress. In many cases it is so subtle but persistent, it is hard to recognise as something other than just “life”. Here’s what you could be experiencing:
- Vague sense of dread – you’ve lost your spark, your sense of self, something feels off.
- Mental noise – this shows up as restlessness or brain fog, you can’t focus on a task without getting distracted and you’re stuck in a go-go-go mindset.
- Physical tension – your jaw is tight, shoulders are tense and your stomach is in knots.
- Difficulty relaxing – when all you can do is look forward to time off, but even in hours after work, the weekend or even holidays, you can’t switch off.
- Sleep issues – trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking refreshed.
If this sounds all too familiar, then a good place to look at supporting is your nutrition and diet. To put it plainly, nutrients are the building blocks of our stress response and emotional wellbeing neurotransmitters.
B group vitamins
Collectively, the B group vitamins are important for numerous aspects of brain function, energy production and the synthesis and repair of genetic materials, neurochemicals and signalling molecules. In doing so, B vitamins support nervous system function and a healthy stress response and helps maintain emotional wellbeing. They are found in a variety of foods, including wholegrains, legumes, leafy green vegetables, eggs, dairy, meat, poultry, and fish, as well as nuts and seeds.
Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral required for over 600 biochemical reactions in the body, including glucose metabolism and nervous system function. Stress, whether physical or emotional, significantly increases the body’s demand for magnesium, as stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline accelerate its elimination. Adequate magnesium is therefore critical to support nervous system health. Dietary sources of magnesium include leafy green vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, nuts, seeds and seafood.
By nourishing the body with the right nutrients, we give our nervous system the tools it needs to manage stress more effectively, restore balance and build long-term resilience. Enriching your diet with specific foods rich in B-vitamins and magnesium, you can subtly support this process, and for extra support you can even add in supplements such as Activated B Complex – Herbs of Gold or Magnesium Forte – Herbs of Gold.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
