Email us at
wyhsbrainstorm@gmail.com
with your feedback!
Do you belong to the health-crazy set, which
pops vitamins like popcorn at the movies? Or have you
watched this vitamin trend, specifically the popularity
of stress vitamins for teens, warily from the sidelines?
The fact is Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B are
essential for our ability
to see, digest, grow, and
function in daily life; we
must ingest them one way or
another, via food or vitamin
supplements. Although
the best case scenario
would be for everyone
to eat fruits, vegetables,
and food containing
these vitamins, doctors
and scientist alike agree
that taking vitamin supplements is a must
(in the correct quantities) if one does NOT
obtain vitamins through the ingestion of food.
However,
vitamins
have become the topic of
major controversy in relation to
"stress vitamins." Of course,
in high school--with all of our
extracurricular activities, school
work, household chores, etc.--
everyone is stressed, burned out,
and exhausted. But, are these
stress vitamins more hurtful or
helpful for teenagers? Well,
scientifically, stress vitamins
are
vitamins
containing
different combinations of Vitamin B complex, Vitamin
E, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A. The anti-oxidants in
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, Serotonin
synthesized with the help of Vitamin C, and Niacin and
Pantothenic acid (B complex vitamins) act as stress
relievers. Similarly, Vitamin C inhibits the proliferation
of oxygen radicals which are produced when one
begins to stress. According to Good Herbal Health,
"the safest and most effective of [relieving oneself of
stress] is by taking in vitamins." The article also states
that stress will not simply disappear of its volition;
therefore, stress vitamins are a good option for frenzied teens.
However, according to AyurvedicCure.com, stress
vitamins are not always the best choice for teenagers.
Essortment's suggests a more holistic approach to stress relief
in the 10 foods that help reduce stress;
by eating or drinking such "vitamin
powerhouses" as blueberries, low fat
or skim milk, oranges, brown rice,
green vegetables, turkey, soy, dried
apricots, sweet potatoes, and water,
your stress levels will plunge-and
you won't have to resort to unnatural
recourses! Also, it has not been
conclusively proven whether or not
stress vitamins are detrimental to one's
health. Indeed, nothing (even such
"non-harmful" drinks/food as water and bananas) should
be taken in excess. If someone drinks too much water, his
electrolytes will decrease and if he eats too many bananas,
he can have kidney failure. Eating anything in excess is
never good; how much more so teens must be careful
not to over-indulge in synthetic vitamins. So before
you call up your local pharmacy or reach into your
cabinet for a stress vitamin, you must consult a doctor!
Between late night studying and exhaustion,
stress seems to be the key word in high schools all
over the world. However, there are other holistic ways
of calming yourself than by popping stress vitamins:
according to stressfocus.com, exercise, yoga, or a
change in lifestyle can relieve stress. So even before
the big basketball game or the history midterm, resist
reaching for a vitamin; it's not worth the stress.
"Between late
night studying and
exhaustion, stress
seems to be the
key word in high
schools all over the
world"
Health
Should Doctors Stress "Stress Vitamins?"
the real deal behind these powerful pills
Rebecca Dresner (`10)
-Twelve-