3 supplements that help me manage my mental health

Do you struggle with depression, anxiety, or insomnia? Here are the three supplements I use that help me manage my mental health!

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I'm all about easy ways to better my mental health. Meditating, doing a quick body weight workout, listening to an audiobook to quiet anxious thoughts at night. . . . There are so many things that together add up to a calmer, happier me.

One thing I do is take supplements. These are the three that I take daily.

5-HTP

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)​ converts into serotonin. A study from 2007 found that people with depression often have low levels of serotonin, which makes sense since it impacts every part of your body and is considered a natural mood stabilizer.  When your levels are normal it helps things like sleep, depression, anxiety, and digestion, and I really recommend it if you're struggling with your mental health.​ It's such an easy solution to make you less anxious, more emotionally stable, and happier.

Photo by Rodolfo Sanches Carvalho

One A Day Multivitamin

I do eat a variety of healthy foods, but it's still hard to get all the nutrients I need. A simple fix is to take a multivitamin, and I love the One A Day brand. I had really bad acne and discovered that it was from a zinc deficiency, so I tried this multivitamin and I could see a difference later that same day. How crazy is that!

Vitamin D is also a big perk, since it's so hard to get enough sun exposure in the winter. Low vitamin D-levels are connected to depression, so if you don't take a multivitamin, at least take vitamin D!

Magnesium

I struggle with getting good sleep, so I listen to an audiobook to fall asleep and take magnesium before bed. It's one of the seven essential macro-minerals that we need in large quantities, and it's really common -- especially for women! -- to have a magnesium deficiency.

Our bodies don't produce it, so it has to come from outside sources. You can also get it from dark leafy greens, seeds and nuts, and best of all, chocolate! :D Since insomnia is such a common symptom for magnesium deficiency, make sure you get your daily dose!

Photo by Rafal Jedrzejek

Remember though to give it time to work its magic! I had amazing results with my multivitamin, but usually it takes two weeks or so for you to start seeing improvement. So don't give up! Keep doing what you're doing and trust the process. :)

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