Five Supplements to Support Men’s Mental Health

In today’s world we are very much racing against the clock to get everything done as quickly as possible. It’s easy to forget to pause, take a breath or just simply slow down and it’s especially easy to start to feel the accumulating pressure of that big to-do list. It’s really important to ensure that we are in a healthy state of mind in order to perform our best and to ultimately feel our best.

As a holistic nutritionist, here are my five top supplements that I recommend to support mental health and help keep you feeling on top of the world.

Probiotics

 90% of serotonin is made in the gut, so it’s essential to maintain a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in the intestinal tract. Research confirms that there’s a link between intestinal bacteria and things like anxiety, depression, and cognitive performance. The gut has it’s own nervous system known as the enteric nervous system. It generates many of the same neurotransmitters as the brain including serotonin. Simply put, we need to maintain a healthy gastrointestinal environment with ample good bacteria to ensure we feel our best.

My recommendation: HMF Multi Strain – Genestra

GABA

GABA is a very important neurotransmitter produced in the brain that helps calm down the central nervous system and excitability of neurons. What does that do? It places the body into a greater state of relaxation. It helps you keep calm and reduce stress and anxiety. Another huge benefit of GABA is it’s ability to help get a more restful sleep, which can assist you in being more productive throughout the day and it allows you to deal with stressors more effectively.

My recommendation: GABA – AOR

Fish Oil

Fish oils have incredible health benefits ranging from heart health, joint health, and brain health. Supplementation provides an incredible source of omega-3 fatty acids which play crucial roles in the function of our brains. What has been shown is that fish oils have very potent anti-inflammatory effects on the cells in our brains which result in antidepressant effects.

My recommendation: Super EFA Forte Capsules – Genestra

Magnesium

Magnesium is one of the top supplements that we should be taking as it’s responsible for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. Unfortunately, it is also extremely depleted within our soils and therefore is one of the top mineral deficiencies in all of us. In regards to mental health, magnesium has the ability to effect the release of stress hormone ACTH which tells your adrenal glands to release cortisol and adrenaline. It also has the ability to prevent those hormones from entering the brain. Ultimately, magnesium helps relax the nervous system, helping us better adapt to stress and if that wasn’t good enough, it also helps promote restful sleep.

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My recommendation: Magnesium Bisglycinate – CanPrev

SAMe

SAMe stands for S-adenosyl methionine which is a compound that plays a crucial role in the production of neurotransmitters. It helps to increase the levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine which are fundamental to normal brain function. Research shows that SAMe has anti-inflammatory effects in the brain similar to omega-3 fatty acids.

My recommendation: SAMe – Pure Encapsulations

There are many other very effective supplements that could be mentioned, but these happen to be my favourite. I don’t recommend taking all of these at the same time, but I do think that if you are having difficulties in certain areas you should consult with a naturopath or nutritionist that you trust. Together you can come up with a plan to support your needs and find which supplement will work best for you.

To learn more about holistic nutrition and gut health, you can visit Livia Wellness here.