Some of the diseases believed caused by stress are psychological and physical responses to its continuing occurrence, such as depression and anxiety, heart disease, stroke, a susceptibility to infectious diseases, immune disorders, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, eating problems, diabetes, chronic pain, sleep disorders, sexual and reproductive dysfunction, memory, concentration and learning disorders, and other illnesses. It seems that if stress could be alleviated from our lives, we would not only be happier, we would live longer.

What is stress?
The generic formula for a stressful situation is one in which there is high demand with little control or autonomy, according to Mark Gorkin, LICSW, a public speaker and motivator, known as "The Stress Doc." But there is good stress, also, he says, called Eustress, the optimal level of mind-body activation and alertness that facilitates peak performance. Eustress is when we are doing something we love and are prepared for the performance; the activity makes us happy, but we must perform. An example would be performing in a competition as a hobby—we're stressed, but, wow, it's fun! Or, we are booked back-to-back and we're stressed to stay on time, but we love our work. We keep moving and then we collapse, but life is good! That's good stress – if we handle it right.

Dealing with stress
How do you deal with stress? Some acknowledge it, shrug their shoulders, then, move on; that works for them. Others ignore it while it multiplies and multiplies. Some exercise or take up a hobby, making the stress go away through their diversion. Others "let off steam," yelling and arguing with the people in their lives. Some deal with it through scripted medications and psychiatric treatment. And others self-medicate, drinking too much alcohol and/or taking illegal drugs.
These methods of stress release—some good, some bad—and their results, show us that many people need to deal with stress in a more positive way. Statistics show that some methods are just not working as the physical and mental consequences of stress are going up dramatically.
One way of dealing with stress may be through an attitude adjustment. Research shows that attaining a positive frame of mind can help a person overcome the effects of stress, fight off disease and ultimately delay death, says Ray. Enter spas. We can help our clients 'adjust their attitude' through relaxation and diversion from their every day woes. Pampering is a proven method of attitude adjustment. For example, massage appears to slow down the heart and relax the body. Rather than causing drowsiness, however, massage actually increases alertness. The mind has been cleared, and the body relaxed. This person is ready to go! In a positive way.

Calming nutrients
Another way we can help our clients is by ensuring they have the correct calming nutrients in their diets. We can suggest supplements that can reduce the affects of stress. Certain nutrients are important to maintaining a healthy outlook in life. Fiveimportant nutrients that can affect stress levels, among other things, are L-Theanine, vitamin C, B-12, Folic Acid, and Magnesium.
L-Theanine, the 'taste' ingredient in green tea, is shown to be the secret balancing ingredient to the caffeine in green tea. Coffee contains no L-Theanine so it is a pure stimulant only. L-Theanine, pronounced 'L- thee-a-nene', is a non-protein amino acid found in the leaves of green tea. Now available in supplements, its non-sedating, non-addictive properties accompanied by its ability to helpcalm makes it attractive to supplement users who are under high stress since studies confirm it helpsproduce a state of alert relaxation. The brain wavesof the volunteers in a double blind, placebo controlled test showed they experienced significant increases in their alpha waves (relaxed state) but without drowsiness after ingesting L-theanine. Another study found similar results, showing its greatest impact on those with high anxiety.
Vitamin C, usually referred to as 'the sunshine vitamin,' may in fact contribute to improved immune system function under stress so individuals are better able to combat illness. This has been reported in several studies, with one by P. Samuel Campbell of the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, in 1999. A significant lowering of high levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, is recorded after ingesting vitamin C. Cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, is released in times of stress, producing an imbalance in various organs of the body. Chronic stress can contribute to illness due to the high levels of this hormone. Reducing its levels can helpdecrease stress on the immune system and allow improved function.
The U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamin C is from 50 to 60 milligrams for adults, a level determined to prevent deficiency. Some nutrition researchers think that benchmark is outdated and a new one should be chosen to reflect a 'recommended for healthful living' amount. A higher daily dose is required to reap the greatest healthful benefits, they say. Manyrecommend at least 200 mg per day.
B-12, or cobalamin, is considered an "anti-stress" vitamin because it is believed to helpenhance the normalactivity of the immune system and improve the body's ability to withstand stressful conditions. It is especially important to help maintainhealthy nerve cells. An insulating fatty sheath comprised of a complex protein called myelin surrounds nerves and B12 plays a vital role in its maintenance. Prolonged B12 deficiency can lead to nerve degeneration and irreversible neurological damage.
A lack of 'intrinsic factor', a substance in the digestive system that binds with B12 in the stomach to allow its absorption in the small intestine, usually causes deficiencies of vitamin B12. Such a deficiency can lead to chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nervousness, increased stress, or numbness or tingling sensation in the fingers and toes. Vegetarians are particularly prone to vitamin B 12 deficiency.
Vitamin B12 works closely with a folic acid – or folate. Vitamin B12 is actually needed to free folate from an inactive state.
Folic Acid, also known as 'folate' or 'B9', plays an important role in mood balancing. Deficiencies may be related to lower neurotransmitter levels, indicating that low levels of Folic Acid prevent development of proper levels of transmitters and may lead to mood disorders. Studies suggest low levels of this vitamin may be associated with depression more than any other nutrient. Between 15 and 38 percent of people with depression have low Folic Acid levels and those with the lowest levels demonstrate the most depression. For this reason, many physicians recommend persons with depression, or a tendency or risk factor towards it, supplement their diets with oral Folic Acid. Those with the highest rate of stress in their lives fall into the 'potential for depression' group so they may benefit from Folic Acid supplementation.
Barring other factors, those with diets low in vegetables, frequent alcohol and drug users, the elderly, the chronically ill, and women taking the pill are at highest risk of Folic Acid deficiency-correlated depression. Another risk associated with low levels of Folic Acid can be connected to birth defects. Women on the pill who intend to later become pregnant should consider asking their physician to investigate their levels and ask about taking supplements of this vitamin.
Folic Acid is very sensitive to the presence of light and higher temperatures so the relative freshness of the vegetables being eaten contributes to balance versus deficiencies in diets, also. As with other vitamins, the fresher the vegetables, the more Folic Acid present in them.
Magnesium deficiency can contribute significantly to many ailments, such as back pain, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety and panic, muscle cramps, and migraine headaches. Stress can be a contributor to these ailments. Studies show stresscan shift Magnesium from the desired intracellular presence into the extra cellular space. Then, easy excretion of the needed magnesium can deplete the important levels in the body, contributing to the incidence of these problems. For that reason, those under undue stress should consider its supplementation.
High amounts of supplemental calcium in the body have been connected with low magnesium levels. For that reason, women taking the new higher recommended amounts of calcium (1500 mgfor women over 50) should be taking supplemental magnesium. If they don't, deficiency can become evident; especially if they have the added risk factor of high stress levels.

Are you stressed?
Stress seems to be a way of life if we interact with the world. Possibly you need to investigate taking supplementation of these stress vitamins as a step towards keeping your cool. This is also a way you can help your clients. Consider including these calming supplements and nutrients as part of your retail products at your spa, and for introduction into services for a calming effect. Linda Ruberto, owner, Body Rhythms Day Spa, Oakdale, MN, and massage therapist and aesthetician, has added a calming supplement containing L-Theanine, vitamin C, B12, and Folic Acid to her retail menu and as an upgrade to her services. "I offer my clients this great tasting lozenge, explaining to them it contains safe and natural relaxation ingredients, and that it helps provide relaxation without drug side effects as it is not a drug." She's found it provides a calming effect that can be beneficial to the service. "I am careful to discuss with them what it will not do, including make them feel drowsy or sedated, that it just provides a calming, relaxed feeling beneficial to the service," she says. I am careful to not suggest it as a replacement for current medications, however. "We don't suggest this as a medicinal product."
"My clients are responding to the vitamins very well. We tell them before all services that we will be recommending home care products, and we do so after the treatments, saying 'may I make my professional recommendations for a home care regime?' Vitamins are included in our home care recommendations. We give them the brochure and more verbal information, and they make the decision."
Training the professionals in a spa to suggest supplements and to add them to their treatments not only enhances the service and adds to client satisfaction, it adds to the spa profit margin and the retail commission of the professionals. No further costs are added.

Sources: [i] "How the Mind Hurts and Heals the Body," Oakley Ray, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University; American Psychologist, Vol. 59, No. 1.

James L. Beck is the owner of Mountain View Labs, LLC, manufacturer of TriElements brand of treatment specific nutritional supplements formulated especially for sale to health care professionals. Beck is a 30-year veteran of the nutritional supplements industry, and has pioneered the formulation and development of many revered products. He owns four U.S. patents and 44 foreign patents and patent applications dealing with the extraction, and use of bioactive ingredients in plants. For more information, please call 888-876-3240, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..