We often think of stress as something that happens to us — a busy week, a difficult conversation, a long-running worry that won’t quite loosen its grip. But physiologically, stress isn’t just an emotional experience. It is a biochemical event that quietly changes how your body uses nutrients, how efficiently you absorb them, and how resilient your systems feel over time.

Many of the symptoms people attribute to “just being stressed” — low energy, poor sleep, low mood, sugar cravings, frequent infections — can reflect nutrient depletion happening beneath the surface.

What Stress Does to the Body

When the nervous system perceives pressure, stress hormones rise, metabolism speeds up and nutrient turnover increases. This makes stress metabolically expensive.

Over time, this can quietly deplete nutrients that support mood, immunity, digestion and energy production — even in people who eat well.

Nutrients Commonly Depleted During Stress

Magnolia Rhodiola - physical relaxation, nerve calming & mood elevating

Extracts of magnolia have been shown to physically help relaxation and additionally lower cortisol levels. Rhodiola works to enhance the uptake of the nerve calming and mood elevating hormone in the brain called serotonin.

Magnesium — nervous system calm & sleep

Magnesium supports relaxation of the nervous system and muscles and plays an important role in sleep quality. Stress increases magnesium excretion, which can contribute to inner tension, headaches, poor sleep and muscular tightness.

Victoria Health recommendation:
DoSe by VH Magnesium Complex

B Vitamins — energy, mood & cognitive resilience

The B vitamins are central to energy production and neurotransmitter balance. B5, B6, folate and B12 are particularly involved in adrenal and nervous system support.

Low levels may contribute to fatigue, poor concentration and low mood.

Victoria Health recommendation:
Life Extension BioActive Complete B-Complex

Vitamin C — adrenal & immune support

Vitamin C is used heavily by the adrenal glands during the stress response and also supports immune resilience and recovery.

Victoria Health recommendation:
DoSe by VH Liposomal Vitamin C

Zinc — immune resilience & emotional balance

Zinc supports immune defences, emotional balance and gut lining integrity. Stress can reduce absorption and increase losses.

Victoria Health recommendation:
Terranova Zinc Complex

Stress and Digestive Health

Stress can reduce stomach acid and digestive enzyme output, meaning nutrients are less efficiently absorbed. Supporting gut health during periods of stress helps the body make better use of what you eat.

Victoria Health recommendation:
Dose by VH Mega Probio

Supporting Your Body During Stress

Rather than pushing through, gentle nutritional support can help restore balance:

• Magnolia Rhodiola in the morning and evening to help aid emotional wellbeing
• Magnesium in the evening for calm and sleep
• B-complex in the morning for energy and mood
• Vitamin C for immune resilience
• Zinc for recovery and emotional steadiness
• Probiotic support for digestion and absorption

This calm, physiological approach supports resilience without overstimulation. Stress changes your nutrient needs. Supporting the body nutritionally allows the nervous system to settle, energy to stabilise and immunity to remain resilient — helping you feel more supported through life’s pressures.