Spoonful of popular spread in morning can reduce stress
A SPOONFUL of Marmite when you wake can help relieve stress, say docs.
The “Love it or hate it” spread is packed with B vitamins, especially B6.
These produce gamma-aminobutyric acid, a chemical which lowers anxiety.
Dr David Field, at the University of Reading, said yesterday: “Vitamin B6 helps the body produce a chemical messenger that inhibits impulses in the brain.
“Our study links this calming effect with reduced anxiety.”
A separate University of York study gave half participants a spoonful of Marmite each morning, and the rest peanut butter.
Those who ate Marmite for a month reported a 30 per cent reduction in stress.
Study author Anika Smith said the positive impact took eight weeks to wear off, suggesting Marmite had long-term effects on brain function, including reducing stress and anxiety.
Marmite, made from concentrated yeast extract, was invented in 1902.
It was included in British troops’ World War One rations to boost vitamin intake.
Meanwhile, a recent poll found three in ten Britons are “stressed or worried most of the time”.
Nutritionists’ top tips to reduce stress and anxiety include avoiding crisps and salted nuts.
Excess salt has been shown to rocket stress levels by up to 75 per cent.
A ten-minute run, long walk, yoga, meditating and cycling all lower anxiety.