Parent expectations, school and social pressures, multiple responsibilities, relationships, and a pandemic, all mixed in with raging hormones. Today’s adolescents are faced with a stress load that’s right up there with the adults, as they try to navigate social media, deal with cyber and in-person bullying, maintain good academic standing in an ever-changing school environment, and the list goes on.
The teenage years are known as a time filled with angst as adolescents move into adulthood. The pandemic and uncertainties of our current time have intensified the stressors of this transition for many youths. Incorporating healthy self-care strategies into the daily routine is absolutely critical to the health and well-being of our teen generation.
Mental Health
Humans are social creatures, regardless of age. For adolescents, social relationships are a key part of development, so the pandemic stay-at-home measures and virtual learning have been isolating for many. Ensuring that teens are still connecting with their peers through virtual chats or socially distanced interactions is important for maintaining their well-being. Encouraging them to find a peer with whom they can relate is another way to support them. Knowing someone else is feeling the way they feel can help to reduce loneliness and isolation.
Physical Health
Exercise, a healthy diet and getting enough sleep have long been the foundational pillars of health. But when the world is spinning, stress is at an all-time high, sleep is elusive, and convenience foods make it tougher to get the nutrition we need, we all may need a little bit of extra support. This applies just as much to teens as to adults!
The Key Bs
Enter B vitamins. The Bs are water soluble vitamins known to help support energy, brain health and metabolism. Our bodies deplete B vitamins more quickly in times of stress, and signs of this depletion may include fatigue, irritability, weakness, digestive issues, and anemia. For teens in particular, B vitamins help to support skin and immune health, the nervous system and stress response, and energy levels. Here is a rundown of each B vitamin and its job in the body:
Vitamin B1 (thiamin)
Converts carbohydrates into energy and support the heart and nervous system. A healthy nervous system equates to a healthy stress response!
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Supports healthy vision, energy and red blood cell production.
Vitamin B3 (niacinamide)
Supports nerve function and skin health.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
The stress-reducing B vitamin, helps support the production of cortisol and other stress hormones
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Helps to break down hormones in the liver and maintain healthy skin, which may in turn help to reduce acne, sugar cravings and mood swings.
Vitamin B7 (biotin)
Associated with healthy hair, skin and nails.
Vitamin B9 (folate)
Supports the production of DNA and red blood cells.
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
Helps to maintain energy and contribute to concentration.
In recognition of these unique, transitional years in your children’s lives, Health First is introducing a new line of Family First Teen products that can help to strengthen your teen’s ability to manage stress, metabolize nutrients, optimize energy, and achieve an overall sense of well-being.
Most importantly, these new products will help to guide your teens toward healthy self-care strategies by connecting them with stories from other teens who are facing difficulties and sharing what they do to feel better. The product labels will let teens know how they can “join the adventure“!
Health First Family First Teen B is the first product in this new line and contains all of the key B vitamins in their active forms, meaning they are highly absorbable. Teens 12 and older take just 1 capsule to meet their recommended daily dose. It’s vegan and free from magnesium stearate, gluten, and dairy, and, like all Health First supplements, free from artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, and GMOs – so you can feel good about sharing this with your teen! And here’s a little secret: you can use Teen B too!
