Best Supplements for Anxiety | Frequently Asked Questions
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States, with around 18% of adults experiencing generalized anxiety disorder in a given year.
If you are one of the many people who suffer from anxiety symptoms, you know how debilitating it can be.
There are many treatments available for anxiety, including therapy and medication. But did you know that supplements can also help?
In this blog post, we will discuss the best dietary supplements for anxiety and how they can help alleviate your symptoms.
Before we list the brands and products we consider “best”, please keep in mind supplements are lightly regulated by the FDA. Their stated claims have no guarantee. They aren’t cures or treatments for any diseases.
Food is your best source of nutrition, and sleep is the best tool you have to combat anxiety disorders! Please check with your doctor before starting any supplement program.
Please note we include items that we trust will be useful to our visitors. If you click one of the links on our site, we may get a commission.
Finally, at the bottom we cover some frequently asked questions!
5 Best Supplements for Anxiety
- Best for Pure Gaba – Superior Labs
- Best for Price – Bulk Supplements
- Best for Sleep and Jet Lag – Optimum Nutrition
- Best for Premium Ashwagandha for Stress – Naturewise
- Best Herbal Blend for Stress Relief – Botanic Choice
1 – Best for Pure Gaba – Superior Labs
- Price = $24.95
- # of Servings = 50
- Price per Serving = $0.49
- Product Reviews = 4.8/5 (100 reviews)
- Serving Size = 2 Vegetarian capsules
- Taste / Absorption = Unflavored
- Labeled Effect = Support healthy cortisol levels by enhancing alpha wave production
- Food Allergens = None
- Pros = Pure high quality Gaba, some scientific support for benefits listed
- Cons = Contains only Gaba – no other vitamins, minerals or herbs
Gaba was identified to be an essential component of the mammalian central nervous system in 1950.
When the brain’s nervous system is overburdened, nerve cells begin firing at a rapid pace, which can bring on a variety of distressing issues such as worry and stress.
GABA is a chemical messenger that passes through the central nervous system (CNS) to the brain, assisting in nerve cell inhibition and providing a natural calming effect.
This Gaba supplement made by Superior Labs contains high quality Gaba, which will help your brain and nervous system to reduce anxiety symptoms. It’s allergen free too.
A $.49 price per serving is about average, however, there are no other vitamins, minerals.
So if you’re looking for a pure Gaba supplement to assist in calming general stress and nerves this is a good option to try.
Made by Superior Labs:
Began in 2007, geared for athletes, and has FDA, GMP certification. Mission statement emphasizes purity, testing, and quality. According to ReviewMeta.com, Superior Labs has an average adjusted rating of 4.3/5 with 3902 verified reviews.
- Start = 2007
- Revenue = $6 million
- Employees = less than 25
- Mission = purity, testing, and quality
- Third Party Certifications = NSF, GMP
- Third Party Reviews = average adjusted rating of 4.3/5 with 3902 reviews
2 – Best for Price – Bulk Supplements
- Price = $12.96
- # of Servings = 222
- Price per Serving = $0.05
- Product Reviews = 4.8/5 (575 reviews)
- Serving Size = 400 milligrams (about ⅕ tsp)
- Taste / Absorption = Unflavored powder
- Labeled Effect = May help reduce stress in some people. It may also help support focus and concentration
- Food Allergens = None
- Pros = Pure high quality Ashwagandha, some scientific support for benefits listed
- Cons = Contains only Ashwagandha – no other vitamins, minerals or herbs
The powdered extract from the roots of the Ashwagandha plant, Withania somnifera, is known as ashwagandha root powder.
It’s worth noting that this plant extract has anti-inflammatory potential and a positive impact on mental well-being.
It has been used in India and Africa for more than 5,000 years to assist with tension.
Ashwagandha Extract, made by Bulk Supplements, a pure, high quality Ashwagandha supplement.
However, it contains no other vitamins, minerals or herbs.
Yet with a low price point ($.05) and hundreds of reviews, if you’re looking for a quality Ashwagandha supplement at a decent price point this will be a great option for you.
Made By Bulk Supplements
Bulk Supplements started in 2011 and is based in Nevada. Its main manufacturing facility is FDA registered. According to ReviewMeta.com, Bulk Supplement’s average adjusted rating is 4.4/5 from 39,370 verified reviews.
- Start = 2011
- Revenue = $10 million
- Employees = 50
- Mission =
- Third Party Certifications = NSF, cGMP
- Third Party Reviews = 4.4/5 from 39,370 revieA1 supplements
3 – Best for Sleep and Jet Lag – Optimum Nutrition
- Price = $11.95
- # of Servings = 100
- Price per Serving = $0.11
- Product Reviews = 4.3/5 (126 reviews)
- Serving Size = 1 Tablet
- Taste / Absorption = Unflavored tablet, don’t take more than 1 tablet per 24 hours
- Labeled Effect = Designed to help combat lack of sleep and may be useful for jet-lag
- Food Allergens = Contains milk ingredients
- Pros = High quality melatonin supplement, competitive price per serving, contains a few other vitamins and minerals
- Cons = Very similar to other Melatonin supplements
Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by the body in the pineal gland of the brain’s brain.
Your body releases the most amount of melatonin right before bed.
Research indicates melatonin helps your body with sleep, to not wake up during the night and improves overall quality of sleep.
Melatonin also promotes quicker recovery from feeling out of it after flying for awhile.
Plus, melatonin deficiency is associated with higher levels of anxiety and fatigue.
However, there are many melatonin supplements on the marketplace and this product is fairly similar.
Nonetheless, Melatonin made by Optimum Nutrition, is a high quality melatonin supplement.
With a competitive price per serving, if you’re looking to get better sleep and are curious / want a melatonin supplement, this is definitely a great choice.
Made by Optimum Nutrition
Made and trusted by athletes, Optimum Nutrition has decades of experience. According to ReviewMeta.com, Optimum Nutrition receives a 4.1/5 average adjusted rating from 67,776 verified reviews.
- Start = 1986
- Revenue = $21 million
- Employees = 112
- Mission = helping performance focused athletes achieve their goals
- Third Party Certifications = GMP, NSF
- Third Party Reviews = 4.1/5 average adjusted rating from 67,776 verified reviews
4 – Best for Premium Ashwagandha for Stress – Naturewise
- Price = $22.99
- # of Servings = 30
- Price per Serving = $0.76
- Product Reviews = 4.7/5 (109 reviews)
- Serving Size = 2 Vegetarian capsules
- Taste / Absorption = Unflavored capsules
- Labeled Effect = Clinically proven to help reduce stress and anxiety and enhance well-being
- Food Allergens = None
- Pros = Proprietary blend of herbs and Ashwagandha to reduce stress, some clinical research
- Cons = Higher price per serving
As we stated earlier, there are many Ashwagandha supplements for anxiety and it’s hard to tell them apart sometimes!
When we compare Ashwagandha Extract made by Bulk Supplements versus Ashwagandha made by Naturewise we see a few differences:
- Bulk Supplements lower price but less ingredients
- Bulk Supplements pure Ashwagandha
- Naturewise Ashwagandha proprietary blend
- Naturewise contains more Ashwagandha per serving (600 mg versus 400)
Both supplements can be great if you’re looking to manage anxiety with natural herbal remedies because there is clinical research supporting Ashwagandha.
This Naturewise supplement is best if you don’t mind paying a higher price per serving for a proprietary blend with a higher dose of melatonin per serving.
Made by Naturewise:
Founded in 2012 in California, NatureWise aims to promote health and inspire wellbeing. According to ReviewMeta.com, NatureWise has a 4.2/5 average adjusted rating from 32,542 verified reviews.
- Start = 2012
- Revenue = $31 million
- Employees = less than 25
- Mission = promote health and inspire wellbeing
- Third Party Certifications = Manufactured in US
- Third Party Reviews = 4.2/5 average rating from 32,542 reviews
5 – Best Herbal Blend for Stress Relief – Botanic Choice
- Price = $19.99
- # of Servings = 30
- Price per Serving = $0.66
- Product Reviews = 4.7/5 (13 reviews)
- Serving Size = 1 capsule
- Taste / Absorption = Unflavored capsule
- Labeled Effect = Eases anxiety, tension and worries
- Food Allergens = None
- Pros = High quality blend of herbal ingredients, contains Vitamin D3
- Cons = Less reviews than other supplements
Stress-Ez is an herbal supplement for anxiety reduction that doubles as a Vitamin D supplement.
This supplement contains class and popular herbs that are known to sooth, like Chamomile, Valerian, and more.
It’s a unique herbal combination that features St. John’s Wort, an herb widely used in various mental health treatment approaches (like for depression).
If you’re looking for an herbal supplement with a bonus of Vitamin D3, Stress-Ez made by Botanic Choice, is a great choice.
Just think about how many Vitamin D supplements contain less Vitamin D than this supplement for the same price!
However, it should be noted this supplement only has 13 reviews, fewer than other supplements.
Made By Botanic Choice
Botanic Choice started in 1910, over 100 years ago. The company is family owned and has millions of customers worldwide. They are one of the oldest supplement companies still around today. According to MetaCritic, Botanic Choice has a 3.8/5 rating with 1,496 reviews.
- Start = 112 years old, founded in 1910
- Revenue = $18 million
- Employees = 107
- Mission = dedicated to making effective natural health solutions available to all
- Third Party Certifications = GMP
- Third Party Reviews = 3.8/5 with 1,496 review
What factors do we use to rank supplements?
1 – Price: What’s the price of the supplement? What’s the cost per serving?
- At Eating Enlightenment we value quality over price. However, all else being equal, then price comes into consideration.
2 – Reviews: How many reviews for each product? What’s the average rating? How many third party reviews?
- We strongly believe in third party reviews. Many supplement companies list positive reviews on their website, but third party reviews include negative comments. We always go with third party reviews.
3 – Reputation: How reputable is the brand behind the supplement? How long has the brand been around? What’s their mission?
- We believe that a company’s intention is highly important and should be one of your top purchasing decision factors.
4 – Taste / Absorption = What’s the taste? How quickly does your body absorb the supplement? Do reviews mention any negative side effects like an upset stomach?
5 – Perceived Therapeutic Effect = What beneficial effects or feelings does this supplement promote?
6 – Food Allergens = Does the company provide allergen info?
7 – Science / Certifications: Does the company list transparent scientific studies on their website? Do third party certifications test the company’s supplement for quality control? How many certifications does the company have?
8 – Pros/Cons: What are the pros and cons of each supplement? How is the supplement unique? For what situations is this supplement best?
Who benefits most from anxiety supplements?
Anxiety supplements can be beneficial for anyone who struggles with anxiety on a regular basis. However, they may be especially helpful for people who have unsuccessfully tried other methods, such as therapy or medication.
If you are considering taking an anxiety supplement, it is important to speak with your doctor first. This is especially true if you are taking any other medications, as some supplements can interfere with the effectiveness of other drugs.
It is also important to remember that supplements are not a cure for anxiety and should not be used in place of other treatment methods.
Also, please keep in mind the anxiety and depression association – this article is about anxiety and does not talk about depression.
However, these supplements may help you find anxiety relief and increase your overall sense of well-being.
Risks, side effects and other precautions
Anxiety supplements are generally safe when taken as directed. However, they can cause side effects in some people. The most common side effects include:
- Upset stomach
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
If you experience any of these side effects, stop taking the supplement and speak to your doctor.
While most supplements are entirely safe, not all supplements mix well with prescription medications.
Best Supplement for Anxiety – Conclusion
Anxiety supplements are a relatively new development in the world of anxiety treatment and generalized anxiety disorder. However, they have quickly become one of the most popular methods for managing symptoms of anxiety.
These supplements can be beneficial for anyone who struggles with anxiety on a regular basis. They may help to improve your symptoms and increase your overall sense of well-being.
However, it is important to speak with your doctor first before starting any supplement regimen. Anxiety supplements can cause side effects in some people, so it is important to monitor how you feel when taking them.
If you are total beginner to supplements, see our ultimate beginner’s guide here. Or, search our database of supplement reviews here.
