STORY AT-A-GLANCE Optimizing your omega-3, vitamin D and magnesium levels can help reduce stress and positively impact brain health If you choose to use a vitamin D3 supplement, pair it with magnesium and vitamin K2 to reduce your risk of atherosclerosis Maintaining optimal levels of magnesium lowers your risk of anxiety and of vitamin D deficiency Your brain has a high concentration of omega-3; a deficiency is associated with anxiety and depression During an acute stress response, your body undergoes chemical changes that enable you to run from predators or take down prey. It's known as the flight-or-fight response. Unfortunately, some of those same life-saving chemical reactions used to protect you from danger may also be triggered as a coping response to perceived societal dangers, like dealing with a problem with a coworker or addressing the fear of public speaking. In other words, there are times your body finds it difficult to turn off the stress response.