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Best and Worst Ways to Cope with Attention Issues
Attention Issues are not just a single and simple problem; therefore, coping is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Attention is a national health crisis that continues to grow—yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and incorrectly treated issues today. Here are a few tips to help you understand and cope. Best Ways to Cope with Attention Issues: Learn more about ADD. A good place to start would be to learn about the 7 types of ADD and identify if this might be what you're dealing with. This will help you create the proper approach to your treatment. Customize your approach. One size does not fit all: What works for one person with attention may not work for another—or could even make the symptoms worse! Listen to your body and make sure you are working with a practitioner that truly cares about your individual health and wellbeing. Address your condition comprehensively, through proper testing, supplementation, therapy and diet. The Amen Clinics Method, developed through 26 years of clinical practice, uses a detailed clinical history, brain SPECT imaging to understand brain function, neuropsychological testing and laboratory studies to target treatment specifically to your brain using the least toxic, most effective means. Worst Ways to Cope with Attention Issues: Neglect treatment and push through the disorder alone. Unaddressed attention issues can have alarming consequences and is associated with higher incidences of: Academic problems, Low self-esteem, Job failure, Incarceration, Obesity, Divorce. Rely on pharmaceuticals alone. Attention issues can be aggravated by a variety of conditions, including diet, environmental toxins, and limited physical expression. “For example, the European Union (EU) requires that foods containing certain food color additives include a statement on the label that this color "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." says the Mayo Clinic. Overload yourself with to-dos, commitments, and activities. Filling your schedule or your child’s schedule with too many distractions and stresses can make the condition worse. Simplify your schedule and your life while you develop a strong treatment plan and see that it’s working for you. As you can see, there are many simple tools that you can use to manage attention issues at home. Hopefully, with these tips, you now have a good starting point!
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How To Protect Your Body From Stress
Do you ever feel stressed out? Kids, jobs, traffic, bills, relationship issues, parents aging, siblings fighting, not to mention the overwhelming amount of everyday responsibilities you need to keep track of…stress is more like a daily experience than an occasional event. Usually, people think of stress as bad…but really, stress is both good AND bad. Stress can motivate us (to study for an exam or pay our bills on time), it can protect us (we buy alarm systems for our homes, businesses or cars), and it can feed us (we go to work to put food on the table). However, too much stress is very bad for your brain and body, and unfortunately, too much of it can also kill you. By some estimates, as much as 80% of all disease and illness is initiated and aggravated by stress. In fact, left unchecked, chronic stress can have serious personal and social consequences, including: Health problems Low self-esteem Disability Family conflict Withdrawal from social activities Alcohol and substance abuse Legal and criminal problems Suicide So, what do you do if you are dealing with too much stress? Countless articles seem to offer the same advice: count to twenty, take deep breaths, envision yourself on a beach, and take some yoga. While these strategies can indeed help, for many, adding a supplement that supports a healthy response to the inevitable stress we all face can mean the difference between feeling overwhelmed and having peace of mind. That’s where basil comes in. That’s right – basil. But not the kind that makes food taste so wonderful…we’re talking holy basil. Never heard of it? You’re not alone, at least in the Western world. Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), also known as Tulsi, is an Eastern herb, revered in Ayurvedic medicine as "The Queen of Herbs" for over 3,000 years. Known as an adaptogenic herb, holy basil enhances the body's natural protective response to physical and emotional stress. Adaptogenic herbs do not alter mood, but they help the body function at its optimal level during times of stress. Research demonstrates that they do this by modulating the production of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Long revered as a powerful antioxidant with demonstrated antibacterial, analgesic, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, the most compelling research data suggests that holy basil possesses its greatest potential in the areas of stress relief and relaxation. Considering the fast-paced world in which we live, these findings prove to be extremely significant. In a recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, holy basil improved adaptation to problems associated with stress, including: Occasional anxiety Forgetfulness Decreased attention Feelings of exhaustion Sleep problems Holy basil is just one of the powerful and effective ingredients in BrainMD’s Everyday Stress Relief. This safe, non-sedating, and non-habit-forming formula combines holy basil with other well-studied herbs and nutrients that help support your body’s response to stress on multiple levels. While it's perfectly natural to feel stress if you need a little-added support to find some relief and peace of mind, give holy basil a try.
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11 Foods You Need For a Bright Mind
If your memory is worse than it was ten years ago, you should know that your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s has risen. Did you know that food can play an important role in getting your memory back to where you want it to be? It’s never too late to heal your mind and boost your memory. What is “BRIGHT MINDS?" Dr. Daniel Amen uses the mnemonic “Bright Minds” in his book Memory Rescue. This mnemonic gives you your memory loss risk factor and its brain healthy solution. Here is a food for each: Blood Flow: Pistachios raise a chemical in the body called arginine. Arginine helps blood vessels become wider and increase blood flows. Retirement: as you age, your brain gets less and less active. One of the ways to reverse aging is to strengthen the antioxidant capability of your body. The most potent antioxidant on the planet is cloves. Inflammation: It is a major cause of depression and dementia. Omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, and curcumins that come from curry all decrease inflammation. Curried salmon would be the perfect anti-inflammatory meal. Genetics: Some of us are more vulnerable to illness. With Alzheimer's disease, if you have the genetic vulnerability, your body produces too much of something called beta-amyloid. Sage has A level scientific evidence to help your memory, plus it tastes awesome and decreases the production of beta-amyloid. Head Trauma: Head trauma is a major risk for memory problems, Alzheimer's disease, and other forms of dementia. Shrimp boosts choline, which helps our brains make acetylcholine, which is very important, and very helpful for memory Toxins: We live in a toxic world. Whether it's your deodorant, shampoo, friends, or the toxic thoughts you have. Brassicas like cauliflower and brussel sprouts help boost glutathione in your body. Brassicas help your liver work better and helps you detoxify. Mental health: Saffron is a beneficial spice that has been shown to have anti-depressant effects that boost your memory, decrease your appetite while taking care of PMS. What could be better? Immunity and Infections: One of the best ways to strengthen your immune system is to boost your Vitamin D level. Eggs are a great way to incorporate Vitamin D into your diet. Neurohormones: For men and women, testosterone is critical to your sense of energy, motivation, mood, memory, libido, and sugar like eating cheesecake for dessert happens to drop it. But, adding pomegranate can strengthen testosterone. Diabesity: This is where you have a combination of high blood sugar, diabetes, or pre-diabetes, and you're overweight. It also increases your risk of memory problems. Cinnamon helps to stabilize your blood sugar, boost your mood, and it can decrease your appetite. Sleep: If you're not sleeping, you're much more likely to get a head injury. Cherry juice naturally has melatonin in it, the hormone that helps us sleep. A healthy and balanced diet- incorporating the foods listed in this Bright Minds mnemonic- regular exercise, and a good supplement regimen to support your nutritional deficiencies, brain, and body are all actions you can take to help your brain and memory today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life! Good habits start when you’re ready!
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2 Products That Will Help Your Mood Under Stress
In our modern-day world, it seems too easy to get caught up in the daily worries, to allow them to consume us. It seems like we don’t have enough time to stop and slow down either, just wearing ourselves out. Ultimately, this leads to an abundance of stress. Many times, stress doesn’t just negatively affect your mood, though that becomes the most visible side effect. Stress also negatively affects the way your brain and body work. So, it is important to try to control your stress. We know that stepping away from solving all the world’s problems is easier said than done. Instead of handling stress with alcohol, drugs, or emotional instability, we have a better recommendation. These two supplements have been shown in studies to help support your mood under stress. Try them along with practicing a healthy diet and regular exercise. Tyrosine Tyrosine is a supplement that is known to support the brain, adrenals, and thyroid, especially when coping with stress or intense mental strain. When stressed, your brain is depleted of DA and NE. So emotional intensity or stress stimulates the adrenals to release NE (norepinephrine), and E (epinephrine, adrenaline) that they make from NE. This NE helps the brain cope with the challenge. The adrenals also rely on DA (neurotransmitters dopamine) for their normal stress response. The healthy adrenal function requires ample l-tyrosine to sustain their production of DA, NE and E in order to support the brain under stress. To see if supplementing with Tyrosine could help with the body’s responses to stress a study was performed. In a double-blind clinical trial, a 2-gram dose of tyrosine helped undergrad students perform better at multitasking, to "make the right choices" under mental challenge. ProBrainBiotics Our intestines hold trillions of bacterial cells that contribute to our overall health and wellbeing. We may not always realize it, but our gut and our brain are connected. When your digestion is not working properly, it affects the way you think, feel, and vis-versa. In a clinical trial, the same 2 strains of probiotics found in ProBrainBiotics, when taken for 30 days, was found to promote a healthy mood and provide a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by individuals affected by chronic stress. They also assisted in coping with occasional anxiety, likely related to occasional stress. Probiotics will also help your brain and body by: Promoting positive mood and emotional balance Promoting healthy digestion Supporting mental focus while doing intense work Supporting a healthy response to everyday stress You can learn to manage your stress, but you can’t control everything and stress will happen. Arm your brain with the nutrients that are shown to help support your body and your mood when under stress, try Tyrosine and ProBrainBiotics.
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SAMe and Betaine TMG – The Mood Enhancing Power Couple
When your brain gets sick or ages, it is never just one biological mechanism, such as blood flow, that fails us, it is generally multiple mechanisms, such as blood flow, toxic buildup, nutrient depletion and inflammation. This gives us the blueprint on how to help overall brain health – in multiple mechanisms that support healthy blood sugar, gut health, blood flow, antioxidant status and decreased inflammation. Single mechanism interventions, such as just taking ginkgo or vitamin E by themselves, have not consistently worked in large scale studies. But when we use smart combinations, in a multiple mechanism approach, their effectiveness significantly improves. Best Nutrients for a Healthy Brain For example, with my patients, I often use: Omega 3 fatty acids to support decreased overall inflammation Ginkgo and vinpocetine to boost cerebral blood flow Probiotics to support gut health … because the health of your gut affects the health of your brain Alpha lipoic acid to help stabilize blood sugar levels and protect against nerve cell damage Huperzine A and choline to boost acetylcholine levels, one of the main amino acids involved with learning and memory Phosphatidylserine to support nerve cell membrane fluidity N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) for antioxidant support and detoxification The science behind using natural supplements grows stronger every year, but we must stop looking for single bullet treatments, and instead help the brain in all of the ways it struggles. This multiple-mechanism approach is what we used in our published brain rehabilitation study with football players where 80% of the players experienced significant improvement…and it’s what we use to help the people who come to our clinics. The Power Couple Another area that can benefit from this multiple mechanism approach is your mood. One of my favorite supplement combinations to help support a positive mood is betaine (trimethylglycine) and SAMe (S-AdenosylMethionine). SAMe is a small, naturally occurring molecule which powers over 200 enzymes necessary for healthy cell growth, maturation, and specialization. In the brain, SAMe is required for nerve cells to make energy, maintain connectivity, and generate mood-related neurotransmitters. Taken alone, data from numerous clinical trials indicate SAMe strongly promotes positive mood. In fact, this nutrient has been so effective that it has been available by prescription in Europe for many years as an antidepressant. And now it can work even better! The Science Recent research demonstrated that taking betaine at the same time as SAMe potentiated the effects of the SAMe on mood. In the clinical trial, subjects who received SAMe (750 mg/day) plus betaine (375 mg/day) performed better than SAMe alone (800 mg/day) on measures of worry, helplessness and worthlessness, agitation, and physical efficiency. In yet another study, the efficacy of the combination of betaine and SAMe was tested against an antidepressant medication. After 6 and 12 months, both treated groups showed a noticeable improvement, although the group treated with SAMe plus betaine showed better results in terms of score on a depression rating scale, a number of individuals in remission, and side effects. If you are looking for a natural, safe, and effective way to promote a positive mood, give betaine and SAMe a try!
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Celebrating Valentine's Day With Brain Healthy Desserts
Two seemingly decadent treats, coconut and chocolate, have gotten such a bum rap, many people avoid them. Don't do it. First and contrary to popular opinion, coconuts are not considered fruits, but seeds. And hundreds of studies have explored and proven that coconut meat is chock-full of brain-healthy fatty acids in abundance. Coconuts are actually so nutritious Amen Clinics consider them a super-food – one that nourishes your brain and body, satiating hunger with healthy fats, protein and fiber. Although we know that the saturated fat in animal foods is dangerous for the cardiovascular system, the saturated fat in coconut is quite different than that in animal-based foods. The coconut got its name from early Spanish explorers who used the word “coco” (which means “monkey face”), and they contain ample water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for people to live on. The only thing more decadent and delicious than noshing on coconuts or using coconut oil to cook with is combining the mood-altering combination of both coconuts and chocolate. Although smashing through the coconut's rough outer shell may seem daunting, here are several ways coconut oils and organic coconut may enhance your health: Specific fats in raw coconut may promote a healthy body weight and help you shed unwanted pounds One cup of raw, shredded coconut yields about 7-8 grams of fill-you-up-fiber Some of the unique fatty acids in coconuts (including capric and lauric fatty acids) are antibacterial and antiviral, helping to bolster your immune system Coconut packs electrolyte-type minerals (like manganese and potassium) that make it a perfect pre- and post-workout fuel Coconuts may be good for bone health because it contains levels of calcium, iron and folate
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Brain Neurotransmitters Can Affect Your Mood and Your Life
Neurotransmitters are complex chemical messengers that coordinate clear communications between neurons in your brain cells and the rest of your body. These back-and-forth transmissions can influence nearly every cell, tissue, and biological decision in your body – and your life. Brain neurotransmitters are a really big deal. Do you know if yours work properly? Neurotransmitters Boost Communication Between Brain and Body These chemical messengers connect the brain and spinal cord with the rest of your body and with your muscles, organs, and glands, says Daniel D. Amen, MD, author of The Brain Warrior’s Way. Your brain’s billions of nerve cells make trillions of connections with each other. (These are called synapses.) Then, each nerve cell generates electrical signals that travel with help from those brainy chemical messengers. These chemical envoys may affect every cell, tissue, and system in your body. And because neurotransmitters are also deeply involved in the immune system and your hormones, neurotransmitter imbalances can cause health problems: Migraines Brain fog (loss of focus) Fatigue Insomnia (difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both) Fibromyalgia (localized pain) Diabetes and pre-diabetes Obesity Mood disorders (depression, mood swings) Anxiety (PTSD) Behavioral addictions (binge eating, gambling, etc.) Hormonal imbalances Balance Your Brain to Feel Lighter and Brighter When your brain’s chemical transmitters are healthy and in balance, you may think more clearly, feel less anxious, and enjoy a more positive outlook. Some of our most effective supplements include neurotransmitters, as well as dozens of vitamins and minerals you may need for a brighter mind: GABA(Gamma amino butyric acid) is a major calming brain neurotransmitter in the central nervous system that supports mood; Serotonin is another inhibitory (or calming) neurotransmitter tied to appetite, pain, and digestion; and Melatonin is a neurotransmitter-like property involved in many body functions such as sleep and depression.
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4 Ways Chocolate Can Boost Your Brain
Your Brain on Dark Chocolate Lovers and chocoholics everywhere are overjoyed to know that some chocolate may actually be (gulp) very good for you and your brain. Turns out that chocolate, in its natural form, isn’t bad for you. It's all that fake processing, sugar and scary chemicals that go into commercial chocolates that make them so unhealthy. Instead, think: silky, creamy, natural dark chocolate. Melt in your mouth chocolate. That’s right. Dark chocolate contains health-promoting properties that support a positive mood, the ability to think clearly, and your healthy cardiovascular system. Not All Chocolate is Created Equal Most chocolate bars are full of unhealthy ingredients like sugar, dairy and synthetic flavors — virtually canceling out chocolate’s powerful health benefits. Chocolate is made from tree seeds of the tropical Theobroma cacao plant. The earliest use of chocolate dates back to ancient civilizations. For centuries, deep dark delicious chocolate has been honored for its healing and medicinal qualities. Aztecs and ancient Mayans even drank theirs in a brew made from natural cacao beans; they believed it provided strength and energy. When the Europeans first brought cacao home from the Americas, they used it as an all-purpose tonic to treat dozens of health conditions like insomnia. Europeans actually once referred to chocolate as “the food of the gods.” 4 Ways Chocolate Boosts Brain and Body High in flavonoids (substances shown to increase blood flow) Loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants Full of fiber (to keep you feeling full) Rich in minerals like magnesium, iron, zinc Additionally, chocolate contains phenylethylamine or PEA, which is a psycho-active compound. It acts as a stimulant that makes you feel really good when you eat it. Chocolate also increases serotonin (the “don’t worry, be happy” neurotransmitter) in your brain. Happy Valentine's Day (and Choose Your Chocolate Wisely) The answer is yes, fine chocolate can actually be good for you. We knew it all along. So, while chocolate is healthy for you, the added sugar and dairy in it are not. That’s why Dr. Daniel G. Amen has created BrainMD Health’s very own chocolate bars – Brain In Love and Brain On Joy. These delicious chocolates are free of sugar, dairy, gluten and GMOs. But they are rich in decadence and made with love. On Valentine's Day, don't deprive yourself. Treat yourself and loved ones to delicious, satisfying chocolate bars that are good for your soul, and healthy for your brain and body.
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Are You Severely Sleep Deprived?
You have been staring at the ceiling for hours now. The more you think about needing to fall asleep, the more you toss and turn, and all those ANTs start circling. When you wake up the next morning feeling exhausted or defeated, it’s the right time to create a healthier sleep life. Extreme Sleep Deprivation Directly Affects Your Health Many workaholic Americans have an emerging mindset that it's socially acceptable – even mandatory – to get less rest. They may participate in “work binges” and settle for 4-5 hours of sleep per night. That is just not an adequate amount of brain rest for most of us. Truth is, extreme sleeplessness can potentially triple the risk of death from all causes, and is associated with cognitive decline, says Daniel G. Amen, MD in Change Your Brain Change Your Life. Sleeping less than six hours has also been associated with: Lower overall blood flow to the brain Hindering your mood, focus, and memory for days after Increase of appetite, which increases risk for unwanted weight gain Low mood or feelings of anxiousness Loss of motivation and willpower Holistic Treatments for More Soothing Slumbers As this harmful cycle continues, asking your doctor for sleep medication may sound like the only option. However, at Amen Clinics we look at a healthy sleep regimen in a holistic manner, integrating natural healing therapies with the sleeping medications people may already be on. Helpful, night-time supplements can make a difference to your quality of life. They often contain melatonin, GABA (a calming neurotransmitter), magnesium, vitamin B6 and herbal valerian root, used for centuries as a sleeping supplement. Invest in Your Rest – You Deserve It Try these healthy habits alongside a night-time supplement to ensure quality rest and a healthy lifestyle change. Exercise early in the day to increase blood flow to the muscles and your brain as a natural, calming stress reliever Limit caffeine consumption to early afternoon, this gives your body time to wind down Zap all your ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) Limit technology before bedtime, pick up a book instead Meditate for 10 minutes before you hit the sack Free yourself from alcohol and drugs that interfere with optimal sleeping patterns. Learn how to become a real Brain Warrior. Hear more about how to solve your sleeping struggles on one of Amen Clinic's Facebook Live Chats.
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4 Foods to Avoid for Better Gut Health
Did you know if your gut isn’t healthy, your brain probably isn’t functioning optimally either? In fact, there’s a good chance you won’t feel well at all. Studies have shown a link between your gut health and brain health. The first rule in gut health is to take care of your “good” bacteria. Taking care of your “gut bugs” requires providing them with a solid house and healthy food. Tana Amen BSN RN Explains the Importance of Probiotics https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=vFnycsacVcU 4 Foods to Avoid for Better Gut Health It is true that the gut communicates directly with your brain. About ninety percent of the serotonin in your body is made in your gut. Vitamin formation and mineral absorption also occur in the gut. The gut is responsible for about seventy percent of your immunity. As a Brain Warrior, the first step to having a healthy gut is to stop doing things that cause harm to it. In Week 6 of the Brain Warrior’s Way Live Class, Dr. Amen and I discussed foods that damage your gut, I’ve listed them here so you can be sure to stay away: Gluten, Latin for “glue,” is a sticky protein found in wheat, barley, rye and many other grains. It has been proven to damage the intestinal lining. Even if you’re not diagnosed with Celiac disease, gluten doesn’t offer you any health benefits. In fact, it has shown to damage gut lining 100% of the time in recent studies. Lectins is the Latin for, “to select.” These carbohydrate-binding proteins can be found in many grains including wheat, rice, oats, buckwheat, millet, rye and corn. Quinoa, dairy, eggs, legumes (including dry beans and peanuts), soy, and vegetables in the nightshade family—peppers, eggplant, potatoes, and uncooked tomatoes also contain lectins. Corn has the worst fatty acid profile of any grain. Be aware that most corn in our country is genetically modified and sprayed with pesticides. Sugar is the perfect food to grow the enemy’s army: resistant bacteria, yeast and other invaders. Antibiotics and other medications can wipe out most of the bacteria in your gut. The “resistant” bacteria that remain are often the “bad guys.” Another Way to Support Gut Health Gut health is one of the most unappreciated systems in the body. It lays the foundation to ensure you to have a healthy body and mind. If you take care of the “good” bacteria it can change your life. Because this system has such a profound impact on our well-being, body function, brain health, and even our physique, it is important to do what we can to support it. I recommend taking a good probiotic, like BrainMD’s ProBrainBiotics to ensure you support those important gut bugs. This is such a great product because it contains 2 specific strains of probiotic that have been studied for brain-specific benefits in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.1 References: Messaoudi M, others. British Journal of Nutrition 105:755 (2011); addendum in Messaoudi M, others. Gut Microbes 2:256 (2011).
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Serotonin, Are You Getting Enough?
Brighten your mood and sidestep negative thoughts with serotonin and nutrients that can help promote calmness, satiation, and a more positive attitude. The human brain naturally produces a soothing neurotransmitter called serotonin, from before your birth and throughout your life. Serotonin plays many important roles in the brain’s biochemistry, and it’s intimately involved in sleeping, maintaining an upbeat mood, self-confidence, even supporting healthy appetite and social engagement. Are You Making Enough Serotonin Naturally? Here’s the thing, though: All-too many people don’t produce enough of this healthy property to experience the calming, positive effects. Plus, a deficiency may potentially affect depression and mood swings. Since serotonin also interacts in your intestinal tract, too-little of this chemical is closely associated with changes in gut health, body temperature and appetite. 8 Signs of Serotonin Deficiency Poor cognitive functioning Carbohydrate cravings and binge eating Constipation and digestive disorders Sleep problems and insomnia Feeling overwhelmed and unhappy Headaches Ringing in the ears Anger and irritability People who struggle with their moods often have very low levels of serotonin, says Daniel G. Amen, MD. Yet, serotonin can be increased in the brain (and body) by eating the proper foods and/or supplementing your diet. Interestingly, he says certain nutrients can help metabolize and help utilize serotonin most efficiently. Some of these nutrients include magnesium, zinc, folic acid, fish oils, vitamins C and B6. Always ask your doctor about supplementing, especially if you have a chronic condition and take medication every day. Also, it is possible (though rare) to have too much serotonin, but that usually occurs when people mix over-the-counter supplements with prescription drugs. Be sure to communicate with your health practitioner. Balancing your serotonin levels may help minimize emotional overeating and sleeplessness. Our effective Serotonin Mood Support can also help brighten your mood and possibly fight off cravings, bad moods and daily anxiety.
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Benefits and Uses of SAMe Supplements
SAMe Supplements Promote Good Mood Brain Chemistry At BrainMD, we see your brain as a sophisticated supercomputer with both hardware and software. For peak efficiency, the machinery (including cells, connections, chemicals, energy, blood flow, and waste processing) needs to work effectively. When your brain hardware or “machinery” doesn’t work quite as smoothly, your health practitioner may suggest therapeutic and biological interventions, including exercise, supplements, medication, neurofeedback, sleep apnea evaluations and treatment, hyperbaric oxygen, and more. Whenever feasible, we recommend the most natural ways to heal and support the brain, such as supplements and lifestyle interventions – nutrition plans and workout prescriptions, for example. While we still use medications when needed, and believe they save lives when used appropriately, we believe that treatment providers should first do no harm, and use the least toxic treatments. (Note: People who suffer from bipolar disorder should generally avoid SAMe since it may provoke mood swings.) What is SAMe? S-AdenosylMethionine (SAMe) can be made naturally in the body or synthetically as a supplement. It powers over 200 enzymes necessary for healthy cell growth, maturation, and specialization. In the brain, SAMe is required for nerve cells to make energy, maintain connectivity, and generate mood-related neurotransmitters. And your body utilizes SAMe for pain relief, depression, liver disease, and other conditions. People who don't make enough SAMe naturally may be helped by taking SAMe as a supplement. Widely studied for the treatment of osteoarthritis – you may have even seen a bottle of SAMe at your grandmother’s house first. But SAMe is not just for joints. In fact, over 40 clinical studies have suggested SAMe can potentially help some people battle heart disease, migraines, Parkinson’s disease, depression, PMS and other conditions. Furthermore, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which provides scientific evidence ratings for natural supplements, reports that SAMe is effective for treating depression, and may help slow the aging process. SAMe Supplement Benefits: May Also Help PMS, Fibromyalgia, Dementia, and Pain This nutrient has been available by prescription in Europe for many years as an antidepressant and has been available over the counter in the U.S. since the early 90s as a mood lifter and as a supplement for nervous system disorders. SAMe is involved with the production of several other brain neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine. Maintaining adequate levels of these foundational neurotransmitters is essential in supporting feelings of well-being. Recent controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of SAMe in promoting a happy, balanced mood. NIH double-blind research conducted at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital demonstrated that SAMe is beneficial as an additive to those resistant to FDA-approved antidepressants. People taking SAMe in addition to regular antidepressants experienced double response rate and remission rate compared with placebos. One major problem with compliance of prescribed antidepressants is the number of unpleasant side effects, including the 70 percent of patients who experience sexual dysfunction. (This negatively affects adherence to their medication regimen.) Clinical trials have found that SAMe can decrease sexual dysfunction. Everyone can use a little help sometimes. If you are looking for a safe, natural supplement that can support brain health and joint function all while promoting a positive mood, try the natural route first.
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