Q: What if I already eat healthy, but am still feeling
moody and overwhelmed?
Dr. Brown: If you still feel moody and feel like you need additional help, it
is important to talk to your doctor. As a physician, I recommend the dietary
supplement SAM-e, a naturally occurring compound found in all living organisms. It helps to maintain healthy emotions, but your SAM-e levels can run
low due to various factors such as poor diet and aging.
By replenishing your natural levels with a daily supplement, you can help
to restore emotional balance in your life. Still, it’s important to first talk to
your doctor about all the options, including regular counseling or therapy,
trying a supplement and making other lifestyle changes, depending upon each
individual case.
Q: How does SAM-e work?
Dr. Brown: SAM-e affects mood by helping to increase the availability of
neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine (which are attributed to
feelings of emotional well-being), as well as increasing the number of neu-rotransmitter receptors. These are vital chemicals that affect one’s mood.
Studies have shown that SAM-e often starts working in as little as seven to
14 days, or half the time that is needed for traditional products.
Q: What kind of side effects does use of SAM-e avoid?
Dr. Brown: SAM-e does not cause side effects like dry mouth, constipation,
bladder problems, sexual problems, drowsiness and insomnia that can happen with other traditional products.
Q: What about exercise?
Dr. Brown: As always, exercise is an important part of feeling good. Just a
10-minute walk three times a day is enough to help regain energy. Yoga, which
is helpful for relieving feelings of anxiety due to its breathing and meditative
practices, is another excellent choice.
Q: How else can I lift my spirits?
Dr. Brown: By connecting with other people. Withdrawal is a classic symptom
of the blues, so it’s important to stay connected to other people. Socializing
engages the mind and forces you to think constructively, helping to overcome
feelings of loss and confusion. And if you have trouble socializing on your
own, contact your doctor or local hospital to find a support group near you.
You may also consider joining a religious organization or simply try nurturing
someone or something else, such as a family pet. A
THIS&THAT
WHAT IS ENTERIC COATING?
“ENTERIC COATING” is a phrase popping
up with increasing regularity on supplement labels, but what does it mean?
An enteric coating is a coating put on a pill
or capsule so that it doesn’t dissolve until
it reaches the small intestine. The coating
supports proper absorption of nutrients by
forming a protective barrier on a tablet or
capsule so it doesn’t irritate the stomach
or dissolve in the stomach, where the acidic
environment can destroy some nutrients.
Once the enteric coating is broken down,
the nutrients are delivered directly into
the main nutrient-absorption zone of the
body, the small intestine. The small intestine
can absorb the newly released nutrients
and carry them into the bloodstream.
From there, vitamins, minerals and other
nutritional components are transported
throughout the body to perform their
various functions.
An enteric coating can also make a pill
easier to swallow and mask bitter-tasting
medicine, eliminating the “burp” factor
commonly associated with vitamin E, fish
oil and garlic capsules. A
