Tips on Nutrition
THIS CHAPTER IS ALL ABOUT great things to feed your body for optimal
health. But there’s another “supplement” that’s easy to take, readily avail-
able, as important as any vitamin—and free: sleep.
As part of its daily activities, the brain creates serotonin and dopamine,
known as neurotransmitters because they carry impulses between nerve
cells. When the body doesn’t get the seven to eight hours of sleep it needs
to rejuvenate, it looks for ways to compensate for neurons not secreting
the normal amounts of these chemicals. It typically does this by craving
sugary foods. So you grab a big doughnut or a candy bar—which doesn’t
adequately do the trick and also leads to weight gain.
Lack of sleep plays a bigger role as you get older. So take an adequate
dose of sleep tonight—and don’t call the doctor in the morning. A
188 A guide to supplements
190 The benefits of fish oil
192 Your emotions and SAM-e
194 Bottled water makes sense
196 Water and our bodies
197 Antioxidants for health
198 Healthy herbs
202 Tips for joint care
204 A look at melatonin
205 Coenzyme Q10 explained
206 Reasons to filter water
