Emotional Health

Poor mood, depression, and low energy have become epidemic in America. There are literally tens of millions of American men, women and children that suffer from some level of emotional disturbance. Although day-to-day stress can be considered a precipitating factor, there are multiple studies in the medical literature indicating that proper nutrition is critical to maintaining balanced emotional health.

One study of female college students demonstrates the importance nutrition plays in mood and stress. In the study, two groups of female college students were given 50 mg of thiamine daily (vitamin B1) versus placebo. After two months, the students who took thiamine more than doubled their scores on clear-headedness and mood compared to the placebo group who showed no change. Free Yourself from Emotional Trauma – Gain Emotional Wellness and Intelligence

In the mid 1980s, a prestigious medical journal known as the American Journal of Medicine did an entire symposium on SAM-e documenting benefits for various disease conditions. In the last several years, SAM-e has become an extremely popular, over-the-counter supplement, although interest in this nutrient has lessened over the last couple of years. This may change very soon.

A government report recently concluded that the dietary supplement, SAM-e, appears equally effective as prescription drugs for both depression and osteoarthritis. This was released in an evidence report summary on the supplement that was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. A group of researchers examined 102 clinical trials regarding SAM-e. This team of researchers worked for more than three years to conduct a literature review on these 102 clinical trials. The team's key findings on SAM-e included that it was thought to be as effective as prescription antidepressants; that it worked as effectively for osteoarthritic pain as non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, and that it may even help some liver conditions. Although SAM-e appeared to be as effective as standard antidepressant medication, it did not have any of the side effects of prescription antidepressants, such as headaches, weight gain and most significantly, sexual dysfunction.

A diagnosis of depression requires at least five of the following symptoms.

• Depressed mood.
• Diminished interest or pleasure in all or most activities, most of the day, nearly every day.
• Significant weight loss or gain when not dieting (e.g., more than 5% of body weight in a month).
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping nearly every day.
• Agitation or depression in voluntary muscle movements nearly every day.
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness nearly every day.
• Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of death), recurrent suicidal ideation without a plan, or a suicide attempt or specific plan to commit suicide.