Two Fantastic Natural Mood Boosters

With the dark days of December upon us, I wanted to write about two supplements from Irwin Naturals that can really help with improving mood and easing the stress of the holidays.

The first is 5-HTP Extra. 5-HTP is a supplement that helps to boost serotonin in the brain (serotonin is the “feel good” neurotransmitter. Antidepressants like Prozac work in a similar way, which is why it’s important not to mix 5-HTP supplements with prescription antidepressants. Irwin’s 5-HTP Extra is nice because it combines 5-HTP with theanine, an amino acid that’s great for reducing anxiety as well as lemon balm and rhodiola, which work very well for reducing stress. 5-HTP extra is great for people suffering from depression along with stress and anxiety. My husband has used it and found it really helped with reducing stress and anxious thoughts. He was having a lot of stress and difficult things happening in his life (a death of a close family member and other issues), and thought it really helped; in fact, he didn’t realize how much it was helping until his bottle ran out. He said it helped him to feel much less “panicky about things”.

The other supplement I’d recommend is Irwin’s Sunny Mood. It’s a supplement I actually wrote about last December (‘tis the season, I guess), so see this article for more information on the specific ingredients in the supplement and how they work. My husband started taking Sunny Mood after trying the 5-HTP extra. Of the two, he prefers Sunny Mood. He really says he thinks him feel better and more positive. One might even say that it helps to encourage a “sunnier mood”. If you’re having a difficult time with the darker days of winter and need a mood boost, I’d really recommend giving Irwin Natural’s Sunny Mood a try. 

Both supplements are wonderful and effective. The main difference between the two is that the 5-HTP Extra helps to boost serotonin (similar to the ways that a number of different prescription antidepressants work). Sunny Mood is also effective for mild depression and really does help to encourage a more positive mood. 

Healthy Q & A: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Q:

I think I have seasonal affective disorder.   These dark days are killing me, and I just feel down and like I have no energy to do anything.  Do you have any ideas of something natural that could help?  I do not want to go on prescription antidepressants.

A:

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is very common this time of year as the amount of daylight is so short.  Some people who work in an office may hardly even see the sun in the winter months, which makes it very easy to become depressed.  First, I’d like to say not to absolutely rule out prescription antidepressants.  I am all for doing things naturally, and believe a natural approach should be tried first, but there are times when pharmaceuticals are both beneficial and necessary.

That being said, there are a number of supplements which can be very helpful for people with seasonal affective disorder.  The first thing that comes to mind, which has been shown to be incredibly effective for people with SAD, is a supplement called SAMe (pronounced “Sammy”) which is short for S-adenosyl-L-methionine.  SAMe works by helping to boost the manufacture of “feel good” or mood boosting neurotransmitters in the brain.

Research has shown it to be as effective as prescription anti-depressants (some studies have even found it to work better) without the side effects of conventional pharmaceuticals.  Instead of having side effects, SAMe has the side benefits of helping with pain and inflammation and also aiding in detoxifying the liver. 

SAMe is most commonly used for seasonal affective disorder and depression, but is also used effectively for fibromyalgia and joint pain.  Many natural mood enhancers can take a bit of time to gain full effectiveness; in fact, some like St. John’s Wort can take several weeks before the benefits are seen.  I particularly like SAMe since its benefits are felt quickly, usually within the first week and for some people within just a couple days. 

SAMe is most effective when taken on an empty stomach.  Most people find 400mg daily to be an effective dose.  If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder or depression, I would very much recommend giving it a try.  I know several people who take it with great success.  My one caution would be for people with bipolar disorder, since there has been some research which has linked SAMe supplementation with an increase in manic episodes for people with bipolar disorder.

Other supplements which can be of benefit to people with SAD (along with everyone else really), would be a quality omega 3 supplement as well as additional vitamin D.  One of the benefits of omega 3 fish oil is its help for brain function and mood.  Many people are deficient in omega 3 fatty acids since the body is unable to manufacture them- they must be obtained through diet, so unless you’re eating fatty fish several times a week, or consuming flax or chia seed regularly, you are likely deficient in that nutrient.

Vitamin D is great for everyone to take in the winter months, since it is usually made in the body from the reaction of sunlight on the skin.  Vitamin D can help with immunity, bone health, as well as proper mental health.