SAM-E

Mood Support - Liver Health - Joint Support - Cardiovascular Health - ADD

SAM-e (S Adenosyl Methionine) is a nutrient found in every living cell in nature and is essential to the survival of life on Earth. After hundreds of trials involving thousands of volunteers, medical researchers claim that SAM-e produces unprecedented results in the treatment of Depression, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and liver disease and that it supports overall cardiovascular health, energy levels, and mental acuity. In fact, the human body contains anywhere from 8-57 grams of SAM-e at any given time. This amazing substance has been shown to aid in over 40 biochemical reactions in the body, promoting the production of antioxidants and important substances for mental and physical health, which directly support mood, joint health and liver function. The bad news is, you may have lower levels of SAM-e in your body than you are supposed to. The good news is that SAM-e is available as an over the counter product.

It has been observed that nowhere are the benefits of SAM-e more noticeable than in the liver. And, believe it or not, this may have a direct correlation with skyrocketing mood disorder cases in modern society. As technology takes precedent over natural living, and people are pushed to take synthetic drugs to combat illness, the human liver is exposed to far more toxins than it can handle efficiently. More toxins means that more SAM-e is required to produce Glutathione which helps to make toxins water soluble so they can be eliminated from the body. SAM-e has been shown in a number of studies to have amazing protective properties for the liver.

With more SAM-e required for the elimination of excess toxins, there is less of the substance reserved for more than 30 other biochemical reactions. Some of the most important of these reactions involve the synthesis and transmission of mood regulating chemicals called neurotransmitters. Could this explain the Depression epidemic in modern society? It could at least partially explain it, along with increased levels of stress and responsibilities that members of today's population face. SAM-e has been shown to increase levels of neurotransmitters resulting in an enhanced mood.

Western medicine has approached mood regulation with crude molecular mechanical solutions. The most common drugs prescribed for depression are called SSRIs. SSRI stands for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. Drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro and Celexa fall under this category of drugs. Mood is primarily regulated in the human brain by the concentration of Serotonin, Dopamine, and Nor-epinephrine. When brain cells release these chemicals and other cells receive them, the result is enhanced mood. Once the chemicals are used, they are sucked back into a neuron through what is called a re-uptake valve. SSRIs literally block this valve allowing used neurotransmitters to keep being received by other cells. This results in enhanced mood, but not without side effects. One question that comes to mind is, "Why does the body suck these chemicals back up and destroy them?". Apparently, drug manufacturers have not asked themselves this question or they choose to ignore it for financial gain. Science has confirmed that the human body is a highly efficient mechanism. If it did not have to destroy these chemicals, it wouldn't. The immediate response from most people is, "Maybe the neurotransmitters are used, and therefore not as effective or faulty". Could this be true? It certainly could explain side effects and mental episodes that have been attributed to SSRIs. In fact, a recent study found that suicide rates among teens were increased by the drug Prozac.  Shouldn't this drug be affecting patients in the opposite way?

One of the most common side effects of SSRIs is sexual dysfunction, which is an inability to perform sexually or a lack of libido. According to the National Institutes of Health in 2002, an estimated 15 million to 30 million men in the United States experience chronic erectile dysfunction. According to WebMD.com 19 million adults are living with major depression in the US. With statistics this high, it's safe to assume that millions of sexual dysfunction cases are caused by antidepressant medication. SAM-e has no sexual side effects.

Another problem with SSRI medication is that patients have reported horrible withdrawal symptoms, including nausea, headache, electric shock sensations in the spine, dry mouth, insomnia, and more. SAM-e, by contrast has been shown to produce no more side effects than a placebo pill, and research has shown it to be as effective as SSRIs in fighting major depression. Over 20 years of research and hundreds of trials involving thousands of volunteers have confirmed these findings.

SAM-e has also been shown to have profound effects on joint health. The US Center for Disease Control reports that arthritis and chronic joint symptoms affect nearly 70 million Americans, or about one of every three adults, making it one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. SAM-e has been shown in studies to reduce inflammation, increase flexibility, and help rebuild joint cartilage. Studies have confirmed that after two weeks of SAM-e supplementation, pain associated with arthritis was diminished to a level comparable to high doses of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. Contrary to the harmful effects these drugs have on the stomach and liver, however, SAM-e actually protects the digestive tract and cleanses the liver of harmful toxins.

Like aspirin, SAM-e is not only an anti-inflammatory but also plays an important role in cardiovascular health. It does this by controlling levels of a risk indicating chemical called homocysteine. Some information suggests that SAM-e could actually raise levels of this chemical without the presence of B vitamins. However, a recent study confirms that this is simply not true. In fact, the study examined the blood concentration of homocysteine after administering 800 mg of SAM-e to subjects over a period of several months. Homocysteine levels actually dropped in some subjects and there was no supplementation with B vitamins.

Many would argue that there is no such thing as a "miracle pill", and that every substance one takes has benefits and drawbacks. Long-term SAM-e users would disagree adamantly. Thousands have reported unprecedented relief from this little wonder pill with no toxic effects being reported at more than 4 times the maximum therapeutic dosage of 1600 mg. Rarely does modern science find a chemical like SAM-e. Unlike vitamins, minerals, and other chemicals that are used in only a few reactions and which have very clear toxic thresholds, SAM-e can be utilized by one's body in the places one needs it. It is a non-invasive catalyst second only to the human energy molecule, ATP, in it's distribution and use in biochemical reactions. Because of our modern lifestyle, and increased toxin loads on the liver, it may be beneficial for anyone to at least try SAM-e. Most people report an overall sense of well being. They feel healthy, energized, and less troubled by emotional hardships!

Though SAM-e has been studied in Europe for over 20 years, there is still much to be known about just how many benefits this substance can provide. The results so far are shockingly positive, and most experts would agree that without any indication of toxicity, SAM-e has a bright future in modern medicine. The only drawback is that SAM-e can be very expensive as it is difficult to produce and stabilize. However, if you do research, you will find that you can order SAM-e for almost half the retail price.