The most common form of depression can also be the toughest to tackle. And part of the reason is that mainstream medicine has nothing for it.
Not specifically, anyway.
So doctors are forced to break out the BIG GUNS even for mild-to-moderate forms of depression. And that’s how so many folks who are battling the blues end up on powerful, mood-altering drugs with a laundry list of side effects.
It’s like hunting for mice in your home with a shotgun.
But new research reveals a better way of handling these challenging forms of depression. It’s a natural combo that could have you feeling like yourself again WITHOUT the side effects.
“Mild” mood problems have a major impact
They call it subthreshold depression, which makes it sound like no big deal. The description might even make you feel like you’re supposed to just “tough it out.”
But here’s the truth. It’s a LOUSY name because mild to moderate depression is no joke. While it’s a step below textbook “major depressive disorder,” it can still:
- Rob you of your joy
- Sap you of your energy
- Steal your willpower
- Mess with your sleeping, eating, and sex life
In other words, there’s not a thing about this type of depression that’s “sub.” It can disrupt your life on EVERY level.
You can’t just tough it out. And those drugs? Ironically they usually don’t work very well on anything short of major depressive disorder (and honestly, they’re often not so great against that, either).
Potent combo reversed depression symptoms FAST
That’s why this new study is so exciting. It revealed what could turn out to be a better drug-free option for many folks. It combines two natural solutions that already show promise against depression on their own.
When used together, these potent singletons turn into a dynamic duo. They can actually mimic some of the effects of today’s most popular antidepressant drugs but without the risks and side effects.
The two are:
- S-adenosylmethionine (often simply called SAMe)
- Lactobacillus plantarum (a probiotic bug often shortened to plantarum)
The SAMe has been shown to blunt the effects of both oxidative and nitrosative stress. And don’t worry if you have no idea what that means. Most folks outside of a lab wouldn’t.
The science gets a bit complicated, but what it boils down to is both of these types of stress are linked to depression and anxiety. And it appears that SAMe can dial down their negative effects in ways similar to SSRI drugs.
Meanwhile, studies show that the probiotic can cut levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. In fact, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen probiotics beating the blues. I recently wrote about three other strains of friendly bacteria that could help lift your mood and ease feelings of depression.
In the new study, researchers tested the two against a placebo in 90 volunteers with mild-to-moderate depression. And although the study ran for a month and a half, the lucky folks who got the combo felt significantly better within just two weeks.
They had improvements in depression, anxiety, and cognitive symptoms, which lasted throughout the study. And even better, they reported ZERO side effects.
Researchers are planning a longer study next. But if you’re battling a mild to moderate case of the blues, there’s no need to wait around for those results.
SAMe and L. plantarum are both considered safe and effective and are easy to find anyplace supplements are sold. So go ahead and have a chat with your doc about giving them a try.
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