Just Ask Terry

Just Ask Terry - June 4, 2010

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Hi Terry, “I am a 58 year old man. I suffer from gluten intolerance (but I have never been diagnosed with celiac disease) and try to stick to a gluten free diet. However, it isn’t easy. Is there anything I can take so I don’t have to worry so much about everything I eat?” KC, Kansas City, MO A. Dear KC, I’m sorry, but there is no easy answer that will take away your problem and let you eat without restrictions anymore. I can make some suggestions that will help you if you accidentally eat something with gluten, or if you want to try eating a food that is low in gluten. You should add a good digestive enzyme product to every meal. Look for one that is specifically designed to aid in gluten digestion. Probiotics will also help aid digestion processes. And bioavailable curcumin with turmeric oil and boswellia (free of beta boswellic acid) can help reduce any intestinal inflammation. But the best thing is to try to stick to your gluten-free diet as best you can. One strategy is to keep a supply of healthy, gluten-free snacks available so you don’t get so hungry that you make a poor decision at mealtime. Some ideas are almonds, brown rice cakes, fresh or dried fruit, hard-boiled eggs, celery sticks, goat cheese, or (in moderation) high quality dark chocolate.

Q. Dear Terry, “I have many symptoms of low serotonin levels. My doctor wanted me to take antidepressants but I don’t want to use them because I’m afraid of becoming addicted. Can you suggest something natural that would help increase my serotonin levels?” Jim B. Rhinelander, WI A. Dear Jim, You need to discuss with your doctor your reasons for not taking antidepressants and your plan to use natural interventions to address this issue. The best health outcomes are achieved when health care providers and their patients are all aligned. That said, there are several natural options for addressing low serotonin levels and improving mood. One suggestion is the amino acid tryptophan, 500 mg 1 to 3 times daily, and St. John’s wort extract, standardized to 0.3% hypericin, 1 capsule three times daily. Additionally, you might find chemotyped plant oils helpful. Chemotyped plant oils are highly concentrated. For example, in some cases it can take 8 tons of plant material to create one liter of oil. Make sure any plant oils you use are “chemotyped.” That means the oil has been purified, safety tested and “fingerprinted” to be the correct plant type and species. One formula I particularly like combines mandarin, basil and verbena chemotyped oils. It is excellent for improving mood and helping you feel calm and happy. You can read more about chemotyped plant oils in my article, Medicine of the Future: 100% Pure Chemotyped Plant Oils.