Beyond Medication: Nutritional Alternatives for Mood Enhancement, Part 2

The Pope’s lung cancer diagnosis offers a window on advances in cancer detection, treatment; The supplements I recommend the Pope take to prevent recurrence; Novel injection therapy melts fat cells; Is cholesterol the be-all/end-all for heart risk assessment? Is the new mRNA flu vaccine worth taking? 

Humans are hardwired for generosity—but brain rewards are greater for voluntary philanthropy than paying our tax bills; Apple cider vinegar—are benefits real? Loneliness may steal 6 years of good health—but is it inevitable for introverts? Neanderthals may have used birch “glue” for wound healing; The many possible causes of hip pain; Popular pain remedy may yield scant benefits, hike risk of adverse side effects; Solutions for travelers’ constipation.

Post-Workout Nutrition, Antioxidants, and Insomnia’s Health Risks: Leyla Muedin, a registered dietitian in New York City, answers listener questions about post-exercise nutrition, advising against sweet or high-carb foods immediately after workouts because they raise blood sugar and insulin, shift the body back to fat storage mode, and can blunt human growth hormone needed for muscle and bone repair; she suggests protein and fat after morning exercise and saving carbohydrates for later, ideally 3–4 hours post-workout or at dinner. She also addresses concerns about oxidation after exercise, recommending antioxidant nutrients (vitamin C, mixed tocopherols/tocotrienols, vitamin D) and vegetables like spinach, onions, and mushrooms, noting inflammation and microtears are part of training adaptation. Finally, she discusses research linking insomnia to higher stroke risk and hospitalization, and reviews possible causes and sleep hygiene, plus options like melatonin, L-theanine, magnesium, and herbal ingredients.

Folic acid vs. methylfolate. Which is better?What do you recommend I take to get back to sleep when I wake at 2 AM to go to the bathroom?

Is it safe for me to take DHEA given my family history of breast and uterine cancers?I still have stomach and bowel upset after completing a round of antibiotics 2 months ago.  What's the best type of exercise for a type 2 diabetic? Aerobics or resistance training?I have IBS, but my doctor confirmed no gluten sensitivity.  hen why do I have symptoms when I eat wheat?

Nutritional Support for Mood: Magnesium, 5-HTP, Adaptogens, and the Folic Acid Debate: Dr. Ronald Hoffman interviews Neil Levin of NOW Foods/Protocol for Life Balance about rising depression and anxiety and the roles of lifestyle, social media, stress, diet, sleep, and exercise in mood. They discuss nutrient cofactors for neurotransmitter production, emphasizing B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, omega-3s, and gut health/fiber, plus concerns about heavy metals like lead and possible links to mood and violence. Levin contrasts tryptophan vs 5-HTP (blood-brain barrier, dosing, serotonin/melatonin) and reviews supplements for mood support including magnesium glycinate and magnesium threonate (Magtein/Cogumin), ashwagandha KSM-66 for stress and sleep, inositol (often gram-level dosing; PCOS and neurotransmitter effects), and GABA/PharmaGABA. They also address controversy over folic acid fortification, arguing folic acid is proven to reduce neural tube defects, methylfolate marketing has caused misinformation, and very high folate doses may warrant caution in active cancer.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Neil Levin, Senior Nutrition Education Manager and a product formulator for NOW Foods and Protocol for Life Balance.

Dr. Ronald Hoffman interviews pediatrician and public health expert Dr. Megan Moreno, co-author of “Connecting: Raising Kids in the Digital World” and co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, about how social media and technology affect children’s mental and physical health. They discuss evidence linking tech use to sleep disruption and mixed effects on nutrition and physical activity, plus risks including body image comparisons, addictive “frictionless” design in social media and gaming, exposure to disturbing content, cyberbullying, sexting, and impacts of parent device use on connection and language development. Moreno outlines practical, non-punitive strategies: assessing readiness for a phone based on maturity, setting rules on time and location, co-viewing, using device settings with role modeling, watching for problematic use, and maintaining open, supportive conversations.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with pediatrician and public health expert Dr. Megan Moreno, co-author of “Connecting: Raising Kids in the Digital World” and co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, about how social media and technology affect children’s mental and physical health. 

Death at clandestine Siberian bio lab raises specter of weaponized plague leak; Oats for constipation—friend or foe? How long can supplements keep? New weight-loss med that preserves lean body mass nears approval; Reading for pleasure—a waning pastime—enhances memory, mood, and empathy.