Healthcolumn

  You’ve seen the ads promoting supplements that claim to aid everything from common cold relief to weight loss. Another problem many supplements claim to fix? Stress. And since two-thirds of Doctors believe stress has a significant impact on their physical and mental health, it’s no wonder these products are flying off the shelves. 1. Melatonin What is it? A hormone produced by the brain’s pineal gland, melatonin helps control sleep cycles. Because sleep and mood are closely connected, supplementing with melatonin can alleviate stress. It’s considered safe, but can cause side effects like headaches, short-term feelings of depression, dizziness, and irritability. Does it work? Research indicates that melatonin can be a helpful in promoting healthy sleep patterns. One small study found that the supplement significantly improved sleep, behavioral disorders, depression, and anxiety in elderly patients. In another study, melatonin produced significant improvements in s...