In fact, SAM-e’s link to these brain chemicals is what first led scientists to study its effect on mood, back in the 1980s. Since then, dozens of studies on SAM-e and depression have yielded impressive results, helping to make it a popular prescription antidepressant in Europe.

Reducing stress is crucial to controlling my blood pressure. meditation is a terrific way to promote relaxation. It doesn’t require a specific diet and while the training can be costly, once you’ve learned the technique, it’s free.

When they try to empty their minds, all they can do is think about the Visa bill that's due, the kids' next soccer game, the sneaking suspicion that they're about to be broken up with.

Of the B vitamins that fuel the brain's feel-good chemistry, folic acid and vitamin B-12 are at the head of the class. Without plenty of these two substances, the body slacks off its production of SAMe (short for S-adenosylmethionine), an important mood regulator that boosts serotonin levels in the brain.

For me—especially on a fine summer morning—a contemplative barefoot circuit of my dewy backyard can sound a whole lot more enticing than hunkering down on a cushion inside. And I seem not to be alone. Across the country, it’s getting easier to find opportunities to meditate in action.

Despite climbing's reputation as an extreme, reckless sport, where ripped athletes cavalierly risk their lives and ruin their fingernails, the movements that climbing entails are surprisingly graceful. Best described as a form of vertical yoga, climbing moves combine elements of the playground, mountaineering, and Twister.