The strange symptom that makes this mood disorder harder to treat

If you’re one of the 5.7 million Americans living with bipolar disorder, you may feel like it’s hopeless.

After all, while lithium treatment used to offer a 70 to 85 percent success rate, the drug treatment is now often successful in only 40 to 50 percent of patients.

And, although there are a number of other mood stabilizers doctors use to treat the disorder, they aren’t always effective and finding the right one to help you achieve balance can be challenging.

That’s why research has turned to nutraceuticals (nutritional substances expected to have pharmaceutical benefits) that in combination with your traditional bipolar treatment can boost your results and give you your life back.

One of the most studied of these nutraceuticals and the one shown to have the most benefit is N-acetyl cysteine or NAC.

NAC is a derivative of the amino acid L-cysteine and has been shown to significantly decrease bipolar depression (an extremely common symptom especially in women suffering from the disease) at a level of 2,000 mg per day. This is extremely important since although some of the current medications are useful, they’re better at targeting the mania symptoms (the “up” phase that comes with the disorder), leaving people who experience the depressive episodes out in the cold.

Yet, NAC doesn’t work for everyone – some people get amazing results while others get little to no help. But now, thanks to a new study, we now know why it works for some but not for others as well as what the key is to make it work for you.

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It’s all about inflammation

When a group of Australian, German and American scientists got together for this study, they weren’t actually looking to find why NAC does or does not work when combined with mood stabilizers.

They were simply comparing it to a placebo.

But, when they noted the differing result levels in the patients taking the nutraceutical, they decided to dig deeper.

Here’s what they found…

People who have a high-quality diet, one that’s less inflammatory, and/or a low BMI (Body Mass Index) respond better to the combined approach of NAC plus standard treatment than those who eat a less healthy diet and are overweight.

You see, when you’re carrying around extra pounds or are eating a diet with higher levels of saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol, you end up with higher levels of inflammation in your body.

This causes an increase in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines which have been found to be high during acute episodes of bipolar symptoms.

This causes a dysfunction in the cells of your nervous system, neurological and hormonal abnormalities and leads to changes in the mood-regulating areas of your brain. And, it seems like the NAC just can’t combat all of those changes.

Reduce inflammation to gain control 

So, if you want to reduce your bipolar symptoms, especially the depressive episodes, it’s vital that you eat an anti-inflammatory diet and lose those extra pounds.

To lower inflammation, avoid:

• Refined carbohydrates
• Alcohol
• Processed meats
• Fried foods
• Bad fats like lard, margarine, and shortening

And, instead get plenty of:

• Green leafy vegetables
• Tomatoes
• Olive oil
• Fruits
• Nuts
• Fatty fish (like salmon, sardines, and mackerel) and take a high-quality fish oil supplement

To achieve a healthier weight, consider keeping a food journal to help you steer clear of diet pitfalls, get daily exercise, address any thyroid issues that may be behind your weight and set clear goals.

You can also help to further reduce your inflammation levels by:

# 1 – Practice mind-body therapy

Mind-body therapies, like yoga and tai chi, have been shown to reduce markers of inflammation. In fact, a review of 34 studies found that just 5 to 10 minutes a day could help you achieve the results you need.

#2 – Sleep better

Missing out on even a little sleep raises your body’s inflammation levels. You should set a goal of at least seven hours a night but eight is even better.

#3 – Up your vitamin D and vitamin K levels

Vitamin D deficiency contributes to inflammation along with multiple other health risks so optimizing your levels should be at the top of your list of to-dos. And research has shown the combination of D and K can be beneficial for mood disorders.