In the News

The Last Word: Can a SAD Lamp Really Lift Your Mood in the Winter?

By Rena Goldman, Jan 10, 2023 But it’s not just a marketing ploy. SAD lamps are designed to recreate the natural light from the sun, says Alex Dimitriu, MD, an Everyday Health medical reviewer and a dual board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist based in Menlo Park, California. “That light is especially important in the morning.”   Click HERE for the full […]

13 Top Travel Pillows for 2023

By Stacey Zable and Timothy J. Forster, Jan 5, 2023 Head support: What’s most important is ensuring your head is supported in the right places by your travel pillow – and, in particular, not being pushed forward by excessive padding – according to Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a sleep/wake and performance specialist who is dual board certified […]

6 mental health conditions that exercise improves

By Heidi Borst, Jan 4, 2023 Exercise is an essential part of our well-being. It boosts metabolism, reduces anxiety, improves sleep, and produces endorphins, says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified doctor in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of BrainfoodMD. “For all of my patients, I recommend SEMM: sleep, exercise, meditation, and the Mediterranean diet,” Dr. Dimitriu […]

Does Melatonin Help with Anxiety? What Doctors Say

By Brian Morris, Jan 04, 2023 “Some studies have been carried out showing that melatonin can reduce stress around surgery,” says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a double board-certified physician (Psychology and Sleep Medicine) who founded Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine as well as BrainfoodMD. “In a 2015 review paper, the authors noted benefit to pre- and post-surgical anxiety in people pre-treated […]

Sleep Remedies: Valerian Root

By Tracey L. Kelley, Dec 21, 2022 The medical history of the plant is quite extensive. “Valerian root has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for anxiety and insomnia,” says Dr. Alex Dimitriu of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “It’s believed to have originated in Europe and was first used by the ancient […]

People Who Sleep Well Every Night Avoid This One Food, According to Sleep Experts

By Kaitlin Vogel, Dec 20, 2022 After a large meal, our bodies have to work to process the food, and our heart rate and metabolism remain elevated. This is the opposite of the restful effect desired when sleeping, says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, MD, who is double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and the founder of Menlo […]