NUTRITION AND MENTAL HEALTH
By Dr. Lawrence Wilson
© December 2017, L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc.
Nutritional imbalances play a critical role in mental as well as
physical health. Many emotional
and behavioral symptoms and disorders have, at their root, nutritional and
biochemical imbalances that either cause or aggravate them. This article is a brief introduction to
some common nutritional imbalances that have mental and emotional effects.
A
solid, steady energy level is very important for the brain. The brain uses almost one-third of our
calories. Any fluctuations or low
levels of energy will have enormous impacts on our nervous system and emotions
as well.
This
has been demonstrated and is well-known in the case of
hypoglycemia. In this condition,
the brain does not receive a steady supply of glucose. Common symptoms can mimic many
emotional and physical disorders.
These include fatigue, depression, anxiety, confusion and even violence
and psychosis.
Emotionally
speaking, when one is tired, decision-making and all other mental and emotional
factors are more difficult.
Thousands of people today suffer from low energy levels. This often results in feelings of
depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, withdrawal and more.
Dr.
George Watson, PhD, spent over thirty years researching the biochemical and
nutritional aspects of mental health.
He began his work in the late 1940Õs when he held a post-doctoral
research fellowship in psychology at the University of Southern
California. He wrote:
ÒSince
the brain and the nervous system use proportionately more energy than any other
of the bodies organs, when there is a dysfunction in the energy cycles, the
first adverse affects are found in ones thinking, feeling, and behavior.Ó (Watson, 1979)
We
need energy to take risks, to face challenges and to live up to our potential
to be all that we can be. Enough adaptive energy is absolutely required to cope with stress as well. When energy is low and other imbalances
are present, the weakened chemistry fosters negativity and discouragement that
impedes self-expression and self-actualization. This fact has been born
out many times in our healing practice.
The
production of energy (ATP) from our food involves two major components, an
intact energy pathway and a balanced metabolic or oxidation rate. Let us
discuss these very briefly.
THE ENERGY PATHWAY
The
energy pathway involves the ingestion of food, first of all. In most people, the diet is improper,
with too many refined foods, too much sugars and not enough vegetables, for
example. Other aspects of diet
include eating habits such as eating regular, sit-down, quiet meals. This is as important in some cases as
what a person eats.
The
pathway continues with the digestion of food, another area most people are
sorely deficient in. They lack adequate digestive enzymes, which we supply in our
nutritional balancing programs for everyone. Once food is digested properly, it must be absorbed into the
cells, another area where many people have difficulty due to their diet of too
many omega-6 fatty acids and not enough omega-3 fatty acids. This makes the cell membranes less
permeable and causes inflammation as well.
Once
absorbed, food goes to the liver, where it must be converted
in many instances, to other chemical substances. This is also often a problem, as the livers are so toxic
today due to the ingestion of many chemical substances that are toxic for the
body.
Nutrients
then pass to the cells. Once
nutrients enter the cells they must be further processed in the energy cycles
within the mitochondria of each cell.
Deficiencies of manganese, for example, or B vitamins will inhibit this
energy conversion in the Krebs and glycolysis energy
cycles. This is also very common
today.
A
personÕs energy drops drastically if any
step in the energy pathway is blocked by nutrient deficiencies, toxic metals, toxic
chemicals, infection or other problems.
It is not wonder many people seek out caffeinated beverages or other
stimulants to keep going today!
Another
important factor in a personÕs energy level is the metabolic or oxidation
rate. We prefer the more exact
term, the oxidation rate. It is the rate at which energy is made available to the cells in
the body.
When
this rate is too fast or too slow, oneÕs energy level decreases dramatically. This is somewhat like pedaling a
bicycle in the wrong gear. Another
analogy is running a car in the wrong gear. The body has a torque curve, somewhat similar to the torque
curve of an internal combustion engine in which the power drops off at the low
and at the very high rate of speed.
This causes loss of power.
In
addition to energy loss, specific emotional and behavioral symptoms are
associated with a fast or an excessively slow oxidation rate.
Dr.
George Watson, who coined the terms fast and slow oxidation, noted that fast
oxidation is associated with impatience, irritability, anxiety, ADD and
ADHD in young children, panic attacks, at times, and other mental and emotional
symptoms.
Slow
oxidation is more associated
with depression, apathy, despair, hostility, bipolar disorder, schizophrenias,
moodiness, spaciness, brain fog, malaise and other
mental disorders. For more details about the oxidation rate, read The Oxidation Types.
Every
time Steven ate pizza, he became sullen and unresponsive. Eliminating this food cleared up the
problem. Reactions to foods such
as wheat, milk and many others can trigger emotional and behavioral
problems. These reactions are sometimes known as central nervous system
allergies.
A
pioneer in this field was an allergist, Dr. Benjamin Feingold. In 1985 he
wrote Why is your Child Hyperactive? He found that among hyperactive
children, a
full 50% improved when they removed certain food items including sugars, dairy,
wheat and various chemical food additives such as colorings, flavorings and
preservatives. Even some ÒnaturalÓ
flavors can cause problems. One is
better off without any additives, according to his research findings. His primary focus was on children
diagnosed as hyperkinetic.
Currently this is known as Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD.
Another
pioneer in this field was a psychiatrist, Abram Hoffer,
MD. In his book, Orthomolecular Nutrition, Dr. Hoffer gives many examples of patients whose aberrant
behavior was traced to food sensitivities. One young girl became psychotic each
time she ate oysters.
Doris
Rapp, MD, a pediatric allergist, thoroughly documented the effects of foods and
chemicals on behavior in her excellent more recent books. For example, she wrote in, Is this your ChildÕs
World? Òreactions to foods, dusts, molds, pollen
or exposure to chemicals can cause aggressive behavior and extreme anger.Ó
Unfortunately,
childrenÕs food, in particular, but many prepared foods for adults as well
continue to be laced with hundreds of toxic
chemicals. In addition, food
reactions are extremely common to everyday foods such as wheat, for
example. This problem if usually
missed by most psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors who attempt to
correct a physical problem with drugs or counseling when a dietary change would
be a simple remedy.
In Disease Prevention and
Treatment, 3rd edition, the authors note that while other tissues of the
body store fuel, such as sugar and fat, the brain does not. The brain is dependant on a steady
supply of glucose (sugar) for its moment-to-moment operations. Also, the
brain uses up a tremendous amount of calories. If the blood sugar is unstable for any reason, it can have
profound effects on behavior.
Eating
sugars, even including fruit and fruit juices, upsets calcium metabolism,
depletes vital B-complex vitamins, depletes minerals such as chromium,
manganese and zinc, and often leads to carbohydrate intolerance. Fruit and fruit juices usually contain
far too much sugar for most people, including children. We find everyone does much better
without fruit and without fruit juices, no matter what other diet authorities
claim about fruit.
Hypoglycemia
is one result of eating a diet of sugary or too starchy foods, the use of
stimulants and/or vital mineral depletion. It may be better described as carbohydrate intolerance. The body becomes unable to absorb
certain carbohydrate loads effectively without adverse consequences.
More
specifically, what happens is that several hours after a carbohydrate or
sugar-rich meal, the blood sugar level falls because the body cannot properly
respond to such a lot of carbohydrate ingested at the meal. It can easily fall to a level at which
the brain is effectively starving for fuel.
Symptoms
include fatigue, dizziness, shakiness, irritability and depression. Others are palpitations, anxiety, nightmares, and panic
attacks. Others are impaired
memory and concentration. Much
more can be understood about hypoglycemia. To find out more, read Hypoglycemia and Diabetes
on this website.
THE SUGAR AND STIMULANT ROLLERCOASTER
Many
people eat a sugar-laden breakfast that also includes coffee. This pumps up their blood sugar level,
which can cause irritability and even manic behavior.
By
about 10:30 in the morning, however, the blood sugar falls. They become sleepy, and often crabby or
irritable, and require a snack.
They often have a sweet or stimulant food to carry them over till lunch.
Lunch
may include more sugar, perhaps a soda pop with caffeine, sugar and up to 70
chemicals. It might include the
artificial sweetener, Nutrasweet or aspartame or
other chemicals such as MSG. These
are called excitotoxins. These affect the brain powerfully. The sweets and caffeine also pump up
the blood sugar again, and the roller coaster blood sugar ride continues
throughout the day. Along with it,
emotions can flare and one may wonder why work, relationships and other
activities are becoming more difficult to focus on and enjoy.
An
afternoon snack is usually required to maintain oneÕs energy level. This is usually sweet again, and may
contain more caffeine, too. The
blood sugar rises again, only to fall about 5 pm, when it is time for happy
hour or a drink or another soda pop to balance out once again. Millions of Americans live this way,
and more of the world is starting to live this way as
well. It is sad to behold because
it is preventable by eating more protein, some omega-3 fats and oils and much
less sugar, chemicals and stimulants such as caffeine.
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES
Specific
nutrients are absolutely required for many aspects of
brain activity. These include all
the B-complex vitamins, zinc, manganese, selenium, chromium, other vitamins and
many more.
For
example, a key mineral is calcium. It acts as a psychological buffer that relaxes muscles and
the nervous system, and helps to calm people down. Low tissue levels of calcium are very common. Hypocalcemia,
as it is sometimes called, may produce mild, diffuse encephalopathy (a brain
disorder) and should be suspected in any patient with unexplained dementia,
depression, or psychosis: (Berkow, pg.1196).
In
milder cases it causes irritability, anxiety,
nervousness, restlessness in children and hyperkinetic behavior. It can also lead to short tempers,
violence and even murder. Muscles
become more tense and one develops a Òshort
fuseÓ. All this is from a low
level of one common mineral that is deficient in most peopleÕs diet today.
It
is well known that phosphoric acid, an additive in
most types of soda pop, binds to calcium in the intestine. There it forms an insoluble product
that cannot be absorbed, thereby robbing the body of
calcium. In The Handbook Of Vitamins, Minerals and Hormones, Dr. Roman Kutsky explains that modern diets are very often deficient
in calcium and nutrients needed to use calcium such as vitamin D. This tends to cause more of many
problems, including mental and emotional diseases.
Also, stress from any cause can use up nutrients much faster
than they can be replenished, even with a wholesome diet. As a result, deficiencies in many vital
nutrients are even common in those who supposedly eat a healthful diet. Stress is a hidden source of problems
for many people that can lead a healthy person to develop symptoms of mental
illness.
BIOCHEMICAL INDIVIDUALITY
An
important cause of mental ailments today is called biochemical
individuality. This
is the term used to describe normal variations in the nutritional needs of each
person. It is a critical reason
for certain nutritional problems that often lead to emotional and mental
ailments. Variation depends on
oneÕs health conditions, lifestyle, age and even genetics.
In
plain words, some people simply need much more of a
certain vitamin or mineral than others.
If they do not receive it, they will develop both physical and often
emotional and mental symptoms.
This is fact, even if most doctors and psychiatrists do not recognize it
as true. I have seen it prove out
many, many times. It can even
explain various food cravings such as a love of chocolate, which is rich in
magnesium, copper and other nutrients.
For
example, the Òminimum daily requirementÓ for thiamine, vitamin B1, is extremely
low. However, Dr. Kutsky
notes that Òspecial conditions requiring supplementation of vitamin B1 include
pregnancy, lactation, heavy exercise, alcoholism, high carbohydrate intake,
processed food diets, deficiency diseases, old age, gastrointestinal disturbances
and antibiotic usage. This list
includes most Americans!
Among
the symptoms of a vitamin B1 deficiency are mental confusion and aphonia (difficulty speaking). Others include depression, irritability and memory lossÓ (Kutsky, p.216).
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
These
are also essential for good mental health in some cases. Unfortunately, today they are found in
abundance only in fish oils, flaxseed oil, hemp oil and to some degree cod
liver oil and some other sources such as grass fed beef and free-range chicken
fat. However, most people do not
get nearly enough of these critical nutrients.
One
of these, DHA, is critical for young growing babies
and children. ChildrenÕs brains
absolutely require a lot of it for proper development. Many other nutrients, of course, are
also important as well.
Toxic
metals are minerals that have no known necessary function in the body, and in
fact have very harmful effects on the body. Examples are lead, cadmium, copper, aluminum, arsenic,
mercury and a dozen others.
These
metals are found in our air, water, and food. We also acquire them by contact, such
as mercury found in dental fillings. They are
difficult to detect with standard blood and urine tests
as they do not remain long in the blood.
Copper. All toxic metals are toxic to the brain
and the nervous system. For
example, the late Dr. Carl Pfeiffer, PhD.,M.D
taught an entire generation of nutritionally oriented psychiatrists that many
psychological problems, ranging from depression to schizophrenia, can be caused
by high copper levels. Pfeiffer was the former director of the Brain Bio Center
in Princeton, New Jersey. In Mental and Elemental Nutrients,
he also mentions the connection between copper and postpartum psychosis,
autism and one type of schizophrenia.
To read more about copper toxicity, read the article on this website, Copper Toxicity Syndrome.
Thus,
toxic metals are an important hidden cause of emotional and physical illness that
is often ignored because physicians of all kinds are unaware of their presence
and importance.
Mercury. Another important toxic metal
contributing to mental disorders is mercury. Pfeiffer (1975) states that 10% of all ingested mercury goes
to the brain, which, in turn, depletes it of necessary zinc. Zinc functions as a calming
neurotransmitter and a facilitator for important enzymes in the brain.
Drs.
Casdorph and Walker mention symptoms of mercury
poisoning as depression, fearfulness, and frequent bouts of anger or
hallucinations.
Others are the inability to accept criticism, inability to
concentrate, indecision, irritability, loss of memory and a persecution
complex.
Manganese poisoning is
often found to be prevalent in people with psychopathic behavior. Casdorph and Walker (1995) discuss the case of James Huberty, who opened fire with an assault rifle at a busy
McDonaldÕs restaurant in San Ysidro, California in
1984, killing 21 people. Among other tests, the cityÕs medical examiner did a hair
mineral test. It revealed
extremely high levels of lead and cadmium, and even higher levels of
manganese. The examiner wrote that
the killerÕs mineral analysis showed a Òtrace metal pattern previously observed
only in violent sociopaths.Ó
In
1989, Patrick E. Purdy sprayed assault riffle fire at children at the Cleveland
Elementary School in Stockton, California. He killed 5 children and wounded 30
others. Then he turned the gun on
himself and pulled the trigger.
Post mortem hair mineral analysis showed also
an extremely high level of manganese.
As it happens, both killers were welders. Among the metals they worked with were lead, cadmium, iron
and manganese, according to Casdorph and Walker
(1995).
For
much more information on the important topic of toxic metals, read the article
on this website entitled Toxic Metals.
Thousands
of chemicals affect our mental health today. They range from simple
food additives to pesticides, solvents, plastics and many other industrial
chemicals.
Many are neurotoxic and thus are
capable of affecting emotions and behavior.
A
few are well-known and well-researched such as alcohol
and marijuana. However, many hundreds
of others are unknown to most people.
One reason is the severity of their effects vary
depending on an individualÕs sensitivity.
So while one person is hardly affected by
chemicals such as pesticides, others become agitated and even violent.
TCE. An example of a toxic chemical that
affects the nervous system and behavior is is
trichloroethylene (TCE). It is commonly found in homes and
schools, in adhesives, coffee, copy machines, dry cleaning fluid, floor polish,
food additives, fumigants, glue, ink, paint, rug shampoo, and more.
Dr.
Doris Rapp, MD mentions that symptoms of TCE exposure
symptoms include central nervous system damage, depression, dizziness, fatigue,
and psychosis. She gives the
example of William, a student whose grades were typically between 85 and 90
percent. Shortly after the school
installed new carpet, his grades dropped to barely passing. He switched to a different school with
plain wooden floors, and his grades returned to their original high levels.
Fluoride has been shown by Dr. Rapp and others to have dramatic
effects on childrenÕs emotions and fine motor skills. She gives the example of a ten-year-old
girl who had been depressed for two years. During that period she had been
taking fluoride tablets. When she was tested with the fluoride and asked to draw a picture,
she drew a face with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Stopping
the fluoride tablets and eliminating other exposure to fluoride in water , foods and toothpaste caused a dramatic improvement
in MarciaÕs symptoms.
Chlorine. Another chemical that can cause
problems is chlorine, found in tap water, and even moreso
in swimming pools and hot tubs.
Dr. Rapp gives an example of eight-year-old William. He was tested
for chlorine after his mother noticed he fell asleep during an exciting dolphin
and whale show at Wonderland.
WilliamÕs handwriting
(normally neat) became unreadable when he was tested
to sensitivity to chlorine.
Once
again, much more could be written and has been written elsewhere about the
detrimental effects of toxic chemicals on our brain and resulting behavioral
problems. We love Dr. Doris RappÕs
rather large textbooks as sources of information on this topic.
THE IMPORTANCE OF DETOXIFICATION
A
complete nutritional balancing program will remove all of the toxic metals and
hundreds of toxic chemicals, as well.
In addition to the diet and nutritional supplements, the nutritional
balancing detoxification procedures are also powerful and safe. They can be done
at home at low cost. They include:
1. Red lamp sauna therapy. We donÕt like the
other types of saunas. For
details, read Sauna Therapy.
2. Coffee enemas. For detail, read Coffee Enemas.
3. Foot and hand reflexology.
For details, read Reflexology.
4. The spinal twist exercises. For details, read The Twists.
5. The pushing down
exercise.
For details, read The Pushing Down Exercise.
6. A newer procedure is an interesting use of a
bidet. For details, read The Bidet.
We have articles that cover this topic in depth
in the book, Sauna Therapy, for example.
Detoxification
is so important for some cases of mental and emotional illness that it deserves
a separate article, though here I am just mentioning this critical idea. It has been practiced
for many years by followers of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. More than half a million people have
gone through their sauna detoxification program to improve
and get rid of drug and alcohol addiction. It also works well to help reduce toxicity with many
chemicals and toxic metals.
The
Hubbard program, while excellent, must be done at a
center under doctorÕs supervision and it is costly. It takes about a month in most cases and may cost several
thousand dollars. One spends
several hours in a sauna each day with a doctor or medical technician keeping a
close watch. For this reason, we
developed a much less costly program that can be done at home, even while
working a regular 9 to 5 job. It is described in our book, Sauna Therapy.
Seven
areas have been identified in which nutrition and
biochemistry affect emotions and behavior. They include a persons
energy level, the impact of the oxidation
rate and the effects of food
reactions on the central nervous system. Other areas discussed are the impact of blood sugar problems, toxic metals, nutrient deficiencies and environmental chemicals on
emotional and mental well-being.
The
article concludes with a short discussion of another critical topic in mental
health, detoxification. This is a
controversial area today with all sorts of practitioners offering a variety of
therapies with machines, baths, clay, patches and other paraphernalia. We strongly recommend the infrared
sauna and coffee enemas or colon cleansing, however, as the most powerful and also the least costly and most important, the safest
methods that can be done in the privacy of any home.
All
these areas have been studied extensively, many for thirty to
one hundred years or even more.
However, they have not been incorporated in the
medical approach to mental health that is so dominated by drug therapy
today. Yet
these factors contribute to many conditions for which people seek
counseling.
Addressing
these factors would greatly enhance the success rates of counselors and other
professionals who work with emotional and behavioral disorders. I am pleased to help anyone with
information, training and other materials that may be of assistance.
References
Berkow, R., editor, (1977) The
Merck Manual, thirteenth edition, Pennsylvania, Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories.
Carlson, N. (2004) Physiology of Behavior, eighth edition, Massachusetts, Pearson Education,Inc.
Casdorph,H.R. and Walker, M. (1995) Toxic Metal Syndrome, How Metal Poisonings
Can Affect Your Brain. New York: Avery Publishing Group.
Crook,W.G. (1999). The
Yeast Connection Handbook. Tennessee: Professional Books, Inc.
Feingold, B., (1985) Why Your Child Is
Hyperactive?, New York, Random House Books.
Gittleman,A.L., (1999) Why Am I Always So Tired?, New York:
Harper Collins Publishers.
Hoffer,A. & Walker, M. (1978) Ortho-Molecular
Nutrition. Connecticut, Keats Publishing.
Kutsky, R.J. (1981). Handbook of Vitamins, Minerals and Hormones, 2nd edition.
New York, Van
Nostrand Reinhold Co.
Pfeiffer, C., (1972) Mental and Elemental Nutrients, Connecticut, Keats Publishing.
Rapp, D. (1996) Is This Your ChildÕs World?, New York, Bantam Books.
Segala, M. (2000) Disease
Prevention And Treatment, Florida, Life Extension
Foundation
Watson, G., (1972) Nutrition and Your Mind, New York,
Bantam Books.
Watson, G., (1979) Personality Strength and Psycho-Chemical
Energy, New York, Harper and Row Publishers.
Wilson, L. (2005) Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis, L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc. Publishers.
Wilson, L., (2003) Sauna Therapy, LD Wilson
Consultants, Inc.
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