
What you eat becomes what you think.
There is increasing research that shows that supplementing with micronutrients can improve mental health conditions while patients are on psychiatric medication. One such research study1 involving children (7-18 years) with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD), showed that they benefited from taking a micronutrient formula. The micronutrients’ impact on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in these children was also evaluated and shown to have therapeutic benefits. There is also another research study2 that shows that the food we eat does affect our emotions, since 95% of our body’s serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter (brain chemical messenger), is produced in our gastrointestinal tract.
As can be seen, essential micronutrients in the form of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids do positively impact our brains.
Conversely, it seems to be that if we eat junk food filled with highly inflammatory ingredients, our brains will likely be negatively affected. Unfortunately, many people do not understand this crucial link, and therefore have failed to see that diet is an important factor in maintaining their mental health.
The question to you then is: Are you feeding your brain the right food?
1– Rucklidge, J.J et al. (2010) BMC Psychiatry. Database analysis of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder consuming a micronutrient formula. New Zealand. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20875144/
2– Selhub MD, E. (2015) Havard Health Blog. Nutritional psychiatry: Your brain on food. United States of America. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626