In the 1960s it was thought mental illness was due to an imbalance of chemicals, neurotransmitters or hormones in the brain. More recent research suggests that this is not entirely true! What is known is the simple deficiencies in many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, from a poor diet, actually cause or exacerbate hormone imbalances. Together with poor digestion, low absorption and many other lifestyle and environmental factors, this can result in many mental health conditions.
The following are just some of the nutritional deficiencies and their associated mental health symptoms:
Vitamin B1 - Apathy, memory problems, confusion, irritability
Vitamin B3 - Apathy, fatigue, poor memory, dementia
Vitamin B5 - Apathy, fatigue, neurological disturbances, insomnia, depression, irritability
Vitamin B6 - Depression, confusion, abnormal brain wave patterns, convulsions
Vitamin B7 - Depression, lethargy, hallucinations
Vitamin B12 - Fatigue, impaired memory, low intelligence, nerve damage
Vitamin C - Hysteria, depression
Vitamin D - Low mood, Winter blues (Seasonal Affective Disorder), depression
And there's more too!
Does a doctor even look into the possibility of a nutritional deficiency causing depression, anxiety or any other "mental illness"? No, they don't! They aren't trained in nutrition or the effects it has on the body. They just prescribe a medication that does not address the cause of the problem, and this leads to deficiencies becoming more chronic and serious, more side effects, and needing more medication... and on it goes...
I'm not suggesting that popping a multivitamin will fix depression! Any treatment, especially with mental health, needs a holistic (whole body) approach - that also takes into account someone's emotional health, physical health, environmental health, lifestyle and other aspects. But mental health conditions CAN be successfully treated with very simple nutritional improvements, supplements if needed and some lifestyle changes, as well as other treatments in my holistic 6-point plan!
My new 1-hour "Nutrition and lifestyle improvements for mental health" seminar is now available for your corporate, team or community group! I have several other seminars available on other health and nutrition topics, and I would love to be able to share this information to more people!
Alternatively, if you know anyone with a mental health issue, I would be grateful if you were to like and share this, so I may be able to help others too!