Saturday 21 April 2012

Nutritional Deficiencies Can Cause Mental Disorders

In the April 2012 issue of Vitality Magazine the article Nourishing Mental Health by Helke Ferrie, covers the effects of the lack of proper nutrients that lead to various mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and maniac depression. There are scientific facts outlining how diets that “do not contain the necessary essential nutrients, such as folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, vitamin C, minerals, and the amino acid tryptophan.” A pilot study carried out in the UK where mental patients were deprived of various convenience foods, chocolate bars, colas, snacks containing sugar and given essential nutrients. All improved quickly, some quite rapidly.


 Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, began his work on essential nutrients and cognitive function of the brain in the 1940s at the University of Saskatchewan. His research in nutritional deficiencies causing mental diseases was supported by Tommy Douglas, then Premier of Saskatchewan.

 Dr. Hoffer’s case histories revealed may instances of total recovery from end-stage catatonic schizophrenia through vitamin therapy using nicotinic acid and ascorbic acid. Other cases where mega doses of vitamins were used to treat advanced mental health disorders. An excellent article that led me to consider the various foods I eat on a daily basis, and how to eat healthy to keep thinking clearly. Making certain to eat as health conscious as possible might seem to be a stretch, but by avoiding those snack convenience foods we grew up on as children and teenagers makes a big difference.

 Over the last couple of years I’ve taken steps to eradicate those foods and replace them with healthy alternatives such as nuts, fruit: dried or fresh, carriots, celery, etc. Though for cognitive function I find that eating sufficient quantities of meat protein help along with vegetables, fruit and grains. Certainly something to consider today in keeping oneself healthy

Nourishing Mental Health, Helke Ferrie, Vitality Magazine 2012, pp.40, 42-44, 48-49.

 Photo Credit: Gord McKenna CC=nc-nd-flickr. Ladner farm in summer.

9 comments:

Leah J. Utas said...

Interesting. I've noticed when I have carrots for supper I write better the next day. It used to be bacon for brekkie did the same, but now that I eat turkey bacon it ain't the same.
Junk food serves no purpose than giving us something to do with our hands and cram in our mouths and falsely--and temporarily--improve our moods. I enjoy junk food, but don't eat as much as I once did.

Barbara Martin said...

Leah, carrots have vitamin B. You might try blueberries if your eyes get tired at the computer or while reading or needlework.

laughingwolf said...

thx barbara...

i worry about my son since he set out on his own, cooking was never a strong suit for him... not sure he picked up healthy ways from when i made our meals, he was never around to watch... maybe he'll recall the varieties i included

btw - somehow i deleted my pals + list in my sidebar, where i had all my links...

i have no idea how to create a new 'element' for the sidebar, since google screwed up everything...

i had refused to 'upgrade' my page since i first set it up in 2005, the layout selections there before, no longer are :(

can you help me?

thx

Barbara Martin said...

Laughingwolf, eventually he will clue in what to eat.

As to your problem with your blogspot space I have a similar situation. I too prefer to keep the "original look". Please send me an email.

Charles Gramlich said...

Maybe that's what is keeping me sane these days. I take regular vitamines

Reb said...

Sadly these days it is getting to be cheaper to eat junky foods, than to prepare a well balanced meal at home.

Barbara Martin said...

Charles, fresh fruit and vegetables are better than vitamins. Even one serving of each can make a difference.

Reb, I'm on a really tight budget these days and junk food was one of the first things to go, especially almost any kind of processed food. Instead of picking up potato chips or chocolate bars I buy nuts and dried fruit in bulk and divy up portions to take on outings rather than stop at a coffee shop to pick up a muffin or doughnut. If on a diet eat a slightly smaller portion that usual, but eat as healthy as you can afford.

David Cranmer said...

Thanks for this, Barbara. I will take a closer look at the article. I know I'm missing a few of these nutrients in my diet.

Barbara Martin said...

David, you may find that keeping up on vitamins as well as minerals is essential to keeping healthy in these stressful times. A good mineral to use along with calcium, magnesium and zinc is boron.