Better brain health through nutrition and supplements

In natural health there is always more to learn, so I will always have a book or two on the go...

I have recently finished The Better Brain: How nutrition will help you overcome anxiety, depression, ADHD and stress, by Julia Rucklidge & Bonnie Kaplan.  

These two women have pulled together a lot of their own, and others’, research to build a compelling read on the role of multinutrients in brain health.  To save you reading it for yourself, these are my main takeaways from this book:

We can find plenty of research about the effect of single-nutrients on mental health, but it appears that individual nutrients may have been spotlighted simply for the simplicity of scientific research, despite a multitude being required for good health.  If we look at how our body works, it uses multiple vitamins and minerals in unison at each step of its intricate function; particularly in the brain.  Therefore, it makes sense to provide the brain with the range of at least fifteen minerals and fifteen vitamins that are all essential for functioning.

This range of vitamins and minerals are not only required for basic functioning.  They also allow the production of energy, the protection of DNA, fighting excess inflammation, and warding off the harmful effects of environmental toxins.  

With a changing environment affecting carbon-dioxide and soil nutrient levels, our food may no longer provide us with the required levels or the range of these integral nutrients - even when following the healthiest of diets.  This is where a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement can help to support optimal function.  This is particularly important for those that may currently have a higher demand for nutrients, including people dealing with chronic stress, those with genetic differences in metabolism, people with chronic inflammation or are on long-term medications, or pregnant women.

Interestingly, research outlined in the book showed that even those who showed ‘normal’ nutrient levels in blood tests still experienced clinical benefits from supplementing a multi-vitamin and nutrient.  This is unsurprising when we understand how the body works hard to keep nutrient levels in balance in the blood - and demonstrates that blood tests may not show us how function is being affected from lowered nutrient levels.  

The Better Brain highlighted promising results for the use of multi-vitamin and mineral supplements for improving emotional regulation; which is critical for problems with mood, anxiety, aggression, and irritability.  Multi-nutrients have also shown benefits for ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder in children, along with a reduction in medications for other psychotic disorders.  

What I found interesting was the flow-on effects to other areas of health through a wholefoods diet and multi-vitamin and mineral supplements.  This included improving stress resilience, better sleep, reducing addictions, slowing cognitive decline, improving recovery from brain trauma and reducing PMS symptoms.  

It is good to be reminded of the far-reaching benefits of the humble multi; for brain health and a range of other ailments.  If you are looking for a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement, I would recommend looking at a quality natural health store, or get in touch if you would to access practitioner-only supplements when you have a consultation with me.