What are you feeding your brain?

For some, a combination of psychotherapy and medication can be helpful when addressing depression and anxiety. Treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Solution-Focused Therapy together with prescribed medication often helps to treat and manage those formally diagnosed or who find themselves struggling with symptoms. Occasionally there are individuals whose symptoms and challenges persist, leading us to look for different causes and links – one of the most glaring being our diet and what we are feeding out body and subsequently our brain.

How mental health can be affected by what you are feeding your brain

You may have heard the term “neurotransmitter imbalance” in relation to this, but do we really know what that means? A variety of factors from genetics to the environment and nutritional deficiencies affect the production of neurotransmitters – chemical messengers that your body needs to function. When these are imbalanced your nervous system must compensate.

What if we had inadequate neurotransmitters because our brain wasn’t fed the right vitamins and minerals to be able to create these neurotransmitters?

What if medication and counseling wasn’t enough and you also need to change what you eat?

• Depression
• Hysteria
• Irritability
• Self-Harm
• Apathy
• Lethargy
• Social Withdrawal
• Difficulty Concentrating

They are all symptoms of mental health conditions.

A study was done where 36 healthy men were directed to eat a diet that only provided 50% of the minerals and vitamins a person needs, for 6 MONTHS! At the end of the study every participant had developed some or all the above symptoms.

Given this information, for many, adding a nutritionist to your mental health team is key in managing symptoms and feeling better! A nutritionist can help to make sure that you are consuming enough vitamins and minerals, leaving out toxins and chemicals, and giving your body the calories that you need to fill you with energy.

At Dynamic Health Collaborative we offer a Healthy Habits & Weight Management Program. This consists of working closely with both our naturopathic doctor and holistic nutritionist to change the state of your physical body.

Feeling stressed out and down all the time can make you less productive.

Not coping well or feeling down can directly impact your relationships.

Even though depression and anxiety can be paralyzing, eliminating inflammation and improving gut health can make a real big difference.

It’s time to get back to doing all the things you love with the people you love!