A recent systematic review looked at the association between diet quality, dietary patterns and depression in adults (Michael Berk: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23802679).
My question is whether the "paleo diet" is a "better" diet leading to mental "well-being"?
Hi John, thanks for the article.... makes sense that humans, or any animal, are effected by metals as metals were bound in rock and not a containment in our genetic past. Our genetics/epigenetics probably also then effects how we express physical stressors, the non-coping path of disease we go down. In regards to mental health the zinc/copper balance is very interesting... For the best article I have seen look at the archives on this site
www.lifestyleintegration.com.au created by Dr Todd Lizon
I have only this week received back my hair analysis results and will have a long phone call with Todd soon. Interestingly I dont show high mercury but this could be due to my body not being able to rid it through various means including hair. There is lots of information also provided by the test that I am still getting my head around. Yes a walk on the beach anywhere in NZ is good for that and I have not had a coffee for 22 years!
Yes Marcel does raise some interesting questions... I have found a nutritionist I think makes sense. His name is Ben Warren, an ex golfer from UK living in Tauranga New Zealand. His product is called BePure and he uses questions to find if you are genetically more like an East African plainsman who thrived on 80% carbs or an Eskimo who does well on 80% meat and fat. Then you eat what is right for your type bearing in mind that we often crave what we are allergic to in order for the immune system to 'clump' the particles that have crossed a leaky gut.
I have some articles to locate from another New Zealander who has done some interesting research on antigens and a combination known as 4/4 which makes some people highly susceptible to heavy metal accumulation. His name is Dr Damien Wojcik and he works out of Kamo, Whangarei. His concern is that a very simple blood test has been effectively cancelled in NZ yet it could make a world of difference to a family with a high autism rate for example. A 4/4 child could be protected from vaccines, amalgam and jobs with heavy metal exposure. Sadly prevention is very low on the medical agenda it seems.
There is a ton of research out there.... also some very good books about mental health and diet. My first recommendation is Patrick Holford's Optimum Nutrition for the Mind 2007. His work is a continuation of Abram Hoffer, Humphrey Osmond, Carl Pfeiffer, William Walsh, Linus Pauling and others. The world of orthomolecular medicine opens up a plethora of causes and their treatments. Hoffer had up to 90% CURE rates with SZ (measured as in the community, in paid employment and in significant relationships with others) yet this work has been swept under the carpet in favor of symptom repression using psychotropic drugs.
I have personally used and researched EMPowerplus from True Hope, Canada which has effectually eliminated all symptoms of mental health distress. Diet and supplementation alone would not have worked if I had not also had my amalgams safely removed as well as a failed root canal tooth. For two more research points see the work of Western Price and his foundation. Also well as Dr Simon Yu's book Accidental Cure.
Heather, it seems so-called white fillings cause problems (estrogen) and titanium dental implants cause problems (immune system). I do not have studies to back this up. John
Hi, my dentist used fluoride free white filling material from Germany which is so hard he can virtually rebuild a tooth. I guess there are many compounds used and quality as well. Mercury has been associated with mental health since the time of the mad hatters, used to cure mole skins for top hats. Dentists also have very high rates of illness and suicide due to mercury poisoning. Its a question of which treatment is safer, Removal requires an external source of air, a good vacuum sucking away the vapors, an internal dam and cover over exposed skin and eyes. I also know that 'silver' fillings expand and shrink with temperature change which causes teeth to crack. Everyone agrees gold is best.
Hi Heather, very interesting posts. I have used a multiplicity of approaches to 'sort myself out', including diet, psychotherapy and filling removal (sadly NOT under the good conditions you describe), education, work, ´getting on with it´ more gently......all ultimately to positive effect but I would not know where to begin to start proving or attempting to prove which bit of it was the key, or whether it has all been a big placebo effect supported by the passing of time...... Can you point me in the way of good quality, reliable evidence relating to both diet and dentistry with regards to mental health? I cannot imagine catering for all the confounding material that must be present in such claims.
Hi Isabel, time is a healer and the body is programed to heal if you support it....
My recent insights into my own healing journey has included a urine test for a condition called pyroluria or mauve factor. I have posted some information on it in my questions. I came up positive and know that I need daily B6 and zinc for the rest of my life. About 10% of the population have this condition which is made worse with stress, mercury exposure and leaky gut. I have also recently learnt quite a lot about too much copper, which also disrupts zinc levels. A high copper mother can have a high copper child which then correlates to ADD, ADHD and autism. I am going to have a hair test soon for heavy metals as I fit the profile for high copper, not to the full extent but still there, and very high mercury.
A good start though is still Patrick Holfords book as its is very readable and easily available for the library. Here is my list again of possible causes of mental health distress....
Known contributing factors:
Childhood trauma, grief and loss, accident, abuse; both physical and sexual, hormonal turmoil of adolescence, relationship distress, overwhelm, depression, loss of meaning, substance abuse, addictions, gambling, dramatic change, seasonal (Vit D deficiency), childbirth, financial worries, over work or shift work, jet lag, loss of child/job/home/parents/family/friend, illness, cancer, chronic pain, tooth infection, natural disaster, war, hormone imbalance, menopause, loneliness, self-neglect and dementia. Dramatic life changes, infatuation, sudden large financial gain, spiritual crisis, sudden fame, near death experiences and even too much sunshine.
Known direct causes:
Rabies, Toxoplasmosis (very common and caught from cat excrement), Lymes disease, Pyroluria, Porphyria, parasites, syphilis, heavy metal exposure (mercury, lead, copper and others). Head injury, foetal alcohol syndrome, autisms, epilepsy and vaccine damage, high fever, dehydration, sleep deprivation, nutritional deficiency, mineral deficiency, abreaction to recreational and prescription drugs and stimulants. Side/direct effects from mental health drugs, other medical drugs (an example is Tamiflu induced suicide in adolescents). Incorrect use of nicotine patches, post-operative psychosis, post natal distress and post traumatic shock. Blood sugar imbalance, over or underactive thyroid, faulty methylation (both over and under activity) and B vitamin deficiency, essential fats deficiencies, histamine excess and deficiency, serotonin excess and deficiency, adrenal imbalance, acetylcholine imbalance, toxic poisoning overload, dental sepsis and gut inflammation, bladder infection, metallothionein deficiency, direct food allergies, extreme physical and emotion exhaustion and extreme hyperthermia.
i John, sure.... always more thoughts. Although my two cups of tea made with fluoridated water at work seems to be giving me that 'normal' thick skin attitude of not caring too much about the plight of the world or others who are suffering or even if its full moon or not. Even working is a great distracter and although it is nice not being 'raw' or on the edge, overly aware etc I am taking this time as a time to rest and recover from my own experience. I know that to really jump into my passion and write the book I intend to do I will need to revisit that awareness, rawness, intuition and empathy.
Society is filled with reasons to be safe, distracted, occupied, earning, focused on relationships, mortgages, hobbies, sports, child rearing, electronic hypnosis etc but society seems to not value those who question deeply and feel deeply, This is the other side of the coin to looking at cause and may explain why the public is so happy to ask and receive a pill when they do get overwhelmed or unwell. There has to be a happy balance between treating symptoms and addressing cause just as there is a happy balance between feeling contented yet in touch with and safe with all emotions, as and when they naturally arise.
Have you read Patricks book yet? Nutrition really is the base line followed by sleep, stress management and attitude to life, self and others.
Hi Heather, good to hear from you. I must confess I have not yet read Patrick's book. Sorry. Life has been getting in the way of my search for answers! You are right about balance - in all things. I know we are looking at nutrition and mental health in this question - but if you have a chance look at what Robert Moss PhD (he is on RG) has to say about congruence/balance between the right brain hemisphere (emotional memories) and the left brain hemisphere (cognitive memories). His "dimensional systems model", "clinical biopsychological model", and "emotional restructuring" is interesting. His work has a behaviourist ring to it (can you hear Pavlov's bell?) :-) Let me know what you think when you have had the chance to read his work. I think it is great and plan to use it in counselling. Best wishes, John
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert_Moss2/
PS Recharge your soul - go and sit on Piha beach and watch the sun set over the Tasman!
Let's take a hypothetical evolutionary-ecological perspective
Living in a world without advice from diet specialists
Why do individuals differ in food preferences, even among family members? For instance, parents that are not diet specialists force children more or less to eat what parents prepare for diner, although there might be a mismatch in food preferences between children and adults. If individual variation in food preferences has a genetic basis why are children not allowed to eat what they want to eat? Are genetically-based food preferences in children not adapted to the rapidly evolving diet propositions in modern society, for instance as reflected in the expression of teeth states or body mass?
Individual variation in food preferences and its relationships with genes
If medical doctors are looking at genes and gene complexes to develop individual-based treatments, should diet specialists also look at genes and gene complexes to propose individual-specific oriented diets varying with genetic background? For instance, some people claim that food diets should take individual-specific blood characteristics (A, B, O) into account. What is the evidence this is indeed the case? Are genetically based blood characteristics proxies of genome characteristics involved in biological food management (e.g. digestion, digestibility)?
Diets and individual emotions or mental states
Countries differ in when and what they eat and drink, such as the timing of diners or the types of liquids or food consumed. If we accept that what is consumed influences mental state and emotions of consumers, is there a link between average food consumption habits and average mental state across individuals, populations or countries? How does phenotypic or genetic constitution interact with what is consumed to influence emotional state? What would be consequences of altered food habitats for the average mental state and emotions in a country, e.g. drinking daily strong or light coffee versus drinking daily strong or light thee versus drinking daily wine versus drinking daily water, etc...? What is the relationship between food and liquid consumption, mental state and decision-making in decision-makers, for instance when what is consumed influences emotions and feelings?
Marcel asks good questions - now we need good answers. Any thoughts? Any proof? Anything? My main interest is the mental health/illness caused by what we eat and drink. I am a convert to the paleo diet (Cordain) - but still drink as much coffee as before!
In practice, people varying in genetics, phenotype and living environment (e.g. people from different countries or continents) could be exposed to the same researcher-controlled diet and physiology or mental states monitored.
Hi John, thanks for the article.... makes sense that humans, or any animal, are effected by metals as metals were bound in rock and not a containment in our genetic past. Our genetics/epigenetics probably also then effects how we express physical stressors, the non-coping path of disease we go down. In regards to mental health the zinc/copper balance is very interesting... For the best article I have seen look at the archives on this site
www.lifestyleintegration.com.au created by Dr Todd Lizon
I have only this week received back my hair analysis results and will have a long phone call with Todd soon. Interestingly I dont show high mercury but this could be due to my body not being able to rid it through various means including hair. There is lots of information also provided by the test that I am still getting my head around. Yes a walk on the beach anywhere in NZ is good for that and I have not had a coffee for 22 years!
Yes Marcel does raise some interesting questions... I have found a nutritionist I think makes sense. His name is Ben Warren, an ex golfer from UK living in Tauranga New Zealand. His product is called BePure and he uses questions to find if you are genetically more like an East African plainsman who thrived on 80% carbs or an Eskimo who does well on 80% meat and fat. Then you eat what is right for your type bearing in mind that we often crave what we are allergic to in order for the immune system to 'clump' the particles that have crossed a leaky gut.
I have some articles to locate from another New Zealander who has done some interesting research on antigens and a combination known as 4/4 which makes some people highly susceptible to heavy metal accumulation. His name is Dr Damien Wojcik and he works out of Kamo, Whangarei. His concern is that a very simple blood test has been effectively cancelled in NZ yet it could make a world of difference to a family with a high autism rate for example. A 4/4 child could be protected from vaccines, amalgam and jobs with heavy metal exposure. Sadly prevention is very low on the medical agenda it seems.
Wonderful contribution, Heather. You've brought to the discussion some quite exciting and sobering information that may make some people pause, but more importantly it is the buried information like this which is so counter to popular thought. Remember, Hippocrates himself was imprisoned for 20 years for simply stating the facts: Let food be thy medicine among other truisms that clashed with the harsh and brutal medical approaches of his day. Come to think of it, he might suffer a similar fate in US medical schools if he was turned loose in today's Pharma-dominated medical schools! Heaven forbid if we really started caring what our patients eat and drink as the first place to start out diagnostics and restulting treatment programs!
On the button, John. There is a plethora of (largely ignored) information about this growing threat to the public health.
Heather, the fellow Ben Warren in Tauranga rubs shoulders with my brother-in-law Accupuncturist Neil Denyer. They live a couple miles apart.
New Zealand's got a lot of great people and a history of bringing many innovations and enlightenment to the table.
First step before going back to ancient history (?):
- Is there a relationship between non-polluted diet (e.g. without problems related to heavy metals or other human-made chemicals) and mental health in humans today?
- Countries differ in diet. Do they also differ in mental-health related aspects because of culture-based differences in diet, e.g. cultures that drink/consume more or less coffee/caffeine....?
Dear John,
I think we need monitoring and statistics for this? Perhaps an interesting PhD topic?
Happy (New) Year to all
Dear Marcel, Hopefully there will be an academic - or academics - who will take up the challenge! Hopefully there will be a university which will fund such a PhD topic. I know there will be opposition - agriculture is big business and big business will not like the apple cart (really more the cereal cart) to be overturned. Not so long ago tobacco did not cause lung cancer. Now in first world countries opposition is mounting against the big tobacco businesses - and the big tobacco businesses are now moving into third world (developing) countries - and the killing spree continues! The modern diet, in my opinion, is as bad as smoking tobacco. But then I am prejudiced!
John said it well, although it is difficult to rank tobacco and GMO/overprocessed diet on the same societal template. It is indisputable that the more GMO/overprocessed a nation's diet becomes the higher the incidence rates of chronic disease, such as diabetes type II, CVD, and cancer go. Indeed, the US today has the highest rates of all three of these and also has the highest consumption of GMO/overprocessed foods. Artificial sweeteners--all of which give animals cancer--and GMO High Fructose Corn--which conclusively causes obesity and CVD in animals--Syrup dominate the American diet. It is scientific malfeasance to produce conflict of interest studies that show these same substances that bring certain early death to animals does not to humans. So, John, I am in agreement that the further away we get from the paleolithic diet the sicker we become. All these other poisons simply have no redeeming values, but as you aluded, scheming men who profit largely off of the weaknesses and injury caused by them will fight tooth and nail to find ways to hide the truth.
Marcel, good points above. I've no doubt that we will find that societies that consume large quantities of caffeine suffer from more acid-based chronic diseases, especially CVD, diabetes, and cancer. I had not considered that a cultural thing, but of late with the relentless marketing of so-called energy drinks I am beginning to think they have created a culture of sorts, and one that lives shorter lives, depleted adrenals, and higher levels of physical (and mental) degeneration.
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