There are many disorders which we label as mental disorders that can
actually be a misdiagnosis of something that is physiological and
caused by something in the diet or something that is lacking in the
diet. (Rogers 97, Pfeiffer 87) Phenomenon such as depression,
addiction, hyperactivity and learning disorders, anxiety, alcoholism,
schizophrenia, and even behavioral problems such as crime and violence
or conduct disorder and anti-social personality respond very well to
dietary changes and nutritional supplementation.
One of the first indications of nutritional deficiency is a
psychological disturbance. (Kane 85) The brain is a very delicate
sensitive organ and controls our mood, thoughts, perceptions, emotions
and behavior. It has a protective barrier called the blood/brain
barrier that selectively transports nutrients and other substances that
are needed for brain function.
The production of proper neurotransmitters is highly dependent on this
uptake from the blood, so if the nutrients are inadequate then
imbalances of the neurochemicals of the brain can occur and result in
disturbance of thought, mood, emotion, perceptions or behavior.
Inadequate supply of nutrition from our diets is falsely believed to be
rare in industrialized societies. Nutrient deficiencies in our
society are practically epidemic. Up to 50% of our
population may fail to ingest even the recommended daily allowance for
various vitamins and miners. (Werbach 92, Rogers 97) One of the
reasons this is occurring is because it is estimated that about 75% of
the western diet consists of processed foods, and on the average each
person consumes 8-10 lbs of food additives each year. (Tuoorma
94) Processed foods with food additives are stripped of their
nutritional value and, therefore, are extremely lacking in the proper
nutrients needed for our minds and body to function properly.
In a study by the FDA they found that the average American diet has
less than 80% of the RDA of one or more of the following
nutrients: calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese.
There is evidence that suggests that there is sufficient toxicity from
residual pesticides in our food, air, water, homes and yards that can
cause neurotoxic damage. Our diets are not healthy because we eat
food that is grown on overworked soil, sprayed with numerous chemicals,
fertilizers, then refined and processed with mass amounts of food
colorings, preservatives and dyes.
When we ingest these foods we become toxic and malnourished. (Null 95)
The average food supply is overloaded with pesticides. Pesticides
were created originally to be used as nerve gasses for chemical
warfare. It was then decided that since they were so
effective on killing humans they would use smaller doses to kill
insects, rodents, etc. The chief target organ that is
affected by pesticide is the brain. When the brain is effected
symptoms such as loss of memory, loss of problem solving ability,
inhibited intellect, paranoia, irritability, social withdrawal,
schizophrenia, numbness, paralysis, poor coordination, weakness, auto
immunity, headaches, dizziness, vomiting chest, pain and many more can
develop. One of the primary symptoms to develop is
depression. (Rogers 96)
Pesticides inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. This enzyme
controls the metabolism of acetylcholine, which is our primary “happy
hormone” in our brain. Pesticides also inhibit the conversion of
tryptophan into serotonin, which is our other “happy hormone”.
Thus if you have inhibited happy hormones depression develops.
In addition to this, pesticides also inhibit other enzymes like AtPase,
which is needed for energy, and thus chronic fatigue can develop and
our enzyme cholesterol ester hydrolase, which creates impaired
cholesterol metabolism and they also inhibit the enzymes that effect
how the body and mind handle stress. (Rogers 96)
The presence of food additives and preservatives is also detrimental to
our mental health. They can cause anxiety, hyperactivity,
learning disabilities, disturbance in mood and thought to name a
few. Considerable scientific data is emerging that links food
additive intolerance to various mental and physical disorders,
especially hyperactivity. (Tuoormaa 94)
Schuitemaker (88) cites a study that found a dramatic effect on
anti-social behavior of criminal children by changing the diet to whole
healthy foods and eliminating foods which contained coloring
preservatives, additives and sugar. Anti-social acts were
diminished in 80% of the subjects. In a follow up study they used
the same diet and reduced anti-social acts by 50%. What was most
interesting about this study was that the offenders who had been
convicted of the worst crimes were the ones who benefited the
most. The institutions that cooperated in this study were so
impressed with the improvements they did not return to their old diet
menu.
To read more about how diet and nutrition impact your mental health you
may want to check out this special report “
Diet,
Nutrition and Your
Mental Health
These are only a few examples of the powerful impact that our
chemicalized diet has on our health, but it is very clear that we can
make profound changes in our lives if we eat a pure diet.
