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Nutrition the new medicine of psychiatry?

With pharmacological approaches both costly in terms of finance as well as potential side effects as well as not accessible in developing countries, scientists and public health experts are looking at nutritional approaches to address mental health issues.  Could nutritional medicine soon become the mainstream in psychiatry?

A new study in a prestigious journal says YES!  Now, researcher Jerome Sarris, from the University of Melbourne (Australia), and colleagues submit that: “Evidence is steadily growing for the relation between dietary quality (and potential nutritional deficiencies) and mental health, and for the select use of nutrient-based supplements to address deficiencies, or as monotherapies or augmentation therapies.”  The team asserts that in addition to addressing quality of diet, there is  now sufficient evidence to support the notion of nutrient-based therapies to assist in the management of psychiatric disorders. 

Many studies have demonstrated that a number of nutrients associate with brain health, including but certainly not limited to: omega-3s, B vitamins (particularly Folate and B12), choline, iron, zinc, magnesium, S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe), vitamin D, and amino acids.  The study authors urge that: “We advocate recognition of diet and nutrition as central determinants of both physical and mental health.”

Here as with all natural therapies it is CRUCIALLY important to recognize that one size does not fit all. Healing is a very individual matter.

I become very disheartened seeing legions of bloggers trying to assist each other in trial and error when I KNOW that individual biochemistry is the crux of dealing with these types or really any type of problem, naturally.  Biochemical/nutritional test results frequently surprise me, even in people who are supplementing heavily.

It is a relatively simple matter to work with a specialist, like myself who can evaluate you, do appropriate testing and help you get better!  Really, why waste YEARS and dollars on trial and error?

Let me know how I can help. Regards!

PS: I am thrilled with how many people have been concerned about the state of the environment.  It gives me HOPE!

 Jerome Sarris, Alan C Logan, Tasnime N Akbaraly, G Paul Amminger, Vicent Balanzá-Martínez, Marlene P Freeman, et al.  “Nutritional medicine as mainstream in psychiatry.”  The Lancet Psychiatry, January 25, 2015.