Nutrition & Mental Health

I didn’t plan to specialise in Mental Health. But during lockdown I began to work with young adults who had attempted suicide and were members of ‘You are not alone’ programme at Body & Soul. This work was incredibly rewarding and extremely varied.  As with any disease or symptom, the approach is person centred and holistic, exploring known potential drivers of poor mental health such as:

 

1.    Poor blood sugar control

2.    Vitamin D deficiency

3.    Other nutritional deficiencies

4.    Poor methylation 

5.    Inflammation

6.    Antibiotic usage

7.    High intake of anxiogenics (caffeine, alcohol, food additives)

8.    Disrupted gut microbiome/gut brain axis

9.    Lack of exercise due to low energy

10. Poor sleep

 

Many of my patients also present with co-morbidities (other conditions), such as PCOS, acne, hormone imbalance, IBS, muscle pain.  These can be independent of mental health, or contributory factors.  A functional approach looking at metabolic or system imbalances can have far reaching effects.