6 Hidden Causes of Anxiety Webinars Ready!

by Jen Springer

Creating the 6 Causes of Anxiety Webinar Series has been the project of the year.

Recording these webinars and figuring out how to offer them to the world has been a hair pulling task at times.  My mind and internet skills have been greatly expanded!

If you are a VIP, you got to attend these events live. (Psst, if you want to be IN on future events, see the box on the top right of the page for the Free Course? Go fill it out now!)  Every spot for these live events filled up within hours of registration opening. The post event feedback was amazing; the reward of helping people figuring out why they feel like crap is what keeps me going.

These topics are the 6 hidden causes of anxiety, fatigue, hormone problems, brain fog, fibromyalgia, dull skin, and obesity that your doctor probably doesn’t even have a clue about – unless he/she is as cool as mine.

The information pooled into these webinars are from my formal education (B.S. & M.S.), countless hours of seminars, 10 years of practice, and most important of all … my personal experience.

Did you see the first one? The one that is the overview of all of them?

Click on the picture below and it will take you there.

The 6 Webinars Are About …

Part One – Food & Other Allergies

• The 7 most common foods that can make your brain go haywire.
• 14 typical symptoms, 16 symptoms that are 99% of the time not connected to allergies.
• 6 tests that take the guesswork out of what your body is reacting to.
• Why allergies are a symptom of a broken body, not a cause.
• Why radical digestive cleansing can cause more damage than good.

Part Two – Blood Sugar

• Why one minute you feel fine, the next you are a raging lunatic.
• Are you living in a state which insulin resistance is the norm, not the exception?
• The difference between diabetes, hypoglycemia, and insulin resistance and how determine which one is a problem for you.
• The ONLY test you should ask your doctor for to determine hypoglycemia and blood sugar problems.
• How to turn your blood sugar around in 5 simple steps.

Part Three – Hormones

• The 3 types of hormones that can make you “crazy”.
• The free (and most accurate) test you can do for your thyroid that your doctor doesn’t want you to know.
• Know how to spot imbalances with the 6 brain hormones, it’s so simple!
• Why playing with puppies and kittens may be necessary, not optional.
• The one test that pinpoints exactly what’s going on in your brain that physicians are up in arms over.

Part Four – Toxicity

• The human brain on toxins and why it has been linked to bi-polar, ADD, and mania.
• The medical doctor behind brain allergies who found that an inflamed brain is not your fault.
• Why insomnia, emotional outbursts, mania, migraines, alcoholism/drugs, anxiety, and the inability to think may be reactions to what you’re being exposed to every day.
• The 3 main body systems that must work right so your brain is happy and you feel energized.
• What to expect and look for when your body starts eliminating accumulated toxic waste.

Part Five – Nutritional Deficiencies

• Why why you eat is not as important as how you absorb it.
• The #1 macro-nutrient that most people don’t get enough of at every meal that your brain needs to feel balanced.
• A simple formula for food combining that even a 6 year old can do.
• The #1 nutrient that made Jen go from “straight jacket material” to sane overnight.
• The 6 supplements a depressed, anxious, foggy thinking, and absent minded brain needs all the time.

Part Six – Adrenal Fatigue

• What the adrenals are and why you should give a rip about them. (Pssst, they may be your ticket to sanity!)
• Determine if salty cravings, afternoon slumps, decreased tolerance, and the 15 other items on the adrenal health checklist are trouble for you.
• Which adrenal test not to waste your money, there’s another one your doctor can do that’s better.
• What the heck an adaptogen and how they can give make you feel more alert, calm, and not get frazzled with everyday stress.
• Why saying “no” might be the critical factor to regain vibrant health.

You can pick and choose what you’d like to learn. Study at your own pace whenever you like.

 
Be sure to go watch the first one, it tells you exactly what’s going to expect in each webinar.  Here’s the link again 6 WEBINAR SERIES.

If you LOVE it, don’t keep it a secret. Share using the Facebook and Twitter links below!

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

Chia Seeds and Your Blood Sugar

by Jen Springer

Nutty, filling, hydrating, and blood sugar balancing. Who’d think I was talking about chia seeds?

Every time I hear about chia seeds I think of those terrible commercials from the 80′s, “Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia!”. But these days I’m singing the praise of chia seeds because of it’s health benefits. These little babies should be eaten, not smeared on a cheesy terra cotta animal figurine.

Why I am so pumped about chia?

Other aliases: salba, salvia hispanica.

2 tablespoons contains:

• Extremely high in chromium, 150 mcg!  Chromium helps insulin regulation.
• Packed with soluble and insoluble fiber. Soothes the intestines, helps with feeling full, balances blood sugar, absorbs toxins.
• 44o mcg biotin. Biotin helps with glucose regulation. Plus it gives fabulous hair and nails.
• Significant levels of molybdenum, a mineral that escorts toxins from yeast out of the body. We know that with diabetes / insulin resistance comes yeast blooms.
• It would take 990 grams of salmon to get the same amount of Omega 3 as 100 grams of chia!
• No estrogenic effects, no lignans.
• 16 percent protein, 31 percent fat, 44 percent carbohydrate of which 38 percent is fiber.
• Gluten free.

These little seeds kick some serious nutritional butt.  True superfood, yes. Plus, they are fun to eat. When added to water they blow up into little round jellies from the soluble fiber. Interesting texture, but very entertaining!

From what I’ve read they don’t need to be ground, but I like to zip zip them in the coffee bean grinder. I’m game for any way to make my food more digestible.

Put them in water, smoothies, on salads, make crackers, or encrust your chicken breast with them. They will pick up any flavor they are paired with because they are neutral.

Inflammation, blood sugar imbalance, irritated bowel, heart disease, and depression … you don’t stand a chance when chia comes to town.

Add 2 tablespoons to your daily regimen and see what happens!

(If you’d like a detox veggie soup recipe with chia, I’ve it over HERE)

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

My Candida Yeast Overgrowth Treatment

by Jen Springer

Dealing with candida is frustrating. The things you need to stop are the things you crave.

Sometimes it feels like punishment more than a cure. Unfortunately, for a person who deals with chronic candida overgrowth these are lifelong changes.

Warning: you may hate me if you keep reading and try these things! (You might not like the changes I list below.)

Want to know the reason uncontrollable yeast? It is there because it can be. Period.

Yeast doesn’t grow out of control without reason. Something happened and allowed already present yeast in your system to grow out of control.

The secret to curing candida is to figure out WHY it’s there and make your body a place where it can’t grow anymore. 

You cannot do yeast cleanses and expect them to hold if the underlying cause is not addressed. It will grow back again and again. Most people pimping candida or fungus killing product won’t tell you this – but I am here to be frank with you when nobody else will.

The first step to killing off yeast is to stop the nourishing the yeast and make your digestive tract stronger.

What feeds yeast like gasoline on a fire? SUGAR. All forms of sugar. This includes: honey, agave, table sugar, maple syrup, alcohol, fruit sugar, brown rice syrup, etc. What doesn’t feed yeast that is sweet? Stevia, plus it’s also anti-fungal.

What else feeds yeast? Fermented foodstuffs & drink and refined carbs. Alcohol, vinegars, pickles, and condiments. Some people may find benefit from home made cultured veggies and kombucha, personally it grew my yeast and I couldn’t do them until my body was somewhat repaired.

Eliminating refined carbs is the no brainer nobody wants to do: breads, pasta, white rice, potatoes, and any other grain that has been ground up.  Some people may be able to do complex carbs like wild rice, sweet potatoes, and quinoa. I could in extreme moderation. If you try it and your symptoms come back, you know it’s a culprit.

All other foods you know are allergens must be elimnated to fix allow the intestines to heal. If you’re on a budget, get rid of the fab 4 for at least 6 months: gluten/wheat, dairy (casein/whey), soy, corn.   The gut can’t heal if they keep getting irritated.

If it’s in the budget, I highly encourage the ALCAT test for allergies. This identifies all sources of inflammation in one test. I had guessed for years what I was reacting to. One test and I knew for sure.

Now that you’ve gotten rid of the fuel it’s time for the rebuilding process.

My protocol:

1. Life 5 probiotics. If a probiotic doesn’t have lactoferrin in it, I won’t waste my time. Lactoferrin goes after the yeast roots (rhysomes) and gets them out of the gut lining. Also has billions and billions of super strains of pro-bacteria.  I did 3 right before bed on an empty stomach for at least a year!

2. Cleansing Trio. This is a 2-3 week gentle cleanse designed to scrub out yeast, parasites, encrusted intestinal waste, and tone the intestines. (Full Directions Here)

3. Longevity Caps.  Yeast killer!  I started with 1 in the morning and 1 at lunch. Then I worked up to 2 in the  morning and 2 at lunch. I don’t do these at night because they may cancel out Life 5′s actions.

4. Kolorex extract. 1 cap twice a day with the Longevity caps.

5. Lot’s of fresh garlic in my food.

If you like this protocol, print out the super detailed instructions HERE.

Recently I have added one more thing to this protocol. It’s a tea that has anti-fungal ingredients. It was designed for weight loss, but I have found it’s amazing for controlling yeast and craving. It’s called Slique Tea and I drink it all day long because it tastes amazing!

I found out if yeast is killed off too fast, it will come out your skin.  Years ago I had made drastic changes in my diet and added yeast killing supplements without doing the Cleansing Trio first.  Because my body wasn’t eliminating properly, the yeast couldn’t leave fast enough and I developed little itchy bumps all over my back.  I backed off the yeast killing program a bit, did the cleanse, and increased water. No more problems!

These changes will get you off to a good start. Repairing a yeast damage takes time, months or even years.  Be aware of symptoms and what triggers them.  Go slow and be patient.

Have you taken the 5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Reduce Anxiety Course?  Get over to the right side of this page and get it now! (Plus, you’ll be a VIP and are privvy to special tips and webinars the public never sees.)

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

Exactly How to Do a Whole Body Detox

by Jen Springer

Cleansing doesn’t have to be hard or taste like stagnant pond water.

I love the idea of 2 scoops of this and 1/3 of a tablet of that makes the yuck go away!

It can be that simple, that’s the way is should be.

The first time I did this cleanse, I was so excited and relieved that everything was outlined for me. I’m not so great at keeping myself on track, that darn wagon is so easy to fall off of.

In case you missed the directions, you can find them HERE.  I tweaked it a bit and made it my own, of course!

A few things were changed up so that I could really work on the inflammation I’ve been feeling the last few months.  The juice before bed is meant to pull out acid and help my body become more alkaline. The Omega Blue helps inflammation as well because of the omega 3′s from the fish oil.

The other angle I took for reducing inflammation was to target the adrenals. The PD 80/20 is pregnenolone and DHEA – both help a stressed set of adrenal glands.  The best way I have found to help kick start the hypothalamus is to place some DHEA under the tongue. It doesn’t have any taste thank goodness!

The other endocrine helper I used were the Thyromin in the morning, Endoflex in the lunch smoothie, and 4 Multigreens with dinner. Thyromin and Multigreens helps my low thyroid and give me energy – without stimulants.

This cleanse can be done without added supplements, but I had chronic nagging pain to get rid of so I hit it hard! It worked. As a result, my pain level is down 50%. I’m going to do the cleanse again in a few weeks and see what happens, why not?

Without further ado, here’s the custom adrenal building / anti-inflammatory 5 day whole body detox I created for myself:

RIGHT WHEN I WOKE UP:

8 ounce glass of water with ½ a fresh lemon or lime juice

1/3 of a capsule of PD 80/20 under my tongue, holding it for one minute

BREAKFAST:

2 scoops Balance Complete with ½ dropper of YL Stevia and 5 drops orange oil

3 Thyromin

3 Omega Blue

1 Digest & Cleanse

2 Comfortone

SNACK:

3 ounces Ningxia Red

½ Cup Granny Smith Apple, Berries, or Bing Cherries

LUNCH:

2 scoops Balance Complete with ½ dropper of YL Stevia, 1 drop Endoflex Oil

1 Super B (expect a niacin flush!)

Snack:

2 ounces of Almonds, Walnuts, or Pine Nuts

½ Cup Granny Smith Apple, Berries, or Bing Cherries

DINNER:

2 scoops Balance Complete with ½ dropper of YL Stevia and 5 drops tangerine oil

3 Omega Blue

2 Comfortone

4 Multigreens

1 Digest & Cleanse

SNACK:

Vegetable Juice: 1 very large cucumber or celery heart. Juice the WHOLE thing, peel and all. Dilute 50/50 with water add a sprig of fresh mint leaves or a bit of lime juice if desired, drink it all. YUM!

BEFORE BED:

1/3 of a capsule of PD 80/20 under the tongue, hold for one minute

1 Life 5

• 4 drops of peppermint oil in one gallon of water. Drank this throughout the day.

What should you expect from a cleanse? You could have less pain and inflammation like me. Or, if you’re craving salt and sugar that may subside.  Allergies, what allergies?!?  One of my favorite outcomes is when people report to me that they could just put down cigarettes EFFORTLESSLY because of cleansing.

Now you’re asking, “Where do I get this stuff?”

I know, a few dozen of you have already sent me requests asking for the source and I apologize for the delay!

The above products come from Young Living. I have been using for over 10 years and love them as much now as I did then.  The very first cleanse that helped me go from a 1-bowel-movement-a-week person to a “regular” daily person was from them too!   The stuff works and I trust recommending it to you.

I’ve heard stories where people pick up some random product from the local health food store have skin break outs, headaches, or major colon blowout – I don’t want that to happen to you! This is so gentle you can still work and live a normal life while you do it.

If you’re a do-it-yourself person, you can go to the Young Living site direct by clicking HERE. Or, if you want to ask me questions regarding your personal situation email me at Jen@NaturalAnxietyTherapy.com.  I’ll help you get going in the right direction.

Here’s a question for you -

Are you feeling blah, sluggish, bloated, and all around toxic? Yes?  Let’s work together and get your body working the way it supposed to. Feeling good is your birthright!

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

Review of the 5 Day Whole Body Cleanse

by Jen Springer

Yay, I’m done!

This cleanse taught me a lot. It’s been about 5 years since I’ve actually done an intense targeted cleanse.  I’d been taking nutrients to build my body and bring it back from the brink so it had the ju-ju to detoxify itself on a daily basis (adrenal support, B vitamins, minerals, enzymes, probiotics, etc.). But to do a cleansing fast, nope it’s been a while.

In the end, I lost 5 pounds and my tummy is F-L-A-T. My cravings are gone, connective tissue inflammation is down and that gross bloated feeling is gone.

The cleanse was a success and I reached my goals. I’m happy!

You’re probably thinking this is the miracle cleanse and you just can’t wait to do it, right? Let me fill you in on the bit of the non-sugar coated details before you decide if this is for you.

Why I am I telling you the gory details?  To let you know this is normal and to be expected!

I’m not not a regular “mover”, I mean … I have to take herbs, probiotics, fiber, stay hydrated, and minerals to keep my bowel moving regularly.  So who only know’s what was hanging out in my colon because the second night’s bowel movement could have peeled paint off the walls. If I was in a public bathroom, I would have lost friends! Super stinky.

My guess is that I was getting rid of undigested protein that was hanging around in my digestive tract. It got better as the days went on and nasty stuff exited my body. Plus, I added some pro-biotics to help THAT situation.

Another thing I noticed is my body odor. I didn’t have any throughout the week. My theory is when I eliminated hard to digest protein throughout the week like eggs, meat, and cheese my body didn’t have that toxic undigested protein smell.  I was happy to realized that this cleanse rested my gut so I could make it stronger and hopefully have better digestion when I start eating these proteins again.

The last thing I noticed was how my weight fluctuated. In the first 48 hours I dropped 3 pounds. As the days went on the last few pounds came off.  What was interesting is that some days I woke up and weighed up to 1 pound MORE than I did the night before! Throughout the day I would lose up to 2 more pounds and in the evening I’d be up a pound. The scale went up and down like notes on sheet music.  In the end, I was down – yay!

3 most important things I learned?

1. Stay hydrated! I don’t know the exact amount, all I know is I always had water in hand and was drinking it.

2. Keep your bowels moving. A few a day keeps the bloated belly away!  Have an herbal tea with cascara sagrada (I like Smooth Move by Traditional Medicinals) on hand if you start to get backed up.  I also keep my Vitamin C and magnesium up, they are my secret bowel moving weapons.

3. Don’t let what the scale is doing panic you! Understand you’ll go up and down, don’t sweat it.

Was this a piece of cake? No, but it helped that my detox smoothie tasted like cake! I would have liked food, but all the fiber in the program made this tolerable and kept me from falling off the detox wagon.

Next post I will share my general outline that I am going to use with my readers and clients as a result of this adventure.  It’s always my intention to have personal experience with anything I recommend to make sure it works.

Now this post is one that needs to be shared if you or anyone you know has, will, or are thinking about cleansing. Share the love by using the simple buttons below to tell your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

How to Do an Easy Whole Body Cleanse

by Jen Springer

Not a day goes by without something hurting; I’m sick and tired of the inflammation.

I’ve had this problem since puberty hit.  If it’s connective tissue, I’ll get pain in it. Tendons, ligaments, fascia – it’s non-discriminatory.  I’m surprised my hair doesn’t hurt.

After visiting my chiro friend last week (Dr. Chris Danduran), he suggested I get back to basics and clean house.  So that’s what I’m doing!

Toxins that aren’t leaving my body are creating a back up (kinda like a clogged drain) that is resulting in inflammation in my joints.  The liver, kidney, and adrenals are typically associated with connective tissue pain.

Foggy thinking, anxiety, bloating, exhaustion, inability to lose weight are other possible signs a it is time for a cleanse.

I feel like I have done every type of cleanse in the past 10 years. Colon cleanses, liver cleanses, heavy metal cleanses, parasite cleanses, gall bladder cleanses … am I forgetting anything?

Not a fan of the Master Cleanse (Lemonade Diet) or of complete calorie restricted fasting.  I feel they are hard on the body and in my case, both times I did the Master Cleanse it created a massive yeast bloom and I believe it contributed to my insulin resistance problems.

My educated opinion on the lemonade diet? Drinking massive amounts of maple syrup water for 10 days isn’t a good idea. So what if it has lemons and cayenne, those can be easly added to other cleansing programs. Oh, and the idea of switching out the maple syrup for the pure fructose Agave is a REALLY bad idea (unless you want to become severely insulin resistant.)

On the other hand, herbs and teas are great for cleansing, but they can be very depleting if not done correctly. If we deplete, deplete, deplete then the body gets weak.  Intense herbal cleansing should be done under the guidance of a health practitioner.

If the body is given the tools it needs, it can do it’s job properly.

The types of cleanses I love are packed full of nutrients that will help the body detoxify itself. The liver needs all sorts of stuff so that it can convert toxins to a form that can leave the body.  Then the colon needs ammo so it can capture the toxins and escort them out of the body.

If a person isn’t careful, the toxins can get all stirred up and go onto the re-location program, ie: get moved around from within and never leave your body.  SUPER DUPER YUCK FACTOR!

I don’t know about you, but when I want to clean my body I want the trash to get taken out.  Stirring up toxins so they go somewhere else is not a good idea, been there and done that. Plus, I don’t want to blow out (excuse my crudeness) my backside.  That’s not necessary.

The cleanse I am doing is a combo of two that I’ve done in the past, the 5 Day Nutritive Cleanse and juicing.   I’ve put it together so it’s easy and tastes good.

Nothing worse than holding your nose to choke down some slimy pond scum!

A whole body cleanse that tastes good without bathroom emergencies and is simple? Yes, it’s possible.

My plan in a nutshell:

3 super awesome tasting meal replacements

2 servings of low glycemic fruits

tons of water

a digestive toner

adrenal adaptogen infusion

night time acid pulling juice

maybe some additional herbs

I know the above outline is super vague.  My goal is to get rid of inflammation, toxins, and maybe a few pounds.  As each day goes by I am going to tweak my plan in order to get the results I want.

Today is the beginning of day 2 and at this point I don’t know much.  The main outline I’m following is HERE.

Next post I will give you all the juicy details!

Need help with a cleanse for yourself? Get over to Facebook and I would love to help you with your questions!

Jen Springer is a Holistic Nutrition Expert who currently serves 10,000 clients.  Her approach to health is refreshing and out of the box, yet makes so much sense.  Through her entertaining and informative webinars, blog posts, and personal recovery program Let’s Get Physical: Anxiety is NOT All in Your Head, her clients quickly get results even though  they’ve spent years of chasing for answers. Jen has been a health educator and practitioner for the last 10 years.

Why Your Body Makes Your Brain Feel Cuckoo Part III

by Jen Springer

Heads up, you’re going to feel smarter after you read the rest of William Walsh, Ph.D. article!

I know it’s a brain bender, BUT the information below explains that actual why you may feel out of sorts.

So, how do you find out if you are dealing with any of these?

Simple, find a doc who practices functional medicine or orthomolecular psychiatry.

In the meantime you can have some fun pinpointing yourself with the charts on Nutritional Healing’s web page HERE.

Orthomolecular or functional docs will run tests to determine what is causing crazy making feelings that are paralyzing your life. I was very fortunate to find one of these docs when I was ill. They know where to start looking if you’re manic, flipping light switches, or so depressed you can barely take out the trash.

Remember, the issues below aren’t healed overnight. However, once the problem is found your physician can create a plan to bring you health and sanity back.

Be patient with yourself!

When you’re brain hurts after reading this article, come my the Natural Anxiety Therapy Facebook Page and show me your pearly whites!

The Critical Role of Nutrients in Severe Mental Symptoms by William Walsh, Ph.D. continued from Part I & Part II …

Biochemical Factors in Behavior Disorders, “ADHD,” and “Mental Illness”

The Pfeiffer Treatment Center has amassed a large database of biochemical information from more than 10,000 patients with mental health problems. Examination of this data shows that most of these persons have striking abnormalities in specific nutrients required for neurotransmitter production. The most common chemical imbalances we encounter include the following:

Over-methylation

Many persons who suffer from anxiety along with depression are over-methylated. Methyl is an important chemical group consisting of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms (CH3). Over-methylation (too many added methyl groups) results in excessive levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Typical symptoms include chemical and food sensitivities, underachievement, upper body pain, and an adverse reaction to serotonin-enhancing substances such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, St. John’s Wort, and SAMe⁶. They have a physical tendency to be very depressed in folates (a form of folic acid), niacin and Vitamin B-12, and biochemical treatment focuses on supplementation of these nutrients. These persons are also overloaded in copper and methionine (a sulfur-containing amino acid) and supplements of these nutrients must be strictly avoided.

Under-methylation

Many patients with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, “oppositional-defiant disorder⁷,” or seasonal depression are under-methylated, which is associated with low serotonin levels. They generally exhibit seasonal allergies and other distinctive symptoms and traits. They have a tendency to be very depressed in calcium, magnesium, methionine, and vitamin B-6 with excessive levels of folic acid. These under-methylated persons can have a positive effect from Paxil, Zoloft, and other serotonin-enhancing medications, although nasty side effects are common. A more natural approach is to directly correct the underlying problem using methionine, calcium, magnesium, and B-6. SAMe, St. John’s Wort, Kava Kava, and inositol (a natural sugar alcohol) are also very useful in treating these individuals.

Metal-metabolism

A common problem in “ADHD,” behavior disorders, and hormonal depression is a physical inability to control copper, zinc, manganese, and other trace metals in the body due to improper functioning of metallothionein – a small protein synthesized in the liver and kidney in response to the presence of some metal ions⁸, including zinc, mercury, cadmium, and copper. It binds the metal ions tightly and is important both in ion transport and in detoxification.

These patients are often deficient in zinc and manganese, the amino acids cysteine and serine, and vitamin B-6. They are commonly overloaded in copper, lead, and cadmium. They must avoid supplements and “enriched foods” containing copper. In addition we recommend they drink bottled water and limit use of swimming pools and jacuzzis treated with copper sulfate anti-algae agents. Foods to be limited due to high copper content include shellfish, chocolate, and carob.

Elevated copper levels are associated with hormonal imbalances and a classic symptom is intolerance to estrogen. Biochemical treatment focuses on stimulation of metallothionein using zinc, manganese, cysteine, serine, and vitamin B-6.

Pyrrole disorder

A common feature of many behavioral and emotional disorders is pyroluria, detectable as a purple (on testing paper) metabolite in urine called “the mauve factor.” Pyroluria is an inborn error of pyrrole chemistry, which results in a dramatic deficiency of zinc, vitamin B-6, and arachidonic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid). As noted earlier, certain pyrroles called kryptopyrroles (literally, “hidden pyrroles”) bind with B-6, then zinc to deplete the body’s supply. Common symptoms include explosive temper, mood swings, poor short-term memory, and frequent infections. These patients are easily identified by their inability to tan, poor dream recall, abnormal fat distribution, and sensitivity to light and sound. The decisive laboratory test is analysis for kryptopyrroles (the “mauve factor”) in urine. Treatment centers on zinc and B-6 supplements together with omega-6 essential fatty acids.

Glucose dyscontrol

Our database indicates a significant number of our patients have chronic low blood glucose levels. This problem doesn’t appear to be the cause of behavior disorders, depression, etc., but instead is an aggravating factor which can trigger striking symptoms. Typical symptoms include drowsiness after meals, irritability, craving for sweets, trembling, anxiety, and intermittent poor concentration and focus. Treatment includes chromium, manganese, and other glucose-stabilizing nutrients, but the primary focus of treatment is on diet. These patients benefit from six or more small meals daily with emphasis on complex carbohydrates and protein. In essence, they cannot tolerate large meals or quick sugars. Complex carbohydrates provide the necessary glucose in a slow, gradual manner and may be thought of as “time-released” sugar.

Toxic substances

Occasionally we encounter a patient whose condition has resulted from a heavy-metal overload (lead, cadmium, mercury, etc.) or toxic levels of pesticides or other organic chemicals. Our database indicates that persons with a metallothionein disorder are especially sensitive to toxic metals and that over-methylation is associated with severe chemical sensitivities. Effective treatment requires a three-part approach: (1) avoidance of additional exposures, (2) biochemical treatment to hasten the exit of the toxic substance from the body, and (3) correction of underlying chemical imbalances to minimize future vulnerability to the toxic material.

Malabsorption

Although only 10% of our database case histories involve serious malabsorption, more than 90% of autistics exhibit this problem. There are three primary classes of absorption problems: (1) stomach problems, including excessive or insufficient HCl (hydrochloric acid) levels, (2) incomplete digestion in the small intestine, and (3) problems at the brush-border, the tiny villi⁹ that tremendously increase the surface area of the intestine, where most nutrients are absorbed into to the blood stream. The consequences can include nutrient deficiencies, irritation of the intestinal tract, candida, and mental health problems. Incomplete breakdown of protein and fats can adversely affect brain neurotransmission, and is associated with impulsivity and academic underachievement. Treatment depends on the type of malabsorption present and may involve adjustment of stomach HCl levels, digestive enzymes that survive stomach acid, nutrients to enhance digestion, and special diets.

Essential Fatty Acids

The brain is 20% fat (by dry weight) and these fatty substances fulfill very important functions. The myelin sheaths which surround our brain cells contain essential fatty acids that are directly involved in nerve receptor formation and nerve transmission. A 1998 Symposium at the National Institute of Mental Health presented strong evidence of the important roles for omega-3 oils (especially EPA an DHA¹⁰) and omega-6 oils (especially AA and DGLA¹¹) in “ADHD,” depression, and “schizophrenia.” A recent Harvard study showed EPA and DHA supplements to be more effective than psychiatric medications in combating “bipolar depression.”

Typical American diets usually result in insufficient omega-3 and excessive omega-6 and some nutritionists routinely recommend supplements of omega-3 oils. However, biochemical individuality also exists with oils and certain persons are innately low in omega-6 oils. A review of symptoms and specialized plasma and red-cell-membrane lab tests can identify individual needs.

Summary

Nutrients play a critical role in mental health. They are the building blocks of the nervous system. Correct testing and understanding of deficiencies and overloads can pinpoint the causes of many severe mental symptoms, thus opening the door to hope and recovery.

Footnotes:

1. Methionine is an amino acid you need that you can only get from food or supplements.
2. Choline is part of the vitamin B complex family.
3. Fatty acids are the building blocks of fats.  The tail end of the fatty acid molecule is called the “omega.”  Some fatty acids have two carbon atoms together located 6 atoms from the end.  These are called omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have a double carbon atoms at 3 from the end.
4. Chemicals that transfer messages from one nerve cells to the other.
5. Serotonin, dopamine, and nonepinephrine are all neurotransmitters.
6. SAMe stands for S-Adenosyl Methionine.  It is a supplement and a chemical produced in the brain from the amino acid methionine.  In one chemical process, SAMe adds methyl groups, thus would be harmful to people already over-methylated.
7.  A psychiatric diagnosis for a pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting at least 6 months.
8. An ion is a negatively charged atom or group of atoms.  They tend to want to combine with other atoms or groups of atoms.
9.  Villi are minute, finger-like projections that give the small intestine lining a velvet-like appearance.  They absorb nutrients.
10.  There are 3 kinds of omega-3 fatty acids.   Two of them are EPA and DHA, which are found in fish oil.
11.  There are 3 kinds of omega-6 fatty acids.  Two of them are AA (arachidonic acid, mentioned earlier in this article) and DGLA.

Why Your Body Makes Your Brain Feel Cuckoo Part II

by Jen Springer

Now we’re getting to the good stuff!

William Walsh, Ph.D starts getting into neurotransmitters, pyrroles, and nutrients.

I apologize, the geek in me gets so jazzed to share this with you.

It was information like this written by Joan Matthews Larson, PhD. and Carl Pfeiffer that kept me hanging in there when I was really knocked down the anxiety and panic 24/7.  I knew what was going on in my body, but fixing it was the challenge. That took time and patience (as I outline in my ebook Let’s Get Physical).

Next post, methylation. That’s when we’ll really dork out together! Take your Omega 3′s and Brain Power oil to be ready for that one!

The Critical Role of Nutrients in Severe Mental Symptoms by William Walsh, Ph.D. continued from Part I …

Nutrients and Mental Health

As we enter the new millennium, the medical and scientific communities agree on the tremendous influence of neurotransmitters⁴ on behavior disorders, “ADHD” (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), depression, and “schizophrenia.” People can have a predisposition for these problems due to genetically aberrant levels of specific neurotransmitters. Our mental health is dependent upon having the proper amount of these critical brain chemicals.

Some psychiatrists express their scorn for nutrient therapies, claiming that they are too puny to have any real clinical potency. They often say, “You really need a drug to get the job done for a serious condition like depression.”

My favorite response begins by asking the question, “Where do our neurotransmitters come from?”

The brain is a chemical factory that produces serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine⁵, and other brain chemicals 24 hours a day. The only raw materials for their syntheses are nutrients, namely, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc. If the brain receives improper amounts of these nutrient building blocks, we can expect serious problems with our neurotransmitters.

For example, some depression patients have a genetic pyrrole disorder which renders them grossly depleted in vitamin B-6. A pyrrole is a basic chemical structure that is used in the formation of heme, which makes blood red. Pyrroles bind with B₆ and then with zinc, thus depleting these nutrients. These individuals cannot efficiently create serotonin (a neurotransmitter) since B-6 is an important factor in the last step of its synthesis.

Many of these persons appear to benefit from Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, or other serotonin-enhancing medications. However, as with all mind-altering drugs, side effects occur and the true cause of the mental difficulties remains uncorrected. Similar – and more healthful – benefits can be achieved by simply giving these patients sufficient amounts of B-6 along with supporting nutrients.

Most neurotransmitter problems appear to be genetic in nature and involve abnormal absorption, metabolism, or storage of key nutrients. As neuroscience advances, biochemical treatments to correct brain chemistry become better defined. Nutrient therapy can be very potent and does not involve side effects, since no molecules foreign to the body are needed. This therapeutic approach may eventually eliminate the need for most psychiatric medications.

to be continued …

(Please share this juicy info using the buttons below!)