This week on Brain Health Matters, Kate Kunkel interviews Dr. Bonnie J. Kaplan. She is a Professor Emerita in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada.
Dr. Kaplan’s interest in the biological basis of behavior led to postdoctoral training and then faculty research in neurophysiology. She has published widely on the biological basis of developmental disorders and mental health, especially the contribution of nutrition to brain development and brain function, including in her book, “The Better Brain”.
This powerful passage from the book is the perfect introduction to this discussion
“We are in the midst of a mental health crisis. An estimated one in five American adults suffer from some form of mental illness. Despite the billions of dollars spent in pharmaceutical research and the rising popularity of antidepressant drugs, we are more depressed and anxious than ever before.
What if we’re looking for solutions in the wrong places? What if instead of treating mental illness with prescriptions and medication, we changed what we eat and how we feed our brains?”
Be sure to tune in to this powerful discussion - Some highlights of include:
02:09 Psychiatric medication’s place in nurturing better mental health
08:04 ADHD – Turning it around with nutrition
10:30 How proof of mental health improvement is ignored or maligned in major media
12:25 Startling success with B vitamins
14:4 Why the “Magic Bullet” approach to vitamins cannot work to improve brain health
16:24 How mood regulation can be achieved with dietary changes and micro-nutrients
21:11 Organic or no? Is there a difference to the brain?
31:32 Withdrawal from any substances can be alleviated with broad spectrum micro-nutrients
34:00 It all begins in the soil
Books that Bonnie referred to:
“Hooked” by Michael Moss
“Metabolical” by Robert Lustig
A video by Dr. Kaplan explaining how nutrients control brain synthesis and metabolism of neurotransmitters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWIBf5ALLj4&t=39s
The Canadian micro-nutrient companies that Dr. Kaplan referred to are:
Truehope.com
Hardynutritionals.com
Learn many more ways that improve and protect your brain in Kate’s book, Don't Let the Memories Fade, available in paperback and as an eBook on Amazon everywhere.
To begin your journey toward a healthier brain, claim your free copy of Kate's Five Key
Steps You Can Take Right Now to Improve Your Brain
Start your Brain Health Journey with Five Easy Things you can do Right Now to Improve Your Brain https://harplady.lpages.co/five-steps-to-a-better-brain/
To learn even more about the power of a whole foods, plant-based diet for a healthier brain, check out Kate’s books, "Don't Let the Memories Fade", "The Vegan Brain" and "The Musical Brain"
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