Mental Health and Illness: The Nutrition Connection 1870976126, 9781870976121

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https://archive.org/details/mentalhealthnutrOOOOholf

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First published in 1996 by ION Press 34, Wadham Road London SW15 2LR Tel: 0181·871 2949 Fax: 0181·874 5003 incorporating material from Mental Illness & Schizophrenia, published in 1987 © Dr Carl Pfeiffer, 1987 & Patrick Holford, 1996

Illustrations & cover: Christopher Quayle (with respect to Mnurits Escher) and Jonathan Phillips Layout: Heather James All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.

ISBN 1 870976126 Printed and bound in Great Britain by the Bath Press

About the Author Patrick Holford is widely conside red to be a leading international ex pert on mental health and nutrition. He started his academic career in the field of psychoiogy, researching the role of nutrition in mental illness, while completing his bachelor's degree in Experimental Psychology at the University of York. His fascination with this subject led him to the Uniled States, where he studied the work of Dr Carl Pfeiffer MD PhD at the Brain Bio Center, Dr Linus Paul ing and other leading figures in nutritional medicine. He has since continu ed his research into mental health and the importance of nutrients and trace elements such as zinc. In 1984 he founded the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, a charitable and independent educational trust for the furtherance of education and research in nutrition, where he has taught and practised for the past 12 years, as well as lecturing throughout the world. He also directs ION's Mental Health Project and is an International Human Rights Award Winner for his work in this field. He is one of Britain's leading nutritional authors, writing for a number of major national publications and frequently appearing on radio and television. His books include The Whole Health Manual, Optimum Nutrition, The Optimum Nutrition Workbook, The Better Pregnancy Diet, The Fatburner Diet, The Energy Equation, Supernutrition for a Healthy Heart, How To Protect Yourself from Pollution, Say No to Arthritis and Living Food. He is also editor of Optimum Nutrition magazine.

Contents Foreword by Dr Abram Hoffer

5

Part 1 - What is Mental Health?

1 Mind over Matter 2 Mental Health - The Nutrition Connection

8

15

Part 2 - Five Steps to Mental Health

3 Food for Thought

4 Fats for the Brain 5 Brain Pollution 6 Beating the Sugar Blues 7 Are you a Stimulant Addict? 8 Solving the Stress Syndrome 9 Brain Allergies 10 Smart Nutrients

20 28 35 43 52 56 61 68

Part 5 - Action Plan for Mental Health 21 Diet & supplements for mental health 22 Mental Health & Illness - The Nutrition

196 74

Connection Directory of Supplement Companies

199

Useful Addresses and Recommended Reading Index

200 202

See reverse front for Contents of Chapters 11 to 32 on Mental Illness - The Nutrition Connection

Foreword I was delighted to read this excellent book written by Patrick Holford and Carl Pfeiffer, deceased . Patrick is a recent fri end of mine who wiU undoubtedly make major contributions to the future of nutritional medicine, judging by his contributions made so far, and Carl Pfeiffer, a long time friend of mine, who was one of the fo remost and most productive contributors to orthomolecular theory and practice.

The fist pa rt of this book dea ls with prevention and the second part with treatment. Both em phasise the enormous importance of developing the correct nutri tion for each individual, whether it is for p revention or for trea tmen t. Logically, prevention should come first, and if it were properly and universaUy applied would much reduce the need fo r treatment. As I read this book I was reminded of the long and torhlrOtlS history that medical nutrition has undergone over the past 100 years. The optimum nutrition for any indiv idual is that which provides the optimun1 amount and type of nutrients that person must have if s/he is to be normal. For after all, isn't this what nature has been doing for millions of years, fine tuning its creatures to adapt to the available food supply? Linus Pauling knew this and co ined the right word, orthomolecular (ortho := right - molecules), to show that the correct amount of natural compOlmds with which the body is famiUar must be used. When we broke away from the basic adaptationai rule we began to court major problems. About 100 years ago food chemists believed that the only component of foods that mattered were carbohydrates, fats and proteins. As a result of this hubris large numbers of the English nobility were destroyed because mothers, insteo·called schizophrenics and a majority of depressed patients. 'I hi'" c..,!lIl1alc is based on the ll1ilny patients who were treated o\'er the last 10 year.." The histadclic person is often the problem patient at psych i'ltric clinics and hospitals.

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