The Better Brain: Overcome Anxiety, Combat Depression, and Reduce ADHD and Stress with Nutrition

by Bonnie J. Kaplan, Julia J. Rucklidge, Andrew Weil (Foreword)

A paradigm-shifting approach to treating mental disorders like anxiety, depression, and ADHD with food and nutrients, by two leading scientists who share their original, groundbreaking research with readers everywhere for the first time, explaining why nutrients improve brain health, and how to use them.

What if the key to treating mental illness can’t be found at the pharmacy, but lies in the very foods and nutrients we eat?
  
We are in the midst of a mental health crisis. An estimated one in five American adults suffer from some form of mental illness. What if we’re looking for solutions in the wrong places?
          Leading scientists Bonnie J. Kaplan, PhD, and Julia J. Rucklidge, PhD, have dedicated their lives to studying the role of nutrition in mental health. Their groundbreaking research reveals the surprising role that nutrients—minerals and vitamins—play in brain health. In this paradigm-shifting book, they share a comprehensive program for better brain health, featuring:
The ideal diet for your brain: rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and olive oil.
More than 30 delicious, mood-boosting recipes.
Crucial advice on when to supplement and how.

The Better Brain is your complete guide to a healthier, happier brain.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Adhd, Psychology, Nutrition, Self Help, Mental Health

371 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 20, 2021

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. The diet information was pretty basic (the standard - don't eat a lot of processed food, don't eat sugar, check out the Mediterranean diet), which is fine. Where they lost me was on the supplements. Throughout the book they keep mentioning some supplement companies they've worked with (but swear they don't have a connection with). Fair enough. I get to the supplements chapter, which boils down to "Oh, we don't actually know what supplement formulations will work - except for the ones that these companies sell". So, while I did learn something about the brain and nutrition, I also felt that the book was, at least, partially, a vehicle for schilling the products of these particular companies.

[Bookgrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The two authors are scientists who have spent several decades researching a way to treat mental health disorders that has gotten very little interest by mainstream doctors. They have studied how to use nutrition to treat disorders such as depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and others. Specifically, what effect common nutrients have on these disorders of the brain. There aren’t many studies done using nutrition and supplements simply because there’s no money in it. The pharmaceutical companies have psychiatrists and clinics in their back pocket. And the few studies that are done are regarding single nutrients (let’s say, B6), and the authors have discovered that you need dozens of nutrients working in conjunction with each other for results. They advocate for a diet consisting of whole foods, cutting out all the processed junk that we eat (and I think we can all agree that eating a less processed diet will improve many aspects of our health). They specifically recommend following a Mediterranean diet, which I do have some reservations about, namely added oil’s and dairy (dairy is a common allergen & not well digested).

At the end of the book they recommend some particular supplements to take. My big issue with this is that they list a handful of companies selling a particular formulation, and most of these can only be bought online. Quite a few people in the population can’t shop online or simply choose not to. Also, depending on what country you live in, these companies could be difficult to order from and shipping could be prohibitive. It would be much more helpful if there was a list of the specific vitamins and minerals along with their dosages, and then the people who couldn’t purchase those specific formulations could still benefit from the knowledge and put together their own plan.

Thank you to NetGalley & Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

it sucks that some questions i had going into this book were left unanswered because theres just such a lack of research at large in the field on micronutrient supplements and their relationship w mi/brain health. it definitely proves their point on how untapped the conversation is by the medical world but at the same time leaves a lot of what this book talks about half realized. the results they do talk about though were really interesting. hopefully down the road the medical world at large will give it enough time of day to pursue the leads theyve got here

[Valeria Koopman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I have survived an overwhelming and dangerous journey of treatment, only to discover that what I actually needed was to feed my brain and recognize I was having a normal reaction to trauma and stress.”

The Better Brain is an invitation to well-being and transformation.

I love how it uncovers and explains a pearl of simple wisdom that we all intuitively know: that a well-nourished body provides an environment for healing, including mental and emotional health.

This is a must-read book for anyone who is ready to redefine mental health by taking responsibility for their brains.

It was a wonderful experience to have had a conversation with Dr. Bonnie J. Kaplan during a podcast interview! Her presence, wisdom, and clarity reflected her commitment to changing lives!

[Taveri]

the authors emphasize nutrients over pharmaceuticals for mental health and regular health improvements, and support their claims with studies. Like "Turtles All the Way Down" they show it is an uphill battle to get mainstream health care on board. In the Epilogue there was mention that a coure for scurvy was found as early as 1601 and then further evidence of the importance of citrus fruit in a 1747 trial, yet it wasn't until 1865 that it was incorporated into sailors' diets (and just British) > 264 year time lag. I thought this tidbit might have better punctuated their message by being at the beginning.

Ohapter Nine was almost forty pages of recipes, which i skimmed; i'm not looking to enhance my cooking repetoire. The hints on page 249 were helpful:

Instead of: > Eat:

Baked Goods > Trail Mix*
Ohewy Candy > Blueberries, Raisins*
Chips > Air popped popcorn**
Dips > Hummus*
Frence Fries > Baked sweet potato
Ice cream* > Greek Yogurt with fruit*
Fried Food > Cook in an air fryer or convection
oven

* I do
** no more microwave for me

[Reb · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars.

Pretty straightforward. Get off the pills and eat your fruits and vegetables.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basic summary of this book: Eat Whole Foods, take a vitamin. There was a lot of info in this book I didn’t feel I needed. The info I DID want I didn’t get which is which vitamins (and what doses) should I take to improve mental health? They do recommend some very specific brands to take but if you are unable to get those, then the information is useless to you. The nutritional advice was also very basic, don’t eat processed foods, eat mostly real food with a focus on fruits and vegetables. Well duh.

[Teal Veyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was a really great read. I appreciate that these authors are pushing back against the harmful myth that everyone needs to take medications for psychiatric illnesses. Some people's psych problems are made worse by meds. Meds are one solution to a complex problem. They work sometimes for some people. They don't work for everyone. In this absolute clown world we live in, that's a controversial take.

I had to go down to 4 stars though, because the authors focus so much on supplements, rather than teaching people how to eat well for good nutrition. I didn't learn very much about nutrition or healthy eating from this book. I'm not about to go on supplements, so the book wasn't very practical for me.

I also found it a little ridiculous how the authors heavily imply that poor nutrition is the ONLY cause of psychiatric illness. That's just as ridiculous as saying that a mysterious (and never been verified) "chemical imbalance" is the one sole cause of mental illness. They even support this ridiculous idea by arguing that modern life is LESS stressful than in decades past. One example they give is the internet. Yep, you heard it here folks, the internet is GOOD for mental health. Ugh....that part was so bad it felt like satire. Anyone who thinks the internet makes people mentally healthier has never been as addicted to it as me: Pro-ana tumblr, DID tik Tok, 4chans /pol, r/putyourdickinit, I mean....I could keep going. The internet spreads mental illness and depression better than any mass communication tool ever invented.

But all in all, the book does a nice job of pushing back against conventional mental health treatments and has a lot of solid research to back up the claims made in favor of nutrition as mental health treatment. It just shouldn't be the ONLY mental health treatment. Other mental health treatment should include lots of self-reflection, possibly journaling, gardening. Also exercise, a sense of purpose, and involvement in one's community. Still, it doesn't hurt to start with good nutrition. But skip the supplements and just get some veggies. Don't say you can't afford it. Such a damn stupid myth. Processed frozen meals are far more expensive than a cart full of veggies.

[Angel Ayala Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transforming my approach and outlook on my own struggles with adhd

Most lower stars reviews do not seem to understand the true purpose of this book, or outright misunderstood the limited context of the world and time in which this book was written. I look forward to follow ups in the next few decades as the science continues to reflect the truths spoken of in this book.

Also they mention specific brands of supplements again because the research is so limited and as science respecters they are unwilling to recommend things that they don't have experience with yet.

More research is needed
Stay curious ;) and
DFTBA

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mediterranean diet is the one to be following. Supplement industry may also be more helpful than you think.

A lot of interesting points and promising results from clinical studies. However, with the amount of influence pharmaceutical companies have over doctors and practitioners I'm not sure the ideas in this book will ever win out in society as a whole; cash is king.

[Lisa Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about the link between nutrition and good mental health. Full review will be up on my blog soon, www.therapybooknook.com/blog

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. Mainly about two scientists discussing why the Mediterranean diet is the best. No processed food. That is obvious. Still an interesting read.

[Stephanie]

tldr: minerals. all of them, all at once

[William Andrew Macculloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Important literature that will continue to educate the non-believers of nutrition as medicine! The book does a great job at not just explaining Julia and Bonnies experience in the field, but showing an abundance of results with the scientific evidence to back their claims.

Living in NZ myself, it was great to see examples and studies of nutrients Julia had carried out in Christchurch. Even more so with a mental health epidemic in NZ it was great to see the change and help getting pushed to all kiwis!

Great read to get a different perspective on age old problems. Something worth looking into if you feel like you have hit a dead end with troubled kids, prescription medication, Depression and so on.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a huge eye opener for me. I am shocked to know that medical professionals do not get nearly enough education regarding nutrition and the key roles it plays for neurotransmitters in our brain! As a registered nurse I can say that my university studies did not touch on any information regarding nutrition in mental health.
I highly recommended this book and I hope In The future the ideas and goals discussed will become society’s norm

[Elizabeth Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

It didn’t explain much but overall I liked the book

[Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wholeheartedly endorse this book. In my work as a paediatrician and then a child psychiatrist, I have known Bonnie for close to 30 years. Her integrity and collaboration with Julia has produced a work that will be spoken about for decades. They not only committed to an idea that was long overdue but spent a career in pursuing it with rigorous studies. Their work is a labour of love. In spite of political, medical and psychiatric opposition, and sometimes hostility, they worked within the scientific paradigm to conduct prospective randomized controlled trials. It is always challenging to give enough background about what the studies say and don't say, while at the same time not becoming too academic. For those people who want a bottom line, you can find it at the end of each chapter and for those who want more detail there is plenty enough.
Yes we have reached a tipping point where we can no longer ignore nutrition. This book is a well-rounded summary of the literature, the limitations of our current knowledge and the direction for future research. There is also practical advice and there are so many common questions. They don't tell you what to do. It is respectfully written and people can make up their own minds about what the evidence suggests. This book has plenty of food for thought, both literally and metaphorically.

[Lily]

Read the non-recipe portions, not comfortable giving it a star rating. I found the science promising and thought-provoking, but not conclusive. I'd love to see a review of the science from someone with both nutrition and pharmaceutical expertise who is not so invested in the outcome.

The authors may not have taken money from the supplement companies they talk about, but they are not unbiased either. They believe in this nutrition-based approach to mental health, have been researching it for years, and they wrote this book to raise the profile of the results. That's not "bad", but they're not unbiased. Suggesting that some people with depression, ADHD, anxiety, and schizophrenia can use this nutrition-based approach *instead of medication* is an extraordinary claim that calls for more decisive evidence or more disclaimers.

[Cc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Provocative. Scientific. Interesting concepts and studies. I hope it is another enlightenment on the journey of helping our country deal with mental health. I am curious to see our own experiments go now.

[Andy Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smooth reading.

However, it felt like the sample sizes in the studies were small. The diet recommendations are basic, but important to share: Eat whole foods, less, and mostly plants.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but longer than necessary.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

It felt like Kaplan was trying to sell me supplements. If I can't get it from my diet, or from nature, I'm not interested. I couldn't finish.

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a terrific read!

This book was written (and exhaustively researched) by two PHDs at the University of Calgary, one a Professor of Medicine and the other a Clinical Psychologist.

The premise of the book is simple - the authors, experts in their field and blindingly aware of both the rising rates of diagnosis and the failures of modern medicine to effectively treat the most debilitating chronic mental illnesses - including depression, schizophrenia, ADHD, PTSD and other anxiety disorders - have laid out a comprehensive and beautifully articulated proposal for a new and “radical” treatment approach.

The premise for the approach is that mental health all comes down to what and how you feed your brain.

(This premise makes such profound sense that the fact that it would be considered radical surprises me, but more on this coming up below)

We have long been aware that our cardiovascular health is inextricably tied to our diet. Making the leap to our brains, and the transformative power of nutrition to build and maintain brain health, which underlies mental health, should not, after all, be that radical. But as the authors strip it all down to its barest roots for us the potential of this concept is dazzling: when we eat, we are primarily feeding our brains. Every minute our blood delivers the nutrients we have circulating directly to our brain, in this way immediately and continuously affecting “how we see, smell, hear, taste, feel, think, learn, remember, process, and create.”

As the authors explain, the elephant in the room, the reason this treatment proposal continues to meet with resistance and is dismissed out of hand by most traditional psychiatric practitioners, is that the current state of medical treatment for these disorders is pretty much completely pharmaceutical-based. We are beholden to a medical industry, and a conditioned culture, funded and dominated by a “pop a pill” narrative.

But change has to start somewhere, and with painstakingly beautiful detail, the authors provide their supporting research and lay out the indisputable facts, - our brain metabolism, our gut microbiome, the way our genes are expressed, our resilience to trauma and stress, our ability to recover from toxins as well as to repair brain cell damage - all of these processes are chemistry and biology based, driven by equations linking chains of compounds created and then transforming other compounds, all of them dependent on input from available and high-quality raw material (or enzymatic cofactors) that must enter our bodies in the form of nutrients.

Brick by brick, the authors build a rock-solid case that is compelling, as well as fascinating - how and what we eat and the resulting nutrients we metabolize will orchestrate healthy and high-functioning brains, or, on the other hand, can result in the development of physical brain deficits, which can underlie mental illness.

This is a wonderful book and it’s impossible not to have your mind spin in reading it, the premise so exciting. The content is incredibly rich, and the authors do a great job explaining brain metabolism, the stress response, DNA methylation and other secrets of the brain in language that is educational but not imposing for the lay person.

The authors finish with detailed material forming a go-forward guide to eating well for healthy brains, including recipes and a recommended eating plan (based on the Mediterranean diet), as well as regimen of nutritional supplements for the very ill.

(Note: I do have a concern regarding the nutritional supplemental products which are mentioned by name. Although the authors are quick to note that they have no financial ties to any of these products, I am naturally on high alert when commercial products of any sort are recommended in scientific literature.)

A big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the authors for an advance review copy of this incredibly interesting and valuable book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts presented are my own.

[Suzan Lemont · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had some interesting stuff in it, but overall a bit disappointing, even though I do totally get why doing research on nutrition and the body is so difficult, and the stories about how dismissive scientists can be and have been to these academic researchers is toe curling and disgusting. What I objected to was the overstating of claims, that it's a bit repetitive, and it tries to do too many things so ends up not being any one of them convincingly.

For example: they advocate for a "Mediterranean style" diet (besides the horrifically expensive supplements required to reach anything close to the results they reported in some of their studies) and give recipes at the back of the book to help you to get inspired and see what they are talking about but they *completely* ignore vegetarian or vegan's needs - not even suggesting tofu, hemp seeds, or other high quality protein sources for most of their recipes which call for chicken, feed or fish. The recipes are ok, but there aren't very many of them and most of it yo ucan find on the internet. They should have maybe set up a website and posted recipes there: that way they could add to it over time and give more extensive options for those who can't or don't want to eat meat, dairy, etc. Also, I've been eating this way already for 40 years and I still have ADHD and so do my kids, so I'm not too convinced that this is going to turn it around as far as mental health goes.

There are some good explanations of how nutrients work together, and some history of research (or lack thereof) in the area of nutrition and those were both interesting and infuriating (at how the government and medical communities dismiss nutrition as a key element in health and the pure arrogance many display in talking about it) but again, it's a bit jumbled together and a lot of it doesn't quite reach the promising claims they make on the cover and throughout the book. It's almost like they really wanted to publish it *now* before they had more substantial results because of some opportunity or maybe pressure from the publisher? It would have been better to wait a little longer and to have been clearer about timelines, results, etc.

A good effort, and not to be dismissed but I'm hoping for more in the near future. I was not convinced that I should invest $50-75 a month *per person* in my family on the vague hope that ADHD and anxiety suffered by 3 of us in the family will magically disappear or get better. It's something only the elite or relatively wealthy can afford to do and the people who suffer most from the effects of ADHD, Autism, anxiety, etc. will never be able to obtain any benefits because they can barely afford to eat well enough to satisfy these criteria, let alone the supplements on top of that.

The book also reminded me, in tone, of What to Expect When You're Expecting: a book that gave me *so much* anxiety while pregnant with my first child; despite a natural healthcare practitioner telling me I have one of the best diets she's ever seen in her 30 years of practice. It made me question whether what I was doing was good enough and if I had a single gram of sugar I'd be damaging my baby forever. This book isn't quite as bad as that, but I just had similar reactions. A kind of feeling of being lectured to or condescended to if I couldn't follow these protocols exactly. it's worth reading, but keep in mind, there's a lot they still don't know and we need to work on finding ways to get vulnerable people the help they need. I'm afraid this book and research isn't going to be the thing that does it.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was aware of much that was mentioned in this book as I have been interested in nutrition and it’s importance for mind, body and soul. Still, I wanted to read it and enter as I always do... with a beginners mind.

I studied health coaching and have a background in healthcare ( as a once nurse/ midwife)
I have followed other academics over the years regarding nutrition and supplements for general health. So I didn’t come without any understanding or prior knowledge before reading this book.

My rating for my experience was 3/5 - I was hoping to learn more than I did. I enjoyed it but much was a refresher for me ( aside from the studies the authors had conducted) I’ve always believe food is medicine anyway, so I wasn’t surprised by the positive results. I am sure a lay person may be blown away by reading the book and that’s why I’d recommend this. Knowledge is powerful and needs to be shared because your GP or psychiatrist will not tell you any of this valuable, life changing information that has been backed up by research/ science.

The book is specifically looking at nutrition in regards to mental health.
I am shocked how we have lost all sight as to what needs to be done to get back on track with our health. Big corporations have not been kind to humanity and children are growing up with processed junk instead of the real foods that our grandparents/ great grandparents ate.

If you are struggling with mental health problems or aware of someone that is bogged down with stress then this is a book to read.

It is very easy to read, explains why nutrition matters and the includes the studies to back up the information too. Plenty of references to research studies to look up if you so choose to read them. Julia and Bonnie (the authors) include great tips and advice to get you started on your journey. They have also added a number of easy recipes for you to try.


A book I recommend for your teen children/ your family & friends.

We are seeing mental health issues increasing in society and trauma is responsible for this but so is inadequate nutrition.

[Daniel Winnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book like this shouldn’t be a page-turner, but this one is! A great overview of the authors’ work studying the importance of nutrition—and efficacy of multinutrient supplements—in managing mental health, and even in treating severe mental health problems, both chronic and trauma-based. It’s written with urgency, not so much as self-help (though it is) but as a call-to-action for individuals and for society-at-large.

The book is organized into three sections: (1) a primer on the basic science of how brain chemicals require the metabolism of micronutrients (and why many of us don’t get enough of those), (2) a survey of the science on nutrition from food and multinutrient supplements as regards mental health, as of 2021, and (3) advice for what to eat, not eat, and potentially supplement, including advice for those suffering from particular conditions.

Incidentally, the third section includes a list of recipes, which is helpful but perhaps a bit incongruous with the rest of the text, which lays out a very persuasive argument.

I appreciate the effort to present an overview of the existing research (not just that which clearly supports their argument), along with some of the reasons why this field of inquiry has, frustratingly, flown under the radar—or worse, been wrongly discredited—for decades. (Hint: Money has a lot to do with it. It doesn’t take a conspiracy theorist to believe that.) Research findings—including numbers, which are always illustrative!—are presented alongside anecdotal evidence, in a way that helps put a human face on the science.

As someone who has long grappled with emotional-regulation in his own life, I will be placing much higher value on my nutrition going forward, and will consider trying a multinutrient supplement as part of the overall package, too.

This book is well worth the reading, and I hope the authors’ hopes for its ideas’ adoption in future decades are realized.

[Debbie Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I prefer to spend my free time reading literary works versus scientific studies but the title of this non-fiction book grabbed my attention. From that point of view, my opinion of this fact-filled tome hovered between 3 and 4 stars.

Wouldn't we all like to have a better brain? I applaud the two authors (both researchers: one based in Canada, the other in New Zealand) who have dedicated their lives to helping those suffering with mental illnesses.

The book is divided into three parts: A Bold New Paradigm for Improving Mental Health; Better Nutrition for a Better Brain; and How to Feed Your Brain.

At times the content felt like an info-commercial for micronutrients and vitamin/mineral supplements based on research after research after research. (Also the fact that more research on this topic needed to be funded.)

Other times, the work held my attention with some interesting gems, "Not one study has shown that the Western diet is good for our mental health." (p. 109) In other words, avoid processed foods. Even whole foods from local farms can be a problem if the soil is depleted of nutrients or if climate change alters the make-up of the produce.

What we eat is important and that is something these authors are trying to share with the world, including those working in the medical profession.

For those who wish to fast-track through the content, each chapter ends with a summary called "The Takeaway". For those who like recipes, there is also a section called "The Better Brain Recipes" featuring 37 pages of brain-building dishes from breakfast offerings to desserts. As other reviewers have mentioned, the authors are huge fans of the Mediterranean Diet.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much revolutionary thinking in this book that it cannot be understated!! I have been following Dr. Rucklidge’s research for a while now and I was excited to read this book and to share it and her research with others. What I like most about this book was the great questions she asks and the data-backed answers. I was floored to learn that blood tests don’t predict if broad spectrum multinutrient vitamins will help or not. The research she has done on mental health is revolutionary and helps us to understand how the vitamins in her research can help those who suffer from anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, trauma, and more. Great suggestions about eating better and how to do it, including recipes!! But should you get all your nutrients from food? Well, our food has less nutrients than in the past. Should we only rely on supplements? Well, a GREAT POINT, is that so many foods contain many properties that haven’t even been identified yet! There is NO supplement that covers everything, because we don’t know them all! This book is researched-backed and easy to read and understand. It will change the way you think, the way you eat, the way you look at supplements, the way you talk to your doctors and what you feed your children. Most importantly, it will give you the WHY and that will help you with your choices more than anything else. I highly recommend this book for any human being wanting to be healthier in mind and body.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this review and more on my blog, uncovered-books.

I received a free copy of The Better Brain from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

We all know that nutrition plays an important part of our lives. We need it at all stages of our lives for varying reasons, in varying quantities and ratios.

As a professional athlete, I can understand exactly where the authors are coming from. How can you expect your body to function if you are not feeding yourself correctly? Especially given the global pandemic that is currently occurring, everything as we know it has changed, so with the added stress and uncertainty in the world currently it logically makes sense that your nutritional needs will have changed within the past year.

Not only do they talk about their research into supplements, they also talk about how to get more nutrients into your diet without supplements. They have included recipes and food lists to aid you in this. I cannot wait to give some of these recipes a try!

I personally may try giving supplements a try (as I currently do not take anything of the sort) and see if it will have a positive impact in my life.

If you are looking to improve your health and nutrition, I urge you to give this a read.

[Ashley Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This research is GROUNDBREAKING! Anyone working in the mental health field or struggling with your own or loved one’s mental health issues needs to read this (or at least the cliff notes).

Intuitively, I’ve known that nutrition is important for brain health and mental health and the Mediterranean diet is key. I had no idea about the research that’s been done using micronutrients (such as https://www.truehope.com/empowerplus) for various mental health disorders, trauma, and stress.

Fruits and vegetables aren’t as nutritious as they once were due to years of soil depletion, high-yield varieties of crops, alongside synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, etc. If we aren’t getting enough nutrients how can our brain work properly??

The book ends with several call to actions including:

1. We need a better way to evaluate quality of supplements.

2. We need to educate the public about the power of micronutrients for mental health PRIOR to medicating. Medication should be the supplement.

3. Insurance needs to cover the cost of quality micronutrients for mental health as it has stronger efficacy and less negative impacts, potential for addiction, and negative side effects.

I could go on. 😆 Check it out!