Antianxiety Food Solution

Is Roundup toxic and a cause of anxiety, autism and celiac disease?

May 30, 2014 By Trudy Scott 18 Comments

Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Senior Research Scientist at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, kindly agreed to share her expertise on Roundup/glyphosate on The Anxiety Summit.

This is the title of our interview: “Aluminum and glyphosate (Roundup) collaborate to cause anxiety, depression, autism and celiac disease.”

Recently Dr. Seneff has become very concerned about the current autism epidemic and her research leads her to believe that glyphosate plays a critical role in this epidemic as well as in modern diseases like anxiety and depression

During our interview Dr. Seneff shared this:

“There are a group of us who are extremely concerned because the manufacturer of glyphosate has repeatedly claimed that it’s almost harmless to humans. So people are using it very carelessly and they are not monitoring it in their blood, in their urine, in their food or in their water. Everyone is assuming that it’s fine and so it is extremely insidious and dangerous for that reason”

We also talked about how widespread the use of Roundup has been, which is all rather disturbing considering what Dr. Seneff and other researchers are finding.

Dr. Seneff shared this:

“Wheat and sugar cane… farmers have been increasingly adopting the practice of spraying these crops right before the harvest (with Roundup)…These are not Roundup ready so the crops dies. And that’s the intention…to hasten the harvest… Nobody thinks it’s toxic…And we have the celiac disease epidemic…and all these gluten free sections showing up in the grocery stores. I think this is directly due to Roundup residue in the wheat.”

Dr. Seneff’s 2013 paper called Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases II: Celiac sprue and gluten intolerance found that:

“Deficiencies in tryptophan, tyrosine, methionine and selenomethionine associated with celiac disease, match glyphosate’s known depletion of these amino acids”… contributing to anxiety and depression.

The paper ends with this plea:

“We conclude with a plea to governments to reconsider policies regarding the safety of glyphosate residues in foods.”

Join us on The Anxiety Summit to hear the whole interview (and hear 20+ other experts share research, nutritional pearls, food advice and protocols)

Why glyphosate is sprayed on wheat right before the harvest, and how this explains the epidemic in gluten intolerance
How glyphosate disrupts gut bacteria causing a deficiency in beneficial bacteria and an overgrowth of pathogenic forms
How glyphosate depletes minerals like cobalt, zinc, molybdenum, and manganese by caging them; and how it depletes serotonin and GABA levels
How glyphosate disrupts cytochrome P450 enzymes in the gut and liver, with devastating consequences

The Anxiety Summit is a free online virtual event that runs June 9 to June 22 and will be bringing together experts from all over the world – to share nutritional approaches to end anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks and OCD. Get access here www.theanxietysummit.com

UPDATE: the summit concluded on Tues 6/24 – season 2 of The Anxiety Summit will be in November 2014. If you’d like to be on the notification list just sign up here www.theAnxietySummit.com

Nutritional interventions in postpartum depression and anxiety

May 9, 2014 By Trudy Scott 17 Comments

A 2013 paper published in Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine and titled “Nutritional interventions in depression and perinatal depression” states the following:

In pregnancy three “different physiological causes of depression have been identified: low serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels in the brain; altered neuromembranes and the impact of polyunsaturated fatty acids on these membranes; and hormones, especially hormonal changes that occur during and after pregnancy. Each of these pathways is affected by specific nutrients and may be altered by nutritional approaches.”

The paper lists the following possible nutritional deficiencies to consider:

Folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 – which help maintain sufficient levels of neurotransmitters in the brain . These B vitamins are critical factors in homocysteine metabolism and homocysteine is a necessary precursor in the biosynthesis of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) – which keep neuronal membranes fluid and thereby enhance neurotransmitter production
SAMe – which has an antidepressant effect

The authors also discuss the importance of addressing possible imbalances of sex hormones, cortisol and thyroid hormones.

The paper concludes with this:

“Nutritional interventions may be a cost effective way of preventing and treating depression in pregnancy. When used prophylactically, nutritional interventions may decrease the incidence or severity of perinatal depression. When used as treatment methods, nutritional interventions may reduce the utilization of or the necessary dose of psychotropic drugs. Decreasing the amount of psychotropic drugs used during pregnancy may reduce the risk of harm to the fetus, while still providing the mother with an equivalent amount of therapy.”

In addition to the above, there is also research on: tryptophan, melatonin, zinc, and the role of inflammation in postpartum depression and anxiety.

It should be noted that by addressing many of these factors, both depression and anxiety may be alleviated. Also, since each person has their own unique biochemistry, it’s important to figure out what factor plays a role for that person.

I recently had the opportunity to share and more when I exhibited at the “California Maternal Wellness Summit: Postpartum Depression and Beyond.”

I met some wonderful women and groups who are doing amazing things to support women who have postpartum anxiety and depression. The response to my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution, and all the research on the powerful food mood connection was wonderful!

Because I feel this topic is so important, I’ve interviewed Christa Orrechio for “The Anxiety Summit.” The topic of her interview is: “Preventing and Quelling Post-Partum Anxiety.”

“The Anxiety Summit” is a free online virtual event that runs June 9 to June 22 and will be bringing together experts from all over the world – to share nutritional approaches to end anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks and OCD. You can register for “The Anxiety Summit” here.

UPDATE: the summit concluded on Tues 6/24 – season 2 of The Anxiety Summit will be in November 2014. If you’d like to be on the notification list just sign up here www.theAnxietySummit.com

Anxiety nation: why are so many of us ill-at-ease

May 1, 2014 By Trudy Scott 12 Comments

Anxiety nation – this is what we are!

I recently received a call from a school in New York City asking me to present to the parents of the autistic children who go to the school. The school director said the biggest issue their kids face is …anxiety and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).

“For a condition that affects so many of us, there is very little agreement about what anxiety actually is. Is it a physiological condition, best treated with medication, or psychological – the product of repressed trauma, as a Freudian might suggest?

Is it a cultural construct, a reaction to today’s anomic society, or a more fundamental spiritual and philosophical reflection of what it means to be human?

For most sufferers, the most pressing concern is whether drugs work, and if therapy is a good idea.”

This is an excerpt from a recent article with this same title on newstatesman.com – you can read the whole article here.

The author also states:

“The most recent nationwide survey, which took place in 2007, found that three million people in the UK have an anxiety disorder.

About 7 per cent of UK adults are on antidepressants (often prescribed for anxiety, too) and one in seven will take benzodiazepines such as Xanax in any one year.

Mental health charities warn that our anxiety levels are creeping even higher”

Something is NOT working, both in the UK, here in the USA and in other developed countries – it’s time to be open to more than only medications and therapy.

I’d like to suggest that we rather look at the beneficial effects of real whole food and nutrients (like zinc and GABA and tryptophan) and exercise and yoga and nature.

Here are a few examples:

Low blood sugar can result in anxiety
Good levels of zinc and vitamin B6 can help many anxious introverts not feel anxious in social settings
Red meat is good (provided it’s grass-fed) and coffee is not – listen to an audio interview on these topics

This questionnaire is taken from chapter 6 of The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings, now available in major books stores, at Amazon and via www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com. – See more at: https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/low-gaba-questionnaire-anxiety/#sthash.UI3XqHNv.dpuf

Read more in The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings, available in major books stores, on Amazon and via www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com

Anxiety: food based solutions with Trudy Scott on The Randy and Christa show

April 25, 2014 By Trudy Scott 7 Comments

I met Christa Orrechio at a conference earlier this year and was thrilled to be invited to speak on The Randy and Christa show. They are doing a fabulous job getting the wellness message out into the world! I also love how they have such fun doing this show!

During my segment we talked about the following:

Why read my book The Antianxiety Food Solution: if you’re stressed, have panic attacks, fears, phobias and even sugar cravings
“80-90% of my clients do better off gluten”
My client who went gluten-free: her eczema cleared up and she felt calmer
Amino acid supplements (like GABA and tryptophan) help you break the gluten addiction/craving
Low serotonin causes anxiety, sadness, excessive worry in the head, depression, afternoon and evening cravings, PMS, winter blues and sleep problems (see the whole questionnaire here)
Tryptophan (500mg is the starting dose) midafternoon and evening raises serotonin so you’ll feel calmer, hopeful and optimistic
Some people may do better on 5-HTP but it can raise cortisol levels
Too much of the amino acids can have a reverse effect – use what you need. You may need less than the starting dose
The amino acids are a short-term approach – you also need to be addressing diet and low blood sugar etc
Low GABA causes physical tension and anxiety (Randy finds GABA helps him sleep)
Caffeine is a problem for many people with anxiety – give it up! If it doesn’t make you anxious make sure it’s organic
Zinc and vitamin B6 are important for making GABA and serotonin
A good source of zinc and B6 is red meat. It’s also a good source of iron and omega-3s (as much omega3-s as salmon!). Of course it does need to be grass-fed!
The starting dose for vitamin B6 is 100mg
Magnesium is a calming mineral
Sign up for your free report “5 Simple Steps to Reduce Anxiety Now“

Be sure to listen to Randy and Christa when I drop off as they continue the discussion (12:30 minutes).

Regarding the red meat discussion they had a bit later, I’d like to add that I find many of my clients with mood issues – both anxiety and depression – do better with more red meat than just once or twice a week. Having it every day is just fine! As Christa said, it has all the amino acids to make our neurotransmitters/brain chemicals.

Christa Orecchio is a clinical and holistic nutritionist, and founder of The Whole Journey, a nutrition practice and informational website. She is on a mission to help as many people as possible to heal by addressing the root cause (and not just the symptom) of why they don’t feel good and concurrently teaches people how to use food as their medicine to heal their bodies so they can ultimately live a thriving, vibrant life.

Christa has a TV show on FOX in San Diego called “Food as Medicine” and is the co-host of her own nationally syndicated health talk show “The Randy and Christa Show”.

No sugar or sugar in moderation? I say NO sugar!

January 10, 2014 By Trudy Scott 23 Comments

Delicious Chocolate Cake

More and more research is supporting the fact that sugar and carbs are as addicting as drugs and as difficult to quit for some people. I came across this quote the other day: “Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. Coincidence? I think not!” and it’s perfect. We crave sugar because we are stressed, sad, looking for pleasure and for energy and motivation. And we self-medicate with it in the same way as drugs, caffeine and tobacco.

This paper called Obesity: The emerging neurobiology of calorie addiction was published just a few days ago:

“The increased availability and consumption of highly palatable foods is the major factor behind the rise of obesity and type 2 diabetes in developed countries.”

“Progress has been made in recent years in understanding the neurobiological underpinnings for this preference” for sucrose: “sucrose activates dopamine neurons in a region of the brain called the striatum, and the resulting release of dopamine is associated with pleasure.”

“Moreover, the repeated consumption of high levels of sucrose can create a cycle of continued overconsumption—even compulsive eating—in order to recapture the initial feelings of pleasure. This is similar in many ways to drug abuse or addiction, and also involves some of the same signalling pathways within the body”

This dopamine/pleasure mechanism is just one way that leads to sugar addiction. This Oct 2013 paper in Nutrition, Neurobiologic basis of craving for carbohydrates says this:

“There is a relationship between emotional disorders, obesity, and craving for carbohydrates”

“Research on the basis of carbohydrate craving is varied, but may be grouped into five main areas: the serotonergic system, palatability and hedonic response [i.e. pleasure], the motivational system, stress response systems, and gene-environment interaction”

Last week I posed this question on my facebook page: “no sugar or sugar in moderation? what’s your vote? I say NO sugar! Do you think that’s too harsh and too unrealistic?” I was referring to ANY sweetener other than fresh fruit.

Here are some of the comments my tribe offered:

I’d say in moderation. However I’m trying to reduce my view of moderation over time.”
I was totally sweetener-free for a long time so I know how that feels for me. I’ve been experimenting with raw honey I seem to do fine with it “in moderation” (i.e. even a little bit each day is fine – although I don’t make baked goods so I’m not using large quantities.)
I seem at present to be incapable of moderation with sugar. So for me none at all might be the way I need to go. Humans developed over many thousands of years with just the sweetness of unprocessed fruits and maybe some honey now and then. Our culture’s idea of what “moderate” even means in regards to processed sugars is highly skewed.
Zero is way too hard for me but everyone is different
I say: a little bit of everything is just perfect!
Zero sugar is too rigid for me…I don’t think any of my clients say no to sugar 100%…I do avoid white and brown processed sugar ~95% of the time but will eat it when at someone’s home made with love. Every day, I use maple syrup to sweeten teas and in baked goods.
I don’t think a little bit of natural sugar is bad at all; but only just a little bit.
I’d say it’s ok for someone else [the zero sugar]! For me, I have to have a little here and there – just like bread. However, it’s a fraction of what it used to be. Maybe at some point I can whittle down from there.

Very few agreed with me about zero sugar. Here is what they said:

I’m with you! it is realistic as I have given up sugar and all artificial sweeteners.
NO sugar – Dr so astounded that I’ve brought my numbers down so much after wanting to give me meds for years. She said no meds would’ve brought my numbers down as much as I’ve done with diet and especially NO sugar or carbs.

Here are some of my thoughts: “Moderation” has quite a big range for some people and I see it going out of the window when it comes to baked goods. I see many recipes calling for pretty large amounts of maple syrup of honey. I recently heard Tana Amen, BSN, RN and author of The Omni Diet speak about sugar and crack cocaine in the same sentence and she said: “they are both addicting. We’d never do crack in moderation so why do sugar in moderation!?” I agree!

A friend and I were at a recent celiac function that had tons of gluten-free treats – all loaded with carbs and sugar and not healthy at all even though they were gluten-free. We had no desire to have any of the treats. That’s how we should feel! Zero sugar should be easy!

You won’t crave sugar or even feel the need for a little bit or an occasional treat if you have balanced biochemistry and are not stressed, no nutritional deficiencies (low zinc can be a factor) and are eating to control blood sugar.

You won’t be defensive when asked about it and you won’t feel deprived when you do go without it. You won’t feel that you need just a little. You also won’t have to white-knuckle it and use willpower.

Where do you stand? No sugar or sugar in moderation? And do you think that zero sugar is too harsh and too unrealistic? Do you think addiction plays a role? Are you white-knuckling it or can you take it or leave it?

Do you need help to get to zero sugar consumption? Here are some resources for you.

Check out these chapters in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings”: eat real food, blood sugar balancing and the amazing amino acids.
Stay tuned for the upcoming release of my homestudy program “Amazing Amino Acids for Emotional Eating.” Listen to me present on upcoming calls and tele-summits as I share some of the highlights of this wonderful 6 week program.

No.1 Thing to Do to Minimize Holiday Weight Gain in Shape Magazine

December 13, 2013 By Trudy Scott 16 Comments

Cristina Goynes wrote a great piece in Shape magazine on the benefits of water when it comes to holiday weight gain. I’m thrilled to have been quoted. My contribution is about dehydration and the direct effect this has on neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, leading to increased carb cravings for a good mood and for an energy boost!

The article is called the “No.1 Thing to Do to Minimize Holiday Weight Gain”

Going into the scale-tipping season known as Thanksgiving to New Year’s, the typical mindset is to amp up workouts, cut calories, and stick to crudités at parties to dodge those extra holiday pounds. But who actually does that?

This year, dare to be different: Rather than take on unrealistic demands during an already stressful time, focus on only one thing that will help you look better, feel less tempted by party food, have more energy, and brighten your mood. The answer is as simple as sipping more water.

This is one of the water/mood papers we used for the story: a 2012 animal study found that “dehydration is able to reduce serotoninergic neurotransmission, which might be involved in generating anxiety behavior.”

This animal study showed that dehyrdation also affects “dopaminergic neurotransmission” leading to hyperactivity. Changes in dopamine can also affect concentration and focus and lead to increased cravings for energy.

A 2011 study that looked at 24 females in their 20s found that dehydration “degraded mood, increased perception of task difficulty,” lowered concentration, and caused headaches.

A similar study looking at men, also in their 20s found that mild dehydration caused “adverse changes in vigilance and working memory,” and increased tension, anxiety and fatigue.

This Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution will give you a clue about your serotonin and dopamine/catecholamine levels and this blog post on Winter blues, SAD, holiday stress and sugar will give you some insights into the winter blues.

When you get a serotonin and dopamine boost it balances brain chemistry so you don’t have to use willpower and you don’t feel deprived! And you won’t be drawn to sugary foods and won’t gain weight over the holidays.

Do read the rest of the SHAPE article here as it has practical information on how

Holiday stress also contributes to dehydration
Water makes us feel full by adding extra volume to our stomach
it can also help you feel satisfied
it is the easiest, cheapest way to score firmer, younger-looking skin

So drink up that water to reduce anxiety, depression and cravings, feel satisfied, not gain weight, have more energy and be more focused, have beautiful skin and feel stress-free!