anxiety summit

SSRI/antidepressant impact on the microbiome, discontinuation syndrome and safe tapering

October 16, 2021 By Trudy Scott 2 Comments

Antidepressants can have an antibiotic effect, causing dysbiosis and impacting serotonin, GABA and dopamine production. This can cause psychiatric symptoms and even suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Various SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRI (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) have more of an effect than others. And the top known side effects for SSRIs are gut symptoms: nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

These medications are seldom prescribed with informed consent and can cause severe psychological, cognitive, physical and neurological withdrawal side effects (also known as discontinuation syndrome). A functional medicine and nutritional approach using 5-HTP, GABA, theanine and glycine can often be used to smooth the taper process.

Dr. Achina Stein addresses all this in her interview, SSRI Impact on the Microbiome and Safe SSRI Tapering, on The Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis.

We cover the following:

Antibiotic effect of antidepressants: dysbiosis and impacts on serotonin/GABA/dopamine
Withdrawal/discontinuation syndrome symptoms of SSRIs and benzodiazepines
5-HTP, GABA, theanine and glycine to smooth the taper process

Here are a few snippets from our interview.

We start with a discussion on the antibiotic effect of antidepressants and a review of this paper – Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and the Gut Microbiome: Significance of the Gut Microbiome in Relation to Mechanism of Action, Treatment Response, Side Effects, and Tachyphylaxis.

Dr. Stein comments on this study sharing how SSRIs affect the gut and microbiome in many different ways:

“This paper is important. It’s one of several papers that talk about how the SSRIs or serotonin reuptake inhibitors affect the gastrointestinal tract. And as you know, the gastrointestinal tract is really full of serotonin.
SSRIs, as well as other psychotropic medications, actually exert an antibiotic effect, which can have a direct consequence in disrupting the integrity and stability of the gut microbiome.
And the ones that are most likely to do that are Sertraline, fluoxetine, and paroxetine in that order. And it’s followed by fluvoxamine, escitalopram, and citalopram, having the least impact.
What they’re noticing is that this antibiotic effect actually results in dysbiosis.
The top known side effects for SSRIs are gut symptoms: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting.
We know that the gut microbiome has a significant effect on emotions, behaviors, and metabolic changes.
And it’s involved in the metabolism of drugs, and this combination is what really causes psychiatric symptoms and even suicidal thoughts or behaviors.”

She also talks about the bidirectional gut-brain connection/communication, the microbiome and short-chain fatty acids (which are a common theme you’ll hear throughout the summit):

“There is this huge connection between the gut microbiome and the brain.
And there’s also other indirect communication pathways because we’ve always wondered, well, how does this happen that the gut is connected to the brain?
So the other pathways which are more indirect are the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
And there’s also an immune-mediated connection where there’s a communication between short-chain fatty acids and microglia in the brain.
So short-chain fatty acids are the main metabolites produced by the microbiota in the large intestine through bacterial fermentation of indigestible polysaccharides, which are dietary fiber and resistant starch. And they possess neuroactive properties. So they influence the communication between these short-chain fatty acids between the gut and the microglia of the brain.
And it’s a bidirectional communication too.”

And we talk about tachyphylaxis or the poop-out effect of antidepressants.

The discussion on the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRI (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) discontinuation syndrome (or withdrawal symptoms) is eye-opening and sobering, Here are just a few of the many psychological symptoms that she says patients may experience when tapering:

I’m just going to read them off because I think it’s important for people to know: mood swings, unstable moods, hypomania, hyperarousal, anxiety, medication-induced agitation – which is described as being caffeinated – impulsive behavior, aggression, irritability, crying spells, lowered mood or depression.

Dr. Stein also shares the many cognitive, physical and neurological side effects, and how she works with her patients with a functional medicine and nutritional approach to try and mitigate the side effects. She likes to use 5-HTP, GABA, theanine and glycine to smooth the taper process.

We also have a lengthy discussion about informed consent and the fact that it’s not happening and should be.

We do a deep dive into all this and much more.

The interviews that dove-tail well with this topic are as follows:

My interviews, GABA & Tryptophan: Gut-Anxiety Connections and Glutamine, DPA and Tyrosine for Anxiety and Sugar Cravings. The amino acids help during the tapering process and help you make the dietary changes.
Thiamine Deficiency in Anxiety and Gut Health (Part 1 and 2) with Chandler Marrs. She talks about how medications can deplete thiamine. Could this contribute to some of the severe discontinuation syndrome symptoms we see?
Anxiety, Gut-Brain Communication and Diet with David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM. This one gives you an excellent overview of the gut-brain communication and fermented foods, short-chain fatty acids and histone deacetylases (HDACs).
Gut-Brain Axis and Mental Health with Peter Bongiorno, ND, LAc. This is also a great overview on the mental health impacts of the microbiome. He goes deep into serotonin and GABA production mechanisms.

I encourage you to tune in if you have:

Anxiety & feel overwhelmed & stressed by little things
Panic attacks &/or obsessive thoughts or behaviors
Social anxiety/pyroluria
Phobias or fears (flying, spiders or even driving on a highway)

And also if you suffer from…

Food sensitivities, IBS/SIBO, parasites or gallbladder issues
Constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, pain & other digestive issues
Leaky gut, a leaky blood-brain barrier or vagus nerve issues

Join us if you are also an emotional eater with intense sugar cravings (and know you suffer from low blood sugar), experience insomnia, low mood, PMS, poor focus and/or low motivation.

This is THE online event to learn about the powerful individual amino acids – GABA, theanine, tryptophan, 5-HTP, glutamine, DPA and tyrosine – to quickly ease anxiety and help with gut symptoms while you are dealing with other root causes which take longer to address. (They also help with cravings as with this example, and sleep and immunity).

With research-based anxiety nutritional solutions and practical steps, you can determine your root causes, ease your anxiety and prevent it from coming back so you can feel on top of the world again!

If you are a practitioner, please join us too and find advanced solutions for your clients or patients too!

You’ve heard me say the Anxiety Summit has been called “a bouquet of hope!” My wish for you is that this summit is your bouquet of hope!

I hope you’ll join me and these incredible speakers, be enlightened and find YOUR solutions!

Here’s to no more anxiety and you feeling on top of the world again!

Learn more/purchase now

How have antidepressants impacted your gut and digestion?

Have you experienced discontinuation syndrome when tapering from an SSRI or SNRI or benzodiazepines? And have diet and the amino acids helped smooth the taper process?

Feel free to post your questions here too.

Fermented foods (like sauerkraut) and the bidirectional relationship between anxiety/depression and gut function

September 17, 2021 By Trudy Scott 6 Comments

Today’s blog is to whet your appetite (pun intended) with some snippets from my interview – Anxiety: Gut-Brain Communication & Diet – with Dr. David Perlmutter, author of Grain Brain and Brain Wash. In this interview we talk about fermented foods (like sauerkraut) and a study that highlights mechanisms underlying the bidirectional relationship between anxiety/depression and gut function.

With anxiety at an all-time high and the ever-evolving research on the gut-brain connections we are relaunching the Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis summit on November 8-14, 2021. This interview is featured during the summit and is meaty (you’d expect nothing less from Dr. Perlmutter.)

The two-way connection between the gut and brain is powerful and needs to be explored and addressed if you have anxiety. Diet, fermented foods, reducing inflammation, addressing leaky gut (or intestinal permeability) and neurotransmitter support with amino acids are some of the ways that make a difference.

For the summit relaunch we have 4 incredible new guest expert interviews on sugar addiction, thiamine deficiency, trauma and the freeze response and safe tapering of SSRIs. And I have a new deep dive interview on glutamine, DPA and tyrosine for anxiety and sugar cravings/addiction. I’m excited to share it all with you!

For now, save the date and look out for the registration link in a few weeks. We’re in edit mode for the videos and transcripts, and getting all the backend setup done.

This is the first question I ask Dr. Perlmutter: I’d like to start with the microbiome and the fact that there is a bidirectional relationship between mental health and gut function. There’s a paper titled, Fermented foods, the gut and mental health: a mechanistic overview with implications for depression and anxiety published online late 2018 in The Journal of Nutritional Neuroscience. It highlights this important bidirectional relationship and the role of fermented foods. Can you share a little bit more about this and why this is important?

Before I share Dr. Perlmutter’s response, let me share a few quotes from the abstract of the paper:

Mental disorders including depression and anxiety are often comorbid with gut problems, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between mental health and gut function.
Several mechanisms might explain this comorbidity, such as inflammation and immune activation; intestinal permeability; perturbations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; neurotransmitter/neuropeptide dysregulation; dietary deficiencies; and disturbed gut microbiome composition.
The potential of modulating the microbiome-gut-brain axis, and subsequently mental health, through the use of functional foods, is an emerging and novel topic of interest.
Fermented foods are considered functional foods due to their reputed health benefits.

The paper goes on to discuss food fermentation and summarizes how these foods “act biologically in the gastrointestinal tract and have the ability to modify the gut microbiota, influence translocation of endotoxins and subsequent immune activation, and promote host nutrition.” They are exploring their theoretical potential to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety in humans, saying more research is needed.

Dr. Perlmutter highlights various section of the paper and starts by sharing more about fermented foods and that we’ve been actively fermenting for thousands of years:

I think it’s first instructive to recognize that we’ve been actively fermenting foods for thousands of years as humans as a technique to preserve them, and allow us to travel with a food source. But beyond that, our ancestors prior to that would eat fermented foods. Fermentation is actually what happens to food when it’s left outside and is exposed to bacteria and begins the process of, dare I say, rotting. I don’t want that to be off putting to people who are going to hear the later part of our discussion dealing with eating fermented foods, because we have wonderful fermented foods that we eat these days.

He goes on to elaborate on what the paper terms functional foods. What this means is that these fermented foods have far-reaching health benefits for optimal health and for making us resistant to disease (i.e. improving our immunity):

The point is that the process of fermentation is basically a process of enrichment of food sources with bacteria. And what a notion that is, where we’re looking at the idea of eating a food that’s teeming with bugs, with germs, if you will. I say it that way, because it has such a negative connotation, but it really is what we want to do. These bacteria are involved in so many processes that deal with our health, and nurture our health, and our resistance to disease.

Some common examples of fermented foods are kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir (dairy kefir and water kefir), kombucha, and yogurt. Keep in mind, you can ferment many different vegetables. One of my favorites is cauliflower.

The paper also mentions inflammation as one possible mechanism for the bidirectional relationship between anxiety/depression and gut function, and Dr. Perlmutter discusses this in great detail, in the context of chronic health conditions. And he ties it all back to the microbiome:

From my perspective, of course, that has to do with the functionality of the brain, the way the brain remains healthy, and disease-free moving forward. And there are multiple mechanisms that relate to what’s going on in the gut to the brain. When we think of disease processes, most of what we are concerned about is the notion of inflammation, at least, in terms of a mechanism that relates to so many of the chronic degenerative conditions of the brain; be it Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or even a non-chronic degenerative condition, which is autism is not necessarily considered to be progressive, but nonetheless at its heart, is in fact an inflammatory disorder.

So beyond that, of course, all of the chronic degenerative conditions that plague our planet, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, the autoimmune conditions are at their very core, primarily inflammatory.

And let me be very clear that chronic degenerative conditions are ranked by the World Health Organization as the number one cause of death on planet Earth.

So we have to pay attention to anything that’s involved in the regulation of inflammation in the human body. And front and center right now in terms of gaining the spotlight, is the health of the gut bacteria, as well as its metabolites and it’s gene expression, collectively, we call that the microbiome.

The paper mentions intestinal permeability as another mechanism. Dr. Perlmutter covers the importance of the gut lining integrity and why it’s so important when it comes to anxiety, depression and the chronic diseases he mentions:

So we realize that the gut bacteria have a very important function, and that is to maintain the integrity of the gut lining.

And why would I, as a neurologist, give a hoot about the integrity of the gut lining? Quite categorically it’s because that is where inflammation in the body, in the long term, has its genesis. So, meaning we’ve got to have a strong gatekeeper at the lining of the gut to keep various gut-related proteins and other chemicals from making their way into the rest of the body, and challenging the immune system, upregulating the production of inflammatory chemicals that then do damage.

Dr. Perlmutter ends by discussing neurotransmitter dysregulation (also mentioned in the paper):

We know that our gut bacteria are involved in the manufacture of various neurochemicals, various neurotransmitters, serotonin, for example, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, [GABA], etcetera, that are primarily manufactured in the gut.

As a matter of fact, when it comes to serotonin, which certainly gains the spotlight; 90% is manufactured in the gut, another 9% is manufactured in the blood platelets, meaning that only 1% is actually manufactured in the brain, though, we call it a brain transmitter, a neurotransmitter. That said, the availability of the precursor for serotonin; the amino acid tryptophan, the availability of that even to the brain, is in fact controlled to a significant degree by actions of the gut microbes.

He wraps up by bringing in the microbiome, inflammation, chronic health conditions, anxiety and depression, and our lifestyle choices and diet (which includes foods such as fermented vegetables):

If we simply recognize that our gut bacteria are playing a massive role in regulating inflammation in the body, that’s enough, because our mission for the prevention of chronic degenerative conditions in the brain and out of the brain is controlling inflammation.

And it’s through the lens of the microbiome that we realize the detrimental or effectiveness of our food choices, and other lifestyle choices that can act to increase or balance inflammation. So it becomes extremely important.

The paper does discuss perturbations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis but we didn’t get into this during this interview. However, we do cover this in Dr. Peter Bongiorno’s interview on the summit.

Some of the recent research on specific fermented foods and mental health

Here is some of the recent research on specific fermented foods and mental health, where some or all of the above mechanisms may be a factor:

Some simple changes you can make

Here are some simple changes that be incorporated when you have anxiety or depression:

Include fermented foods and beverages in the diet (ideally on a daily basis). If you decide to include sauerkraut, you can make it yourself or buy it from the store. If you buy it ready-made, always make sure it’s raw and found in the refrigerated section. Vinegar should not feature on the label but do look for salt as this is used in the fermentation process. In the example I share above, the added ginger helps with digestion even further and is very delicious!
Eat a real whole foods diet with quality animal protein, healthy fats and organic vegetables and fruit (there is much research supporting dietary changes for improving mood and easing anxiety i.e. nutritional psychiatry)
Avoid inflammatory foods like gluten, sugar, processed foods/fast foods and foods that you have a sensitivity to
Address intestinal permeability if necessary (glutamine is my go-to nutrient for this and I take a deep dive into this amino acid in one of the new interviews on the summit)
Use targeted individual amino acids such as GABA to boost GABA (for physical anxiety symptoms) and tryptophan or 5-HTP to boost serotonin (for worry-type anxiety). You can do this while you are addressing underlying gut issues and making dietary changes. Keep in mind that these amino acids help you quit sugar, gluten and junk food at the same time as easing anxiety!

Resources if you are new to using the amino acids as supplements

If you are new to using the amino acids as supplements and want to know more, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution and a brief overview here, Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid supplements: a summary.

If you suspect low neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids so you are knowledgeable.

Do join us on the summit relaunch of Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis summit on November 8-14, 2021. Registration details coming soon.

And if you’d like to learn more about Dr. Perlmutter’s book, Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness (written with his son Dr. Austin Perlmutter), here is my review. In our interview on the summit, he shares about disconnection syndrome (and loneliness) and how our decision-making abilities have been compromised.

Are fermented foods and beverages included in your diet (and your family’s diet) on a daily basis? And what are your favorites?

Do you make your own fermented vegetables?

Have you observed mood and/or digestive improvements since including fermented foods in your diet?

If you are a practitioner, do you recommend fermented foods and discuss this bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain with your clients/patients?

Feel free to post your questions too.

Dr. Datis Kharrazian’s GABA Challenge for a leaky blood brain barrier is a theory and we still have much to learn

May 29, 2020 By Trudy Scott 16 Comments

I highly respect Dr. Datis Kharrazian and his work and had the pleasure of interviewing him last November on the Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis. During our preparations I asked if we could talk about his GABA challenge for a leaky blood brain barrier and he graciously agreed.

I wanted to address this topic in our interview because two of the most common questions I get asked are these:

“How can GABA work if it can’t cross the blood brain barrier?” and
“If GABA works does this mean I have a leaky blood brain barrier?”

We had such a great conversation on the topic I’ve decided to pull this part of the transcript into a blog so I can share it here with you and use the blog link to share it more widely as I’m asked these questions on social media and elsewhere.

You will learn how Dr. Kharrazian came up with the GABA Challenge, what his thoughts are today, his reservations with GABA and my excellent results with low doses of sublingual GABA. I also share some links to success stories, some of the research and how to figure out if GABA is for you.

Here it is, word for word.

Trudy: So while we’re talking about the leaky blood brain barrier, I want to just talk briefly about GABA and the GABA challenge that you have proposed as a tool for testing for a leaky blood brain barrier. And as you know, I use GABA extensively with clients with the low GABA physical type of anxiety.

I’ve always been a huge fan of you and your work but we do have a professional difference of opinion in this area. And I’ve never actually been a proponent of using the GABA challenge, and I’ve been pretty vocal about it. So I’m really glad that we had a discussion about this in the Facebook group of your neuroinflammation training, and you shared some insights because I was asking some questions about this.

I’d love you to just share some of what we talked about in that discussion. Because if we don’t talk about it, my community is going to say, “Hey, why didn’t you talk to Dr. Kharrazian about this?”

Dr. Kharrazian: Sure, no problem. I don’t think we have this big a disagreement. I think we just have different ways of looking at what’s out there and what we are observing as people working with people, patients who have anxiety.

So ultimately, we have a bunch of theory right now and a bunch of potential models, but we don’t have any clear studies to show what’s really happening. So, one of the things that I proposed in my book before… you understand, I was working with brain patients for over 20 years now….before we had S100 B readily available for many years, it was only in research; you couldn’t get it from conventional labs, even though research was showing it. And the blood brain permeability test was not available either. These have really become more available the past five years and prior to that, we didn’t really have a great test to evaluate if the blood brain barrier was breached.

In an effort to work with what’s out there, what we could do, one of the things that I was doing was doing a test that we called the GABA challenge test. It was really based on the lactulose mannitol test. So the lactulose mannitol test is a well-established test in gastroenterology where they measure leaky gut. So, in that test what the person does is they consume a monosaccharide and a disaccharide, lactulose and mannitol. Lactulose is a disaccharide, it’s very large, and mannitol is very small. And if mannitol doesn’t get absorbed, then there’s a malabsorption issue. And if lactose, which is very large; that should not get through the tight junctions of the gut, gets absorbed in a post urine test, after they drink it, then it shows they have leaky gut. So the whole premise of when you find particle sizes too large to cross, can be a clue to an indication of permeability.

So the GABA challenge that I write about in my book, Why Isn’t My Brain Working? (my Amazon link) was really a way for us to have patients consume GABA. If you look at the molecular weight of GABA, the Dalton size, it’s several hundred Daltons. Several hundred Daltons cannot cross the blood brain barrier. So the concept was, well if someone is taking GABA and they have an effect, then there’s a potential for it to cross the blood brain barrier. And it was kind of following the theory of the lactulose mannitol test. So there’s patients out there who take GABA and nothing happens and some patients take it and go, “It was amazing. Best thing ever. It finally helped me sleep,” or, “Helped reduce anxiety for me.” So, one of the theories was that maybe for some of these people, their blood brain barrier is breached.

Now I know we talked and there is actually the possibility of other pathways that can impact GABA, maybe directly to the gut itself, through the vagus, so I don’t discount those possibilities because we still don’t know. I mean, ultimately, there’d have to be a study designed where they look at it. And it would have to be an animal study, there’s no way you can get an IRB for human studies to check if it’s crossing the brain. It’s some really advanced isotope tracing techniques and I just don’t think the level of dyes they would have to consume to look at the gut and the brain is peripheral and separate… it wouldn’t be possible. So the real answer is, we don’t know.

For me, I still am always suspicious if someone takes GABA and they have a reaction. I always want to go and check the blood brain barrier. And it’s not 100%, I mean, I can tell you without question, there’s people who take GABA, you do a blood brain barrier test, they feel benefit from it, but their blood brain barrier doesn’t have any markers to show permeability.

So it’s not hard for me to consider the possibility that there’s some exogenous pathways too. But at the same time, it’s also really hard to look at the molecular weight of GABA and look at what can cross a healthy blood brain barrier. This Dalton size, we’re talking nanoparticles to a huge, huge particle. So I don’t know but I think we’ll just have to see what happens. And ultimately, if you feel better with GABA, that’s great. If it’s not harmful to you, and if you feel like taking it, that’s great.

I like to also use things like Valerian root, passion flower, and hops because those compounds cross the blood brain barrier. They cross the blood brain barrier and they bind to GABA receptors.

So, the other thing too with actually using GABA you always have the potential for your neurotransmitter receptor sites to down regulate. And this is seen all the time too, patients take GABA and they feel great and then they have to increase their dose and they don’t get the effect as they first did. And they increase the dose and finally, they just don’t get much of an effect from it. And that’s potentially due to receptor site down regulation, which is not as common if you take agonists like Valerian root or passion flower, or hops. These things bind to GABA receptors. So I did a review in my book, where I went over all the literature of the different GABA compounds, which have been published in the literature.

But I’m not going to deny the possibility that there is a potential exogenous source but I also can’t let go the possibility that the blood brain barrier is permeable. So I’m still waiting.

Trudy: Yes, I think it’s great because the fact that you write about that and you taught about that, and you teach about it. It got me looking into the research further and it got me more curious; and it’s good, it’s good to have a healthy discussion and a healthy debate, and be open to possibilities. I’m very open to having my mind changed if something comes up.

I just see GABA works so well with my clients and we use very, very small amounts. I know with your GABA challenge, it’s… what is the amount, its 1,500 milligrams, I think or 1,500 to 2,000? So I’ll start my clients on 125 milligrams of GABA sublingually and get results. I have not noticed the effect that they need more and more, and more. So that’s interesting that you say that. But yeah, it’s good, I’m glad that we’ve had this discussion.

And the other thing that you did say in the online discussion, you said, if someone has a response to taking oral GABA, in other words, taking a GABA supplement does help them, you would want to test for the blood brain barrier permeability, just to see what’s going on. And I like that you say we can track. I’ve actually been in discussions with Cyrex and said, “Hey, why don’t we monitor people who are doing the Cyrex test and have a response to GABA, either therapeutically for the anxiety or with your challenge?” We may start to see some patterns, which I think would be very interesting.

Dr. Kharrazian: Yes, the best we can do with the data in that scenario is just the correlation statistical analysis. But it still wouldn’t answer it.

Trudy: No, I know. But maybe that will trigger someone to want to do a study. So, the good news is we’re seeing more and more research on GABA in the literature. So, it’s exciting. Well, thank you for discussing that with me.

You can read more from our very enlightening interview here: Fix the Brain to Fix the Gut. Dr Kharrazian covers the impact of brain injury and impaired vagal activity (as well as motility and breakdown of the blood brain barrier), how to activate your neurons, using polyphenols for neuroinflammation and butyrate for leaky gut/brain.

These blogs have additional information on GABA and some of the many possible mechanisms:

Here are some blogs with feedback from folks who have benefited from using sublingual GABA for dental anxiety, ADHD/focus issues and Lyme anxiety:

The best way for you to figure out if you will benefit from GABA is to use the trial method. Do the low GABA questionnaire and do a trial of GABA (used sublingually), starting low and increasing until you find the right amount to ease anxiety and improve sleep. You can find the GABA products I recommend on my supplements blog.

Please do share if you’ve benefited from using GABA or if you use it with success with your clients or patients.

Brain Wash by Dr. David Perlmutter and Dr. Austin Perlmutter

January 15, 2020 By Trudy Scott 4 Comments

If you tuned in to my interview with Dr. David Pelmutter on the Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis you may recall us talking about his new book Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness (written with his son Dr. Austin Perlmutter).

He shared this in our summit interview: “I think technology can be either our most wonderful servant or a really disastrous master. It’s all in how we mindfully use technology.”

I have the pleasure of sharing another interview where we take a deeper dive into this topic and he shares additional information about this new book, which was just published.

This book builds from a simple premise: “Our brain’s performance is being gravely manipulated, resulting in behaviors that leave us more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before. At the same time, we feel disconnected from ourselves, from others, and from the world at large.

Dr Perlmutter shares wonderful insights from the book:

Disconnection syndrome (and loneliness) and how our decision-making abilities have been compromised
Hi-tech hijack and some alarming stats on internet addiction: it’s around 6 percent and translates to more than a quarter of a billion people. Keep in mind internet addiction is “any online-related compulsive behavior that interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and the ability to be productive at work”
Structural changes that are seen in the brain when we are addicted
How we can set boundaries and his tool called T.I.M.E. “When approaching your use of technology, especially when it comes to digital media and communication, you need make sure your activities are making good use of T.I.M.E. (Time restricted, Intentional, Mindful and Enriching)

One of my favorite parts of the book is the chapter on nature:“Spending time in nature is one of the easiest things you can do to stay healthy and happy —you just need to step outside.”

He shares how: “Americans spend a remarkable 87 percent of their days indoors and another 6 percent in their cars” and we go into the health benefits of forest bathing and indoor plants. As he mentions, we know we feel good when we’re in nature, but they wanted to gather all the research supporting just what the health benefits are. I loved geeking over all the studies!

I can’t be anywhere indoors unless I can see outside and I just love this study: “View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery.”

We didn’t have time to go into other equally valuable chapters in the book on food, sleep, exercise, and quiet time but they are foundational especially if you are just starting your healing journey. If you’ve been following my work for awhile these chapters are a great reminder for us.

There is also a 10-day brain wash plan, together with a meal plan and recipes to guide you through the process.

Dr. Perlmutter shared his personal favorite recipe – the Jicama Slaw (with all those prebiotics for a good microbiome and reducing inflammation). He gave me permission to share the Cauliflower Pancakes recipe with you. Enjoy!

Cauliflower Pancakes

Serves 4, Time required: About 25 minutes

Although these pancakes make a terrific breakfast or brunch dish, they are also a wonderful side dish for grilled meats, poultry, and/or fish. The turmeric adds great color as well as a slightly tannic yet sweet flavor.

1 pound organic cauliflower florets, including stems
1 small organic white onion, peeled and grated
1 teaspoon grated organic garlic
1/2 teaspoon organic ground turmeric
3 large eggs from pasture-raised chickens, at room temperature, lightly beaten
Fine sea salt and freshly ground organic black pepper to taste
1/3 cup organic ghee from grass-fed animals
1/2 cup chopped organic scallion greens
1 cup full-fat organic sour cream from grass-fed cows (optional)

Preheat the oven to 200°F. Place a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper in the oven.

Using a handheld box grater, grate the cauliflower through the medium holes. Transfer the grated cauliflower in a large mixing bowl.

Add the onion, garlic, and turmeric and toss to blend.

Add the eggs and season with sea salt and pepper, stirring to combine completely. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blossom.

Heat the ghee in a large frying pan over medium heat. Spoon in enough of the cauliflower mixture to make a flat cake about 3 inches in diameter. Continue making cakes without crowding the pan.

Using the back of a metal spatula, flatten the cakes slightly, but allow them to get no larger than 4 inches in diameter.

Fry for about 5 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown and the pancakes have firmed enough to turn easily. Lower the heat if they are browning too quickly.

Using the spatula – a fish spatula is a great tool for this – carefully turn the pancakes and fry for an additional 4 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown. If you flip them too quickly, they will fall apart.

As each one is cooked, place it on the cookie sheet in the oven and continue making cakes until all the batter has been used.

When ready to serve, place the pancakes on a platter, sprinkle with sea salt and scallion greens, and serve with sour cream on the side if desired.

Here is the official blurb for the book:

Dr. David Perlmutter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain, and Dr. Austin Perlmutter, his son, explore how modern culture threatens to rewire our brains and damage our health, offering a practical plan for healing.

Contemporary life provides us with infinite opportunities, along with endless temptations. We can eat whatever we want, whenever we want. We can immerse ourselves in the vast, enticing world of digital media. We can buy goods and services for rapid delivery with our fingertips or voice commands. But living in this 24/7 hyper-reality poses serious risks to our physical and mental states, our connections to others, and even to the world at large.

Brain Wash builds from a simple premise: Our brains are being gravely manipulated, resulting in behaviors that leave us more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before.

Based on the latest science, the book identifies the mental hijacking that undermines each and every one of us, and presents the tools necessary to think more clearly, make better decisions, strengthen bonds with others, and develop healthier habits. Featuring a 10-day bootcamp program, including a meal plan and 40 delicious original recipes, Brain Wash is the key to cultivating a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link). More information here

Do share what insights you’ve gained from this interview and review (and other gems once you’ve read the book).

I’d also love to hear your favorite way to enjoy nature. For me, some of my many favorites are a hike or mountain bike ride, a day at the beach catching waves and wriggling my toes in the sand, and visiting new places with lovely natural scenery.

Increased sociability improves vagus nerve function: the role of social anxiety, pyroluria and low zinc

December 13, 2019 By Trudy Scott 43 Comments

With the objective of taking a deeper dive into some of the favorite topics of the recent Anxiety Summit: Gut-Brain Axis, today’s blog is about the vagus nerve since Dr. Navaz Habib’s interview, Vagus Nerve Activation to Reduce Anxiety, was voted one of the favorites. I’m focusing on one tool that improves vagus nerve function that we didn’t have time to get into in great detail – and that is how increased sociability helps. It’s all good and well to recommend getting out and hanging out with more people but if you have the social anxiety condition called pyroluria it’s really challenging, hard work and very stressful. Added stress makes pyroluria worse so it becomes a vicious cycle.

Let’s start with the research that supports the connection between the vagus nerve and increased anxiety and mood problems. In the interview with Dr Navaz, we discussed this paper: Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain–Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders which states that “vagus nerve stimulation is a promising add-on treatment for treatment-refractory depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and inflammatory bowel disease” and how stimulation of vagal fibers that go from the gut to the brain (afferent fibers) influences neurotransmitter production and “play crucial roles in major psychiatric conditions, such as mood and anxiety disorders.” The gut bacteria play a major role too, “partly by affecting the activity of the vagus nerve.”

In our interview we end with very practical ways to activate your vagus nerve

Deep breathing exercises (mentioned in the above paper, together with yoga and meditation) and cold showers (which makes you breathe harder)
Gargling and using the gag reflex
Humming, chanting and singing (I used these approaches for my vagus nerve issue after my terrifying plane ride. GABA also helped with the voice/throat spasms I experienced – more here on that)
Auricular acupuncture (which is also very effective for addictions)
And finally, social interaction or increased sociability, which I want to cover today

The research on the vagus nerve and being more social

Let’s look at the research on the vagus nerve or vagal tone and being more social. This paper, Upward spirals of the heart: autonomic flexibility, as indexed by vagal tone, reciprocally and prospectively predicts positive emotions and social connectedness, reports that that vagal tone and connectedness or being more social is a two-way street i.e. it’s reciprocal

“…increases in connectedness and positive emotions predicted increases in vagal tone” and
“Adults who possessed higher initial levels of vagal tone increased in connectedness and positive emotions more rapidly than others”

In summary, the more social and happy you are, the healthier your vagus nerve is and a healthier vagus nerve leads to feeling more connected and happy.

This study was done with adults in a community-dwelling setting over 9 weeks: “adults were asked to monitor and report their positive emotions and the degree to which they felt socially connected each day.”

Address pyroluria in those who have social anxiety

Pyroluria, the social anxiety condition, was not part of the study because it’s under-recognized as a factor in anxiety. I’d like to propose that we address pyroluria in those who have social anxiety in order to further improve social connectedness and their vagus nerve function.

Many folks with pyroluria put on a brave face in social settings and even “extrovert” which is extremely stressful. The added stress makes pyroluria worse (zinc and vitamin B6 are dumped in much higher amounts) so it becomes a vicious cycle.

Others, who are not willing to even show up because of their severe social anxiety, are not getting that social interaction and connectedness that is so crucial for improved vagus nerve function and better overall health.

Here is the pyroluria questionnaire and the pyroluria/introvert connection.

Connecting the dots further we have

research that reports that vagus nerve stimulation has potential in autism treatment and we know pyroluria and social issues are common in autism
one of the key nutrients for pyroluria, zinc, plays a role in vagus nerve function
another key nutrient in pyroluria is vitamin B6 and it plays a role in reducing inflammation
according to the vagus nerve study above, the vagus nerve “plays important roles in the relationship between the gut, the brain, and inflammation”
both zinc and vitamin B6 are needed for neurotransmitter production, so increasing both GABA and serotonin will further improve mood and reduce anxiety
and finally, the more social and happy you are, the healthier your vagus nerve is and a healthier vagus nerve leads to feeling more connected and happy

By addressing the social anxiety called pyroluria with a foundation of zinc and vitamin B6, we can increase sociability and thereby improve vagus nerve function.

UPDATE 5/7/2020:

Social isolation during the coronavirus pandemic – other vagus nerve exercises

This blog is very applicable now during the coronavirus pandemic. I’ve made an update because I feel we need to start thinking about the longer-term adverse impacts of social isolation and work on other ways to improve vagus nerve function during isolation or quarantine.

This can include any or all of the ways mentioned above: deep breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, cold showers, gargling/gag reflex, humming/chanting/singing and/or auricular acupuncture.

Do you find you have better vagus nerve function when you are more sociable? What of these vagus nerve exercises have you been doing and found helpful during isolation? Do you have any other favorite approaches like using essential oils or anything else?

Vagus nerve stimulation to treat respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19

This paper reports benefits in 2 patients with coronavirus – Use of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation to treat respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19: A theoretical hypothesis and early clinical experience

Both patients reported clinically meaningful benefits from nVNS therapy [non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation].
In Case 1, the patient used nVNS to expedite symptomatic recovery at home after hospital discharge and was able to discontinue use of opioid and cough suppressant medications.
In Case 2, the patient experienced immediate and consistent relief from symptoms of chest tightness and shortness of breath, as well as an improved ability to clear his lungs.

The authors also share that “vagus nerve stimulation has been demonstrated to block production of cytokines in sepsis and other medical conditions.”

With this virus being novel and with everyone learning we are still appreciative of small case reports like this and hope to see bigger studies done. Until then there is other evidence of the overall importance of the vagus nerve in helping to regulate lung infection and immunity.

The nVNS therapy mentioned in the COVID-19 paper is an external device that delivers “a proprietary signal through the skin to either the right or the left branches of the vagus nerve in the neck.” It’s not something I’ve used personally or had clients use so please share if you’ve had success with this device or a similar device.

Loving social isolation and thriving during coronavirus

On the flip side we also need to consider that there are some individuals who are loving social isolation and thriving emotionally. I share some feedback from folks in my community:

Elissa: “As an introvert, my mental health has never been better ☺️. Loving isolation life.”
Drew: “Loving it in many ways. Dreading the hedonism starting up again…”
Tiffany: “My anxiety levels have decreased and I have decreased my anxiety meds! I think it’s because the demand to produce has decreased. I can actually move at my own speed in this world. I’m fortunate, though. My heart goes out to those people in medical fields. I really miss some things, like time with my dad, but we have made some adjustments, like driveway picnics.”
Katie: “I was praying for relief from the busyness. Definitely didn’t have this in mind and my heart hurts for those who are impacted. It has been a beautiful time of rest and restoration for my body and soul.”
Wendy: “My life is usually slow paced and introverted. Now it’s more so and I’m finding the less I do in a day, the better I sleep. I’m actually dreading getting back to “normal” with all the pressures put on us by extroverts. Yes I have sympathy for people suffering mentally by isolation, but for the first time I feel like my type of lifestyle is socially acceptable. I’m tired of life expectations being dictated by the extrovert half of the population.”

I appreciate these folks for sharing their valuable perspectives about thriving in these times. It reinforces how unique we all are.

If you’re struggling with social isolation…

How are you feeling and what are you most looking forward to doing once social isolation recommendations are relaxed?
I’m guessing you don’t have pyroluria but please share if you do?

If you are thriving in social isolation…

Would you consider yourself an introvert /a contented introvert?
Have you got pyroluria and has addressing it nutritionally in the past allowed you to be more sociable or at least less anxious when you are in crowds?
How are you feeling during social isolation and what do you love the most right now?
What are you not looking forward to once social isolation recommendations are relaxed?
And how do you plan to go back to the old “normal” or don’t you?

Please comment below and let us know where you are with social isolation during this pandemic – struggling or thriving? And what vagus nerve exercises are you using right now? Have you used an external device with success?

Recommended gut-brain books as holiday gifts for you or a loved one

December 6, 2019 By Trudy Scott 1 Comment

With one of the post Anxiety Summit: Gut-Brain objectives of sharing additional reading resources and with the holidays right around the corner this is perfect timing for my holiday book blog and all books gut-brain related. Read on below for book excerpts from these books, some of which have just published, some are older and a few have yet to be published.

Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, 5th Edition By Elizabeth Lipski (publication date Nov 22, 2019). The first edition was published in 1995 and this 5th edition (which I hear involved a great deal of revision) makes it current. I have yet to read this one but I know Liz and the previous editions and this is a firm favorite for overall digestive health.
The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan: Getting to the Root of Migraines, Eczema, Vertigo, Allergies and More by Dr. Becky Campbell (publication date Dec 10, 2019). I have read this one and it’s excellent! It’s the only book that I am aware of that goes into so much depth on the topic of histamine intolerance.
The Microbiome and the Brain, edited by David Perlmutter MD (publication date Dec 12, 2019). As Dr. Perlmutter shared in our Anxiety Summit interview, “it’s not just for clinicians, it’s also for researchers.” I can’t wait for my copy to arrive and will share more when it does.
Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness by David Perlmutter MD and Austin Perlmutter MD (publication date Jan 14, 2020). Dr. Perlmutter shared this in our summit interview: “I think technology can be either our most wonderful servant or a really disastrous master. It’s all in how we mindfully use technology.” I can’t wait for my copy to arrive and will share more when it does.
Healthy Gut, Healthy You by Dr. Michael Ruscio (publication date February 15, 2018). Misty Williams raved about this book in our interview and although I have yet to read it, I have attended one of Dr. Ruscio’s SIBO trainings, so I’m including it here too.
Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?: More than 100 Delicious Recipes–Pegan, Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and More – For Lifelong Health by Dr. Mark Hyman MD (publication date October 22, 2019). I reviewed this book a few months ago and am always a big fan of Dr. Hyman’s work so am including this one too.
The Mediterranean Method: Your Complete Plan to Harness the Power of the Healthiest Diet on the Planet — Lose Weight, Prevent Heart Disease, and More! by Steven Masley M.D. (publication date December 31, 2019). We all like to be inspired by new recipes and I love that Dr. Masley is a heart doctor, nutritionist and chef so I’m including this one even though I have yet to get a copy.
Hanger Management: Master Your Hunger and Improve Your Mood, Mind, and Relationships by Susan Albers PsyD (publication date December 24, 2019). Susan is a good friend and is well-recognized for her work on mindful eating, so I’m including this one too in order to round out this selection of books.
The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings by Trudy Scott (publication date June 2, 2011). I’m including my book too. If you don’t yet have a copy I encourage you to get a copy as a great foundation to the work I do. If you already have a copy I know you can see the value in gifting a copy to a loved one or sharing with your practitioner – so this is a reminder for you.

Here are more details on each of the above books….

Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, 5th Edition By Elizabeth Lipski (publication date Nov 22, 2019)

Optimize your overall health through digestive wellness!

Fewer antacids and less bloating aren’t the only benefits of good digestion. When your digestive system is healthy and balanced, you sleep better, have more energy, think more clearly, experience less pain, and combat disease more effectively.

Digestive Health shows how everything from migraines to skin disease to arthritis are connected to your digestive system. And now, this go-to guide has been updated with critical new research and developments, including late-breaking information on:

Probiotics and Prebiotics
Celiac Disease
The Gut-Brain Connection
Carbohydrates
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Auto-Immune Conditions
Kidney and Bone Health
Cancer Prevention
Alzheimer’s Disease

You’ll find practical solutions to numerous conditions and disorders, along with expert guidance on the newest advances in testing and diagnosis, nutrition, and natural therapies.

A perfect balance of science and practical advice, Digestive Health explains how your digestive system works and what to do when it doesn’t function properly.

It provides everything you need to take control of your overall health through close, careful attention to your digestive system.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link).

The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan: Getting to the Root of Migraines, Eczema, Vertigo, Allergies and More by Dr. Becky Campbell (publication date Dec 10, 2019)

Uncover the Root Cause of Your Health Issues and Heal Your Body for Life

Millions of people suffer from allergies, migraines, skin issues, sleep disturbances, digestive ailments or anxiety due to undiagnosed histamine intolerance.

Dr. Becky Campbell, who has years of experience in the field and who suffers from histamine intolerance herself, has created a revolutionary four-phase program to heal your body naturally. What makes her approach different―and more effective for lifelong results―is that it looks for root causes and offers a well-rounded, holistic treatment plan that addresses diet, environmental toxins, lifestyle and more.

To help you uncover why your body is not processing histamine correctly, Dr. Campbell explains the eight most common factors and how to address them. Then she gives you a plan that includes a low-histamine diet, liver care, gut support and direction on how to safely reintroduce the foods that were once making you sick. Along with her wealth of delicious recipes, she also includes information on supplements, ways to reduce stress and much more.

Invest in your health and use The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan to heal your body for good.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link).

The Microbiome and the Brain, edited by David Perlmutter MD (publication date Dec 12, 2019)

Brain related disorders are among the most challenging health issues of our time. The development of effective therapeutic and preventive strategies for these disorders relies on a comprehensive understanding of the underlying causative mechanisms. And, until recently, these mechanisms have remained somewhat elusive.

The newly discovered pivotal role of the intestinal microbiome in brain health, functionality, and resistance to disease is revolutionizing neuroscience. The Microbiome and the Brain, through the contributions of some of the most forward thinking researchers and clinicians in the field, comprehensively reveals the leading edge of our understanding of the fundamental role of gut microbes and their metabolites in a wide array of seemingly diverse brain issues including Alzheimer’s disease, autism, multiple sclerosis, and mood disorders. In addition, mechanisms defining these relationships are explored along with a presentation of the state-of-the-art as it relates to interpretation of relevant laboratory assessments. Finally, novel therapeutic opportunities, derived from this exciting science are presented.

Readers will learn:

The highly validated relationship between alterations of gut microbes and their metabolites, and risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
The important link between autism and intestinal dysbiosis.
Appropriate interpretation of available laboratory assessments of the intestinal microbiome.
The potential role of fecal microbial transplant in neurological diseases.
The influence of diet and other lifestyle choices on the microbiome as it relates to brain health and functionality.

More information here

Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness by David Perlmutter MD and Austin Perlmutter MD (publication date Jan 14, 2020)

Dr. David Perlmutter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain, and Dr. Austin Perlmutter, his son, explore how modern culture threatens to rewire our brains and damage our health, offering a practical plan for healing.

Contemporary life provides us with infinite opportunities, along with endless temptations. We can eat whatever we want, whenever we want. We can immerse ourselves in the vast, enticing world of digital media. We can buy goods and services for rapid delivery with our fingertips or voice commands. But living in this 24/7 hyper-reality poses serious risks to our physical and mental states, our connections to others, and even to the world at large.

Brain Wash builds from a simple premise: Our brains are being gravely manipulated, resulting in behaviors that leave us more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before.

Based on the latest science, the book identifies the mental hijacking that undermines each and every one of us, and presents the tools necessary to think more clearly, make better decisions, strengthen bonds with others, and develop healthier habits. Featuring a 10-day bootcamp program, including a meal plan and 40 delicious original recipes, Brain Wash is the key to cultivating a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link). More information and bonus pre-launch gifts are available here.

Healthy Gut, Healthy You by Dr. Michael Ruscio (publication date February 15, 2018)

Are you experiencing depression, fatigue, thyroid imbalances, joint pain, insomnia, brain fog, inflammation or autoimmunity? Did you know your symptoms could be caused by a problem in your gut? Even if you don’t have gas, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation you could greatly benefit from improving your health at the core, your gut.

In Healthy Gut, Healthy You, clinician and researcher Dr. Michael Ruscio shows how modern lifestyle changes and the widespread use of antibiotics have made our guts more vulnerable than ever before.

The good news is that almost any ailment can be healed. The key is not just managing the symptoms but treating the root cause; the gut. Restoring this crucial part of your overall health improves the performance of your whole body from the inside out – and it’s easier than you think to get started.

You don’t have to follow crazy diets or spend a fortune to get healthy. Instead, read Healthy Gut, Healthy You to discover:

THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR GUT
DIET FOR OPTIMUM GUT HEALTH
LIFESTYLE AND ENVIRONMENT FOR OPTIMUM GUT HEALTH
TOOLS FOR HEALING YOUR GUT
THE GREAT-IN-8 ACTION PLAN

A vibrant, healthy you begins with your gut! Start healing your body today with Healthy Gut, Healthy You!

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link)

Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?: More than 100 Delicious Recipes–Pegan, Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and More – For Lifelong Health by Dr. Mark Hyman MD (publication date October 22, 2019)

The companion cookbook to Dr. Hyman’s New York Times bestselling Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?, featuring more than 100 delicious and nutritious recipes for weight loss and lifelong health.

Dr. Mark Hyman’s Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? revolutionized the way we view food, busting long-held nutritional myths that have sabotaged our health and kept us away from delicious foods that are actually good for us. Now, in this companion cookbook, Dr. Hyman shares more than 100 delicious recipes to help you create a balanced diet for weight loss, longevity, and optimum health. Food is medicine, and medicine never tasted or felt so good.

The recipes in Food: What the Heck Should I Cook? highlight the benefits of good fats, fresh veggies, nuts, legumes, and responsibly harvested ingredients of all kinds. Whether you follow a vegan, Paleo, Pegan, grain-free, or dairy-free diet, you’ll find dozens of mouthwatering dishes, including:

Mussels and Fennel in White Wine Broth
Golden Cauliflower Caesar Salad
Herbed Mini-Meatballs with Butternut Noodles
Lemon Berry Rose Cream Cake
and many more

With creative options and ideas for lifestyles and budgets of all kinds, Food: What the Heck Should I Cook? is a road map to a satisfying diet of real food that will keep you and your family fit, healthy, and happy for life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link) and check out some sample recipes on my blog here.

The Mediterranean Method: Your Complete Plan to Harness the Power of the Healthiest Diet on the Planet — Lose Weight, Prevent Heart Disease, and More! by Steven Masley M.D. (publication date December 31, 2019)

A fresh approach to the Mediterranean diet that focuses on low-glycemic foods that benefit the heart, brain, gut, and microbiome.

From southern Italy, Sardinia, and France to Spain, Greece, and Northern Africa the Mediterranean region is synonymous with sparkling azure waters and clear blue skies. It’s also home to most of the world’s longest-lived and vibrantly healthy people. Now we know why! Repeatedly ranked the #1 diet by U.S. News and World Report, the Mediterranean eating style–abundant seafood, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts; lots of olive oil; a wide variety of herbs and spices; and even dark chocolate and red wine–has been scientifically proven to maintain a healthy gut and healthy weight, thereby reducing your risk for heart disease, dementia, memory loss, and many cancers in the process.

Taking this famously healthy and life-enhancing “prescription” one step further, Dr. Steven Masley–renowned physician, nutritionist, bestselling author, and trained chef–offers all the flavors and benefits of the Mediterranean diet, but with a “skinny” twist: he focuses on delicious ingredients with a low-glycemic load. Including 50 recipes for food everyone at the table will love–from hearty breakfasts, crowd-pleasing appetizers, soups, and sides, to family-style salads, memorable main meals, and irresistible desserts–The Mediterranean Method is a revolutionary program for losing weight and maintaining the amazing health you regain. Slim down and protect your heart, your brain, and your healthy longevity–all while you enjoy the amazing bounty, variety, and joy of Mediterranean cooking!

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link)

Hanger Management: Master Your Hunger and Improve Your Mood, Mind, and Relationships by Susan Albers PsyD (publication date December 24, 2019)

The complete program for mastering your “hanger,” from mindful-eating pioneer Dr. Susan Albers — with 45 tips to turn hanger into happiness.

It happens to all of us. One minute you’re happily going about your day, and a few seconds later you’re a snappy, illogical version of yourself. The culprit? Hanger.

We’re living busier lives than ever before, and when we forget to eat — or accidentally overeat — hunger can make us angry, unreasonable, and dull, with big impacts on our emotional and psychological well being. And hanger can become a cycle. When we get too hungry, we’re more likely to make food decisions we regret, which sets us up for another hanger crash later on.

The good news: when we make better decisions about food, we think more clearly, connect better in our relationships, and improve our performance. Hanger Management is the book that can help you break this cycle and create healthy habits that fuel and empower you.

In Hanger Management, New York Times bestselling author and clinical psychologist Susan Albers sheds light on the causes of hanger, and shares 45 of her best tips for managing it well. By learning to stay on top of your hunger cues, cultivating a better understanding of your appetite, and creating a better overall relationship with food, you’ll become happier — and healthier — for life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link)

The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings by Trudy Scott (publication date June 2, 2011)

It’s remarkable how much the foods we eat can impact our brain chemistry and emotions. What and when we eat can make the difference between feeling anxious and staying calm and in control. But most of us don’t realize how much our diets influence our moods, thoughts, and feelings until we make a change.

In The Antianxiety Food Solution, you’ll find four unique antianxiety diets designed to help you address nutritional deficiencies that may be at the root of your anxiety and enjoy the many foods that foster increased emotional balance. This helpful guide allows you to choose the best plan for you and incorporates effective anxiety-busting foods and nutrients. You’ll soon be on the path to freeing yourself from anxiety—and enjoying an improved overall mood, better sleep, fewer cravings, and optimal health—the natural way! The book also includes an easy-to-use index.

In The Antianxiety Food Solution, you’ll discover:

How to assess your diet for anxiety-causing and anxiety-calming foods and nutrients
Foods and nutrients that balance your brain chemistry
Which anxiety-triggering foods and drinks you may need to avoid
Easy lifestyle changes that reduce anxiety and increase happiness

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link)

I’ve provided my Amazon links for your convenience but if you’re not in the USA, Book depository is a great place to purchase books and offers free shipping worldwide.

I hope I’ve given you some wonderful gift ideas! Happy shopping! And happy reading if you decide to gift yourself one or more of these wonderful books.

Let us know which books you are excited about getting for yourself or a loved one or friend, and which ones you already have and love.