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Oral contraceptives cause low vitamin B6 and zinc, reduce serotonin levels and increase anxiety

By Trudy Scott 18 Comments

Oral contraceptives i.e. the birth control pill, cause low vitamin B6 and zinc, thereby reducing serotonin levels and can increase anxiety and depression in susceptible women.

Dr. Daniel Amen sees the association between the birth control pill and anxiety/depression in his practice and shared this when I interviewed him during season 3 of the Anxiety Summit.

Unfortunately, they drop serotonin levels. You’ve got to ask yourself why are 23 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 60 taking antidepressants? In large part, it’s the birth-control pills that are changing the hormones in their brain, the neurotransmitters in their brain. All of a sudden they’re more anxious and they’re more depressed.

Oral contraceptives lower serotonin due to various nutrient depletions and can also impact mood due effects on the progesterone/estrogen ratio.

Drug-induced nutrient depletions, especially vitamin B6

Many medications cause drug-induced nutrient depletions and oral contraceptives do this too. In this 2013 paper, Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements, the authors report:

It has been shown that the key nutrient depletions concern folic acid, vitamins B2, B6, B12, vitamin C and E and the minerals magnesium, selenium and zinc.

Zinc, magnesium, folate, vitamin C and vitamin B6 are all needed for the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin and can therefore impact both anxiety and depression, accentuating or precipitating the development of depression (and presumably anxiety too) in susceptible women.

The World Health Organization (WHO) report, Advances in Fertility Regulation, states that:

It has been shown that about 80% of women taking oral contraceptives have abnormal tryptophan metabolism suggestive of relative B6 deficiency.

Many of these same nutrients have a major impact on how women handle stress:

Magnesium and vitamin B6 may be effective in combination in reducing premenstrual stress, and vitamin B6 alone may reduce anxiety effectively in older women. High-dose sustained-release vitamin C may reduce anxiety and mitigate increased blood pressure in response to stress.

Zinc and copper imbalances occur very quickly

In this paper published in 1980, Serum copper and zinc in hormonal contraceptive users, it is reported that

Use of combined estrogen-progestogen contraceptives resulted in a significant decrease in serum zinc levels within 3 days and an increase in serum copper levels within 10 days.

In users of combined estrogen-progestogen contraceptives the magnitude and time of occurrence of the decrease in zinc levels and the increase in copper levels was unaltered by chemical composition, dosage, route of administration, and duration of use beyond 3 months.

We know zinc plays a role in the serotonergic system, reducing depression and anxiety.

Zinc and vitamin B6 are also key nutrients for alleviating symptoms of the social anxiety condition called pyroluria.

Lowered levels of endogenous estradiol and progesterone

Other mechanisms on how oral contraceptives lower serotonin relate to lowered levels of endogenous estradiol and progesterone (i.e. the estradiol and progesterone our bodies make), as well as out of balance progesterone/estrogen ratios leading to negative moods and emotional changes. The decreased prolactin response mentioned in this paper suggests reduced serotonergic activity.

High clinical relevance

The WHO report mentioned in the 2013 paper (mentioned above), states that this topic of nutrient depletions with oral contraceptives has high clinical relevance and should be receiving the attention it deserves.

Unfortunately, the nutrient-depletion with oral contraceptives conversation is not something many of my clients have ever had with their doctors, despite this being old news. The WHO report was published over 40 years ago, in 1975!

I’m particularly concerned about teens starting on birth control at such a young age and starting down this very slippery slope with no awareness of what they are getting into.

My recommendation is to NOT use oral contraceptives because of this increased risk in depression and anxiety. I write about this and FAM as an alternative here.

However, if you (or your daughter or grand-daughter or sister or friend) chooses to use oral contraceptives we need this awareness and you/they will very likely need to address these nutrient deficiencies. 

This awareness is also needed if you are using oral contraceptives (or have used them in the recent past) and have found you’ve needed to continuing using tryptophan or 5-HTP long-term.

And finally, this awareness is needed if you know you have pyroluria and the pyroluria protocol doesn’t seem to be working for you.

Nutritional and lifestyle support for mercury toxicity and detoxification in general

By Trudy Scott 7 Comments

 

I’ve poured through most of the transcripts of the Heavy Metals Summit and there is so much information on nutritional and lifestyle support for mercury toxicity and the detoxification process in general:

  • sweating and using a sauna in order to detox through the skin
  • broccoli sprouts (due to a glutathione boost from sulforaphane, an organosulfur compound – in Julie Matthews’s interview)
  • reducing EMF/ELF and microwave exposure – in Dr. Mercola’s talk! He shares how all this can make matters worse and has some simple approaches like turning off power in the bedroom at night! This was new to me and a brilliant approach!
  • eating organic (to minimize GMO/glyphosate effects on a leaky gut and a leaky blood brain barrier) and never using Roundup
  • addressing low zinc and low selenium
  • supporting methylation so the body can detox on it’s own
  • supporting the liver and increasing bile production which is needed for detoxification
  • addressing low stomach acid which is needed for bile production and absorption of minerals like zinc (which is depleted by heavy metals)
  • avoiding meds like PPIs (which reduce stomach acid) and NSAIDs (which contribute to leaky gut)
  • thyroid support/iodine (as needed)
  • getting the brain’s glymphatic system working with sufficient sleep, melatonin (liposomal) and even liposomal GABA (in Dr. Christine Schaffer’s interview)
  • supporting the vagus nerve in order to improve digestion and detoxification
  • using an air filter and water filters
  • using foods/products like curcumin, ginger, probiotics, apple pectin
  • adding DPP-4 enzyme for gluten issues (mercury depletes this)
  • avoid energy-efficient bulbs (they are high mercury)
  • having Epsom salts baths
  • improving elimination from the bowels and much more

This is the support I offer as a nutritionist and it’s wonderful to hear all these doctors/practitioners discuss about all this with a tie back to mercury, lead and other metals.

Whey is not mentioned on the summit but since someone shared how it’s benefiting her (in the comments of the Boyd Haley blog) I’m sharing here too since it helps with glutathione production. In this paper “a case is made for the use of hydrolyzed whey protein to support metal detoxification and neurological function.” I recommend whey to clients if tolerated.

Many years ago I heard a presentation by a biological dentist who then became a nutritionist – he shared that he used whey with mercury toxic patients (together with other nutrients) and saw metals go up in hair analysis and then come down as their symptoms improved.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, mercury chelation is a controversial topic and you’ll see comments very divided on what the safest approach is. This is not my area of expertise and I’m very cautious with recommendations in this area as I’ve had reports of harm from individuals using all the approaches you’ll hear about on the summit (and even the Andy Cutler protocol which is not covered). My best advice is to follow all the nutritional/lifestyle recommendations and if you do decide to go the chelation root, do your homework, find a practitioner to work with and listen to your gut. If what you’re doing doesn’t feel right then stop doing it.

As with any chronic health condition, mercury detox is a comprehensive approach and very individualized.

There is also a discussion about safe removal of amalgams/mercury fillings. They do need to be done safely so as not to cause further issues. The IOMT also offers excellent guidelines.

The summit also covers other metals like copper (Ann Louise Gittleman covers this and I blog about it here), arsenic (Dr. Joseph Pizzorno covers this – reducing consumption is a big factor; and non-organic chicken is a source) and aluminum.

You can still register here to hear day 7 interviews and the encores: The Heavy Metals Summit.

Have you seen benefits with a nutritional approach?

Trichotillomania: NAC, GABA, tryptophan, inositol and zinc?

By Trudy Scott 44 Comments

 

This recent paper reports on a case study with NAC – Trichotillomania: a good response to treatment with N-acetylcysteine

Trichotillomania is considered a behavioral disorder and is characterized by the recurring habit of pulling one’s hair, resulting in secondary alopecia. It affects 1% of the adult population, and 2 to 4.4% of psychiatric patients meet the diagnostic criteria. It can occur at any age and is more prevalent in adolescents and females. Its occurrence in childhood is not uncommon and tends to have a more favorable clinical course.

The scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes are the most commonly affected sites. Glutamate modulating agents, such as N-acetylcysteine, have been shown to be a promising treatment. N-acetylcysteine acts by reducing oxidative stress and normalizing glutaminergic transmission. In this paper, we report a case of trichotillomania with an excellent response to N-acetylcysteine.

In this case report an 11 year-old male student had been pulling his hair out for 6 months. He had a relationship problem with this father and also suffered from asthma and dermatitis. He was started on NAC:

Treatment with N-acetylcysteine was initiated ​​(1200 mg/day for three months). The patient’s outlook improved dramatically, but complete remission was not achieved. We chose to increase the dosage to 1800 mg/day, which resulted in almost complete regrowth.

[From: Trichotillomania: a good response to treatment with N-acetylcysteine]

In this paper from 2009, N-acetylcysteine, a glutamate modulator, in the treatment of trichotillomania: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, it is reported that

  • Fifty individuals with trichotillomania (45 women and 5 men) received 1200-2400 mg/day of N-acetylcysteine or placebo over a 12-week period.
  • 56% percent of patients experienced “much or very much improved” hair-pulling symptoms with N-acetylcysteine use compared with 16% using the placebo, and the improvements were first noted after 9 weeks of supplementation.
  • Those in the N-acetylcysteine group did not experience any adverse events.

As you can see, the results with NAC are excellent but it can take 9 weeks and more before results are seen. For this reason, I would always also assess for low serotonin and low GABA and do trials of tryptophan or 5-HTP for low serotonin and GABA for low GABA. With any compulsive and obsessive behaviors I always consider inositol too and we may add this once the ideal dose of tryptophan has been found.

What is my rationale for recommending GABA, tryptophan, 5-HTP and/or inositol?

  • Since NAC works on reducing oxidative stress and normalizing glutaminergic transmission, GABA may help too and will certainly help to ease any physical anxiety that is being experienced
  • “Recommended first-line therapy for this psychiatric condition is administration of SSRIs” even though their efficacy is not yet proven in children – for this reason I’d recommend tryptophan or 5-HTP
  • Also “according to the psychiatric definition, these patients pull their hair because the act is gratifying and reduces tension, anger, depression and anxiety” (these are all signs of low serotonin and another reason to consider tryptophan or 5-HTP)
  • Because they offer relief right away, within 1-5 minutes

A complete nutritional and functional medicine work-up would be part of the plan too – to address the asthma and dermatitis (in the first paper above) and any other symptoms the person is experiencing and may be a contributing factor.

I’d expect the 56% of improved patients (in the second study above) to go to a much higher percent with all of the above approaches.

When I shared these papers on Facebook I was asked this question from someone who pulls out her eyelashes:

I pull my mascara off what is left of my eyelashes every night. I try my hardest not to do it but I find it impossible once I’ve touched my lashes. I’m about to start taking GABA and I was thinking about taking NAC. Would it be a bad idea to take both these amino acids?

This is my feedback: I always like to do one thing at a time and (as mentioned above) I would do the amino acid questionnaire and a trial of tryptophan and GABA first if the scores are high, and then look at adding NAC. If there are still some obsessive tendencies I would consider adding inositol. I am not aware of any issues with using all of these nutrients at once.

Someone else asked this:

Wouldn’t you deal with the psychological cause of it too – at the same time?

My response: Yes absolutely – if there is a psychological cause. But be aware that sometimes it’s purely nutritional or biochemical.

Another person shared that she only exhibits these behaviors when she’s stressed. Of course, the nutrients mentioned above, plus dietary changes, adrenal support, improving gut health and everything that I educate about, are important for reducing stress.

I also received some success stories. Here is one of them:

I’ve struggled with trichotillomania and dermatillomania (skin picking) for years and years. I underwent hypnosis that was extremely effective. When I added in zinc (after reading your book) the urge is almost completely gone. Thank you!

Keep in mind that zinc is a co-factor for making serotonin and GABA, is important for overall adrenal support and stress reduction, is needed for glutathione production and works as an antioxidant. I’d actually love to see these studies repeated with zinc alone.

And then I received this message from someone else:

I’m messaging you my answer about NAC because it’s slightly embarrassing I’ve always had terrible acne and always have picked at it obsessively and could not stop until I was given some supplements for PCOS which happened to contain NAC. To my surprise I lost the compulsion to pick at my skin, something I had never thought possible!

How wonderful for both of them! I always appreciate feedback like this and have to say nothing is too embarrassing to share (especially if it helps someone else).

Have you used NAC with success – with trichotillomania or dermatillomania (skin-picking) or even nail-biting? Or some other compulsive behavior?

What about GABA or inositol or tryptophan or zinc (or something else) for the same purpose and/or for additional emotional and stress-reducing support?

The best food-mood-nutrient topics of 2017

By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

As we move into 2018, it’s time to recap and share the best of 2017 – from both blog posts and facebook posts. Hopefully these topics have helped you move forward as you address your anxiety symptoms and will help you (and your clients/patients if you’re a practitioner) take even bigger leaps as you move into 2018!

Most popular blog posts

Here are the most popular blog posts of 2017, based on comments and questions. If you have already read one of these and found it interesting at the time of publication, it’s worth a re-read for all the valuable comments/questions and my feedback.

Collagen and gelatin lower serotonin: does this increase your anxiety and depression?

I see everyone raving about gelatin and collagen – and rightly so – they have amazing health benefits. However, no-one is addressing the fact that gelatin is actually used in tryptophan-depletion studies to lower serotonin.

Some people get more anxious and depressed when consuming collagen, some do just fine and some even use it to lower their serotonin. Many need to use it with added tryptophan. I recently made some additional updates to this blog and have more to add so stay tuned for more on this topic.

How much GABA should I use and which GABA product is best?

There is no simple answer! It requires a blog post to provide a good answer because we are all unique, have different needs and these needs can even differ at different times depending on the issue and what is going on in our lives at the moment.

My Kid is Not Crazy and PANS/PANDAS awareness day 2017

PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) occurs when strep triggers a misdirected immune response results in inflammation on a child’s brain. In turn, the child quickly begins to exhibit life changing symptoms such as OCD, anxiety, tics, personality changes, decline in math and handwriting abilities, sensory sensitivities, restrictive eating, and more.

Anxiety, compulsive thinking, counting behaviors: gluten, tryptophan and inositol

Today I’m going to share my feedback on a question I received on how to approach working with a child with anxiety, compulsive thinking and counting behaviors in the hope it can help you or someone you know (or are working with if you’re a practitioner)

DPA for weepiness, pain and comfort and reward eating

This amino acid is a favorite with so many of my clients because it helps with [weepiness, pain and comfort and reward eating] by boosting your endorphins and when you chew a capsule you feel like you just got a big hug.

How to Beat Anxiety and Resolve Panic Attacks with Targeted Amino Acids: Wellness Mama podcast

I share my wonderful interview with Katie, the “Wellness Mama”. We talk about my favorite topic: How to Beat Anxiety and Resolve Panic Attacks with Targeted Amino Acids, with some extra questions about pregnancy and nursing that I’m not often asked about.

GABA for the physical-tension and stiff-and-tense-muscles type of anxiety

I’m going to review some GABA products for the physical-tension and stiff-and-tense-muscles type of anxiety, and share some additional resources for you….

I share that sublingual is best, do a trial and start low, my favorite GABA products and when it works and when it doesn’t.

Tryptophan for the worry-in-your-head and ruminating type of anxiety

I’m going to review some tryptophan products for the worry-in-your-head and ruminating type of anxiety… Lidtke is the only brand of tryptophan that I recommend simply because I see it work so well and because of quality issues with tryptophan in the past.

I also share when to use tryptophan and when to use GABA, and tryptophan for PMS.

GABA: an amino acid supplement for neurotransmitter support and anxiety relief

I recently attended the first international meeting of International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research and was honored and thrilled to present my poster – GABA: an amino acid supplement for neurotransmitter support and anxiety relief Because you were not able to be there, here are the contents of my poster word for word.

How GABA eases agonizing rectal pain and spasms in under 2 minutes

Proctalgia fugax is described as a condition that leads to rectal spasms and sharp fleeting pain in the lower rectum or anus. In some people it can be more than fleeting and is often described as excruciating and agonizing.

I have experienced this awful anal sphincter spasm and pain myself so I want to shine some light on this condition and offer the simplest and most effective solution: oral and sublingual GABA. It works to completely eliminate the pain in 1-2 minutes! And it can also be used to prevent a full-on spasm if you catch it in advance.

Migraines, Anxiety and Antiphospholipid Syndrome: on the Chronic Headache & Migraine Summit

The autoimmune condition called Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is one of many possible contributing factors for both migraines and anxiety.

Cognitive impairment, strokes and livedo reticularis is common.

GABA protects against hypothyroidism caused by fluoride and reduces anxiety

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to establish the therapeutic efficacy of GABA as a natural antioxidant in inducing thyroprotection against fluoride-induced toxicity.

GABA for children: ADHD, focus issues, irritability, anxiety and tantrums

My daughter hasn’t been diagnosed with ADHD but has a lot of ADHD qualities. We were having a huge amount of behavior problems as she is getting older (she’s 11). I did some research and went to the health food store and bought a bottle [of GABA Calm]. At this point I was mentally exhausted from all the fighting and drama at home and at school. I was desperate and didn’t want to put her on any hard medication.

She has had amazing behavior at school and at home since giving it to her. She’s almost like different child. GABA has truly changed our life. She’s been taking it for almost 2 months.

Anxiety: when to use GABA and tryptophan and how much to use

When you have anxiety it can be confusing trying to figure out the root cause. I like to start by assessing for low GABA and low serotonin because when you address these with targeted individual amino acids you typically see results right away and feel hopeful (and now have time to look for other root causes like gluten issues, high cortisol, gut issues, dietary changes etc).

But there may still be some confusion about when to use GABA and when to use tryptophan and how much of each of these amino acids to use.

Vulvodynia: oxalates, GABA, tryptophan and physical therapy

I just listened to the webinar talking about oxalates. I was shocked and delighted to hear the mention of the connection between high oxalates and vulvodynia.

Research shows there is serotonin involvement with vulvodynia and SSRIs are often prescribed, as are benzodiazepines. My recommendation is trials of tryptophan and/or GABA.

Seriphos Original Formula is back: the best product for anxiety and insomnia caused by high cortisol

If you have high nighttime cortisol (as measured by an adrenal saliva test) it can cause insomnia and anxiety. Using 1-3 x Seriphos about 1-3 hours before the high cortisol is the best way I know for lowering the high cortisol and providing relief.

The product was reformulated and didn’t work like it used to and then the original formula was brought back.

GABA takes some of the anxiety edge away and now I want to add tryptophan: how do I do this?

I would say this – ask yourself what low GABA anxiety symptoms (this is the physical anxiety) have improved with the GABA and how much (rate each one before – out of 10; and what are they now – out of 10). From your question it sounds like they could improve more – so if we were working together I’d continue to increase GABA before adding something new.

The most popular facebook posts

And here are some of the most popular Facebook posts on TrudyScottAntianxietyFoodSolution (based on comments and shares). Many of these link to other sources like the research or other blogs with additional information. Most of them have a great back and forth discussion on the Facebook post so feel free to join in there.

Canola oil linked to worsened memory and learning ability in Alzheimer’s

Canola oil is one of the most widely consumed vegetable oils in the world, yet surprisingly little is known about its effects on health. Now, a new study published online December 7 in the journal Scientific Reports by researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) associates the consumption of canola oil in the diet with worsened memory, worsened learning ability and weight gain in mice which model Alzheimer’s disease. The study is the first to suggest that canola oil is more harmful than healthful for the brain.

Canola oil is not something I’ve ever recommended and I’m really glad to see this research. You have to read labels because it’s in a lot of salad dressings and processed foods!

Nestle to buy vitamin maker Atrium Innovations for $2.3 billion

The following brands are now owned by Nestle: Garden of Life, Douglas Laboratories, Pure Encapsulations.

This is not good! Other than the fact that the formulations will likely be changed, there is much to be said about Nestle and their ethics.

The Big Vitamin D Mistake

This could lead to a recommendation of 1000 IU for children <1 year on enriched formula and 1500 IU for breastfed children older than 6 months, 3000 IU for children >1 year of age, and around 8000 IU for young adults and thereafter. Actions are urgently needed to protect the global population from vitamin D deficiency.

Do you use a zinc supplement every day?

1) how much and what form? and with or without copper?
2) how did you decide to add zinc (or was it recommended by a practitioner)
3) how did you assess your zinc status (alk phos? zinc challenge/tally? mood symptoms? white flecks on nails? poor digestion? pyroluria questionnaire? blood work? other?)
4) how it helps you? (less anxious? more social? less depressed? less cravings? better digestion? better skin? less aches/pains? better blood sugar control? less PMS/hormone symptoms? better adrenal health? better immunity? other?)

Scary new information about benzodiazepine deaths

The five most frequently occurring drugs found in decedents were ethyl alcohol (5,318), benzodiazepines (5,167, including 1,851 alprazolam occurrences), cocaine (2,882), cannabinoids (2,292), and morphine (2,040).

With teen mental health deteriorating over five years, there’s a likely culprit

In a new paper published in Clinical Psychological Science, my colleagues and I found that the increases in depression, suicide attempts and suicide appeared among teens from every background – more privileged and less privileged, across all races and ethnicities and in every region of the country. All told, our analysis found that the generation of teens I call “iGen” – those born after 1995 – is much more likely to experience mental health issues than their millennial predecessors.

What happened so that so many more teens, in such a short period of time, would feel depressed, attempt suicide and commit suicide? After scouring several large surveys of teens for clues, I found that all of the possibilities traced back to a major change in teens’ lives: the sudden ascendance of the smartphone.

Gabapentin and pregabalin are as problematic as benzodiazepines

Crippling toll of the new valium that’s ruining the lives of MILLIONS

Can you relate to the term high-functioning anxiety?

Busy and in control. High-achieving and perfectionistic. Driven by details and order in a desperate attempt to calm racing thoughts, worry, and the fear that invade every ounce of the mind and body. An over-thinker with a tendency to perseverate, dwell, and stew on everything.

I used to be like this before the panic attacks and it’s a big clue that it’s time to do something about it but too often we push and push and push and then it gets really bad. I would love to be able to reach women (and men) at this stage before it gets really bad!

Great article about squatting and the benefits

How often do you squat? and do you use a device like the Squatty Potty?

Screen time might boost depression, suicide behaviors in teens

A new study finds that teens, especially girls, who spend several hours per day on phones and tablets are more likely to be depressed and have suicide-related outcomes.

When it comes to cravings, addiction and appetite we have this research supporting the use of glutamine

– Glutamine and glutamatergic metabolism is a factor in cravings and alcohol dependence
– A combination of tyrosine, lecithin, glutamine and 5-HTP helped withdrawal syndromes and mental symptoms in detoxified heroin addicts
– Glutamine has been shown to decrease secretion of ghrelin, the hormone that impacts appetite regulation. High levels of ghrelin appear to make high-calorie foods look more appealing.

Why the vaginal mesh scandal could be ‘bigger than thalidomide’

More than 92,000 women had vaginal mesh implants between 2007 and 2015 in England, and about one in 11 is said to have complications. More than 800 of these women are now taking legal action against the NHS and mesh manufacturers.

Please be aware of the dangers of vaginal mesh (and other procedures that use mesh) – it’s something I’ve always warned my clients about and it needs to become common knowledge

Do you take probiotics on a daily basis and do they help? Have you had to stop taking probiotics because of any adverse effects?

Melatonin–estrogen interactions in breast cancer

Individualized protocols in Dr. Nalini Chilkov’s OutSmart Cancer system include melatonin at 10-20mg at bedtime (to match nature’s cycling of melatonin…not for sleep issues) . MANY breast cancer patients have low or aberrant melatonin patterns.

The anti antidepressant. Depression affects 16 million Americans.

One third don’t respond to treatment. A surprising new drug may change that: ketamine.

I’m quite surprised how many women who are smart and savvy when it comes to eating and natural health continue to color their hair (or straighten or perm or treat).

I’m curious if you are one of those people ? And if yes why? Do you know the risks or would you just prefer not to know?

Excellent article on toxic sunscreen ingredients

I have always avoided conventional sunscreens and teach my clients about this but wish more people were aware of these issues. It’s not just sunscreens either…so many skin care products, makeup, hair products and household products have ingredients that are endocrine disrupters, cause DNA and oxidative damage and affect our health – both physically and mentally! What sunscreen do you use?

My favorite protein powder

I love this one because _______. I use it in these ways ______, _______, ________.

Right now my favorite protein powder is a pea protein (made by Nuzest). I love this one because it’s gluten-free, dairy and soy free, GMO-free and is pea only (no other ingredients!). I just found out it’s also available in USA and other countries.

My favorite healthy protein bar

I love it because _______ AND/OR I tried ______ and don’t like it because ________. My clients are always looking for protein bars for a quick healthy snack but so many are loaded with sugar OR don’t have enough protein and fat OR are full of processed soy OR contain a ton of nuts OR aren’t gluten-free.

Thank you for being such a huge part of this community, for sharing your stories and successes and for offering words of encouragement to others in the community. Thank you too, for asking your questions. Keep the questions coming – they keep me on my toes and help me to learn too!

I’d love to hear how the above topics have helped you and what topics you’d like me to cover in 2018, plus which areas you’d like me to take an even deeper dive into.

Copper toxicity: anxiety, phobias, ADHD on the Heavy Metals Summit

By Trudy Scott 32 Comments

One of my favorite functional medicine practitioners, Ann Louise Gittleman covers the issue of excess copper on the Heavy Metals Summit, which airs online Jan 29 to Feb 5, 2018.

The topic is – Copper: The Double-Edged Sword – and she shares how copper is probably the most insidious of the toxic metals:

I think what lead was to the ancient Romans, copper is to modern day Americans. And I think it may be the fundamental cause of many of our orphan illnesses, our mystery illnesses, and debilitating and aging biochemical imbalances.

She shares some of the sources of copper that are most prevalent in contributing to excess copper levels and toxicity:

I think first and foremost we have to look at copper plumbing, copper cookware, which is all the rage in this day and time. There’s naturally occurring copper in water. Birth control pills can be a source of copper, because of excessive amounts of estrogen and estrogen is connected to copper the way zinc is connected to progesterone.

There are copper IUDs that are very popular amongst so many of our young women. Even dental amalgams, if they are put in your mouth post 1976 can have a very high copper amalgam percentage. And then, of course, there are fungicides for swimming pools and foods. So that’s just the beginning.

Then there’s the copper that you’re getting in common foods. Whether it’s soy; whether it’s GMO soy or not. You’re getting that in tempeh, tofu, soy protein powders. Nuts and seeds, like cashew nuts and sesame seeds. Avocados; a very healthy fat, but high in copper nevertheless. And some of our shellfish. Then you’ve got your regular tea, your green tea, your white tea, your black tea, your bran, and even your brewer’s yeast.

One of the biggest factors that I see contributing to high copper in my clients who have low zinc and anxiety, is all the baking being done with nuts flours such as almond flour! The next two areas I see as being most problematic for women, is the birth control pill and copper IUDs.  

Ann Louise talks about how excess copper can affect you: hyperactivity and ADD, thyroid issues, tooth decay, dementia, urinary tract infections, candida and functional hypoglycemia.

She also covers the following anxiety symptoms, which I commonly see in my clients and community: nervousness, phobias and unresolved fears, depression and even stuttering.

Here are my contributions to this important discussion:

  • High copper and low zinc (because these two balance each other out), is one of the most common imbalances I see in my community of anxious individuals, and especially in women because of the hormonal influence.
  • Other than removing the source of the copper, one way to address this is via zinc supplementation. If anxiety is a factor, addressing low serotonin and low GABA with amino acids like tryptophan and GABA helps until zinc increases and copper decreases.
  • Good levels of zinc are also needed to make the neurotransmitters so once levels rise (as we get rid of excess copper) we can start to make our own.

Wendy Myers, Christine Schaffner, ND, and Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD, have spent the last few months gathering the right experts, information and protocols to help you understand the danger of heavy metals like copper, mercury, lead, cadmium and others, and what to do about them.

Every day, they help their patients regain health, in some part through heavy metal detoxification. People with incorrect diagnoses of multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression, insomnia, or thyroid issues, just to name a few, have found relief through innovative and individualized protocols to reduce the burden of heavy metals.

Register here to join us on The Heavy Metals Summit January 29 – February 5, 2018. See you on the summit! I know I’m going to learn a lot too!

Have you had issues with high copper and low zinc?

Feel free to comment or post a question below.

30 Experts Share Their Best Advice for Brain Health by Jordan Fallis

By Trudy Scott 4 Comments

Jordan Fallis of Optimal Living Dynamics reached out to some of his favorite cutting-edge health practitioners and researchers and asked them one question:

What is the one piece of advice you would offer to people who want to improve and optimize their brain health?

I was thrilled to be one of the people he reached out to. This is my response:

This a tough question and I can think of many things such as eating sardines or other oily fish for the omega-3 benefits; eating pumpkin seeds as a great source of zinc and tryptophan (both great for anxiety and depression); dumping the bread and cookies due to the inflammatory effects of gluten on the brain and body; and eating grass-fed red meat as a great source of zinc, omega-3s and iron, all of which are needed for brain health. 

But if I had to pick only one piece of advice, I would say to optimize gut health because of the very strong gut-brain connection. This means healing a leaky gut with an amino acid like glutamine; improving the microbiome by eating fermented foods like sauerkraut; improving protein digestion with enzymes; cooking and eating quality food at home; chewing our food slowly, and addressing issues like candida, parasites, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and dysbiosis.

In addition to the above, I always trial the use of targeted individual amino acids such as calming GABA, mood-boosting tryptophan and DPA, and addressing nutritional deficiencies with nutrients like zinc, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium and so on. You may need to also address Lyme disease, mold, heavy metals and many of the other possible biochemical causes of anxiety and depression.

Here are some snippets from a few of my favorite quotes:

  • Kelly Brogan: the brain “does not understand modern chemicals, processed foods, and industrial pollutants. It also doesn’t understand chronic stress, poor sleep, minimal movement, and indoor living”
  • Hyla Cass: “don’t follow a low-fat diet! Make sure to get sufficient fats and protein. Avoid trans fats, but eat healthy fats like omega 3’s found in fatty fish, and medium chain triglycerides from coconut oil”
  • Sayer Ji: “Turmeric is one of the most remarkable neuroprotective and neurorestorative agents yet identified”
  • Max Lugavere: “…there’s simply nothing like exercise for the brain.”
  • Gwen Olson: “Do your own due diligence before taking any pharmaceuticals. Put the name of the drug into a search engine followed by the words ‘controversy’ and ‘side effects’”
  • James Greenblatt: “As vitamins and minerals serve as co-factors in almost every enzymatic reaction in the brain, it is important to assess for adequate nutrient levels regularly to ensure that you are optimizing brain health”

You can read all the inspiring and valuable responses on Jordan’s blog: 30 Experts Share Their Best Advice for Brain Health. You’ll see some common themes: stress, the gut, exercise, real food, sleep and nutrients.

When I asked Jordan how he knew of me and my work he shared this:

I found you through Sean Croxton’s Depression Sessions. When that first came out, I was in the middle of my journey, trying to restore my own mental health. It was great timing. So I immediately purchased it and watched all the videos for more solutions.

I already knew about pyroluria, as I had read Dr. William Walsh’s book Nutrient Power at that time. But it was great to see you talk about it and bring it to light! And I believe I was taking just regular B6 before your talk. So then I switched to P-5-P. I continue to take P-5-P and zinc picolinate regularly.

I’m so thankful I’m feeling better and have my life back, so I’m going to work really hard to share everything that helped me. I just feel like I need to do that 🙂

I really appreciate that Jordan wants to share everything that has helped him and this article is a perfect way to do this.

Here are some additional resources for you on pyroluria, the social anxiety condition he mentions above:

I hope you enjoy these resources from me, Jordan and all the experts he reached out to!

I’d love to hear what you have found to be the best brain advice you have received and implemented?