Hi Steve,
Last night I had the pleasure of witnessing another great episode of yours with a topic that can be hard to talk about by many, and not fully socially accepted by society. I hold this topic near my heart as I’ve seen the catastrophic changes it can bring to a person’s life and their loved ones. I know and feel with all of my conscious awareness that healing requires more than one modality of therapy. A modality that is not often addressed is nutritional therapy.
The title of the show was Rethinking Anxiety Meds, A Normal Part of Life? As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist based in Toronto, nutritional therapy needs to be at the forefront of any non-functioning, behavioural or diseased state of a person. Psychotherapy, smoking marijuana, exercise, deep breathing, water, connecting with others and talking were all addressed to help someone deal with anxiety.
Tamina Eapen had some good points and knew how to talk in a very calming manner. Roger McIntyre mentioned the word diet once, while no one else brought it up, ever.
We have a rise in anxiety and other mood disorders which can be due to multiple factors. Because nutrition and lifestyle are my special interest I will discuss this subject pertaining to anxiety.
My first case study while I was a student at CSNN was based on a family man in his late 40’s with severe anxiety and depression. I had never witnessed anyone who has suffered like he was at that time. It took five weeks to write up his recommendations. I researched all of his medications and the nutrient depletion they caused, I peered into his lifestyle, I performed a non-invasive physical assessment and I was eventually shown his blood test results. I showed up to his house for personal appointments and was in contact with him through email with help from his wife. My case study was very motivated to get through this period in his life. Months after presenting my findings along with nutritional and lifestyle recommendations to both him and his wife, I found he was doing better.
The message I want to convey to your guests, society, insurance and benefit organizations, our medical sector, and our Government should be to invest in citizens’ whole wellbeing by funding Holistic Nutritionists, and/or include them as covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Holistic Nutritionists are taught to look at the whole person. No parts of a person are separate.
With regards to anxiety, there is a progressive depletion of nutrients that may and most likely not be replaced to help support the body’s everyday chemical needs. And with the addition of medication, we will see a further reduction in nutrient depletion. The very necessary nutrients needed to make that person well. Anxiety affects the Nervous System, the adrenals, liver and kidneys along with the Venous system, and the pituitary and hypothalamus glands. So, the question is how do we support this system nutritionally, meditatively and functionally before prescribing drugs?
We know that damaged fats, sugars, and some food dyes can cause inflammation in the intestinal lining, which can affect cognitive function.
Lifestyle factors such as stress, blue light at the wrong times of day, circadian cycle disruption, antibiotic use, bacterial overgrowth, lack of direct sunlight, culture, finances, perception of reality, confidence etc. can contribute to mental instability.
Internal factors such as methylation, low HCL, liver dysfunction, bacterial overgrowth, non-functioning thyroid, under supported organs, iron, red blood cell manufacturing and maturation, endotoxins, environmental toxins, systemic inflammation etc. can also contribute to mental instability. The fact is, giving someone a pills for several months (even under clinical and medical supervision) may cause changes physically and mentally if not monitored with a rapport from their closest circle.
I understand a subject as this may require some time for a definitive, functional and practical as well as financial stable solution to address. We as a whole are in great need to understand nutrition as a therapeutic tool. I firmly believe that each person should have a team of healthcare professionals to help them through this portion in their life.
I wish you continued success. Thank you for addressing subject matters that are not typically discussed.
Michael C. Ageday RHN
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