#43: Dr Julia Rucklidge - Nutrition & Mental Health
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In this episode, Jim speaks with a world-renowned psychologist, Professor Julia Rucklidge. Her TEDx talk several years ago citing the significant role nutrition can play in our mental health now has close to 2 million views! Jim and Julia discuss the global dependence on medication in treating mental illness despite a questionable long-term success rate and why this might be the case. They also chat about our reliance as a culture on that one pill, or that one magic food when in truth, there is no quick fix with nutrition and holistic health. Julia then cites the research that shows impressive positive changes for participants who either changed their diet or started to take micronutrient pills as treatment for their mental health condition. This is a conversation that will inspire us to look at the food we put into our body from a different perspective while also holding a more critical gaze at the food and pharmaceutical companies at large!
Here are 3 reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Hear about the key points of Julia’s upcoming book ‘The Better Brain’ which will be available in April 2021.
Hear Jim and Julia reflect on our societal tendencies and how our health is often portrayed as something out of our own reach, without looking at our lifestyle and the food we are putting in our bodies and the consequences of this.
Understand how food can play a vital role in improving our mental health.
6 Powerful Quotes from This Episode
“I was taught (as a psychologist) that nutrition has nothing to do with the brain which is just absolute nonsense”
“As a society, I wonder have we fallen into the trap of thinking the only way we can get better is pharmaceuticals. I think we are under a strong spell from the pharmaceutical industry and we can’t underestimate how powerful they are. They are the biggest industry in the world along with the food industry.”
“We are just waiting for that magic drug that’s going to cure these mental disorders rather than evaluating what environmental factors might be playing a really critical role in the expression of these illnesses.”
“Ultra-processed food should not be anywhere on our planet. It made our life easier but to the detriment of our health. We’ve lost sight of what food does to our brain and body health”
“Micronutrients are crucial concerning the generation of serotonin and dopamine in our bodies. You can’t eat serotonin. Our bodies are chemical soups that require fruits and vegetables to initiate a chemical process which ends with serotonin and dopamine and other chemicals that make us feel good”
“There’s no magic mineral or vitamin to make your brain healthy. We need a variety of micronutrients found in fruits and vegetables that help contribute to a healthy brain.”
Episode Highlights
Issues with medication reliance on mental health treatment
● Julia exclaims we’ve never been able to prove there is a chemical imbalance/psychiatric illness relationship, but this is the story we are told. This is why SSRI’s are so common in the treatment of certain mental disorders despite.
● In the long term, we can create several additional problems through the reliance on SSRI’s. Coming off these medications can cause severe withdrawal consequences. Julia highlights that these SSRI’s have improved many people’s lives, however, not to the extent we once thought.
Big Pharma Influence
● Dr Rucklidge comments on the power of pharmaceutical companies. These companies do hold influence with politicians, have a huge say over funding particular projects and it’s important not to underestimate their impact on how we view improving our health.
● Dr Rucklidge worries that this reliance on pharmaceuticals will gloss over the role of our own lifestyles on our health and well-being.
Food Industry
● The food industry also plays a big role in our health, particularly as more and more of us are eating ‘non-food’ food, as Julia describes it. This shift towards ultra-processed foods has happened in a very short space of time
● We discuss that many people know that they need to eat fruits and vegetables but don’t know why. They are dense in vitamins and nutrients that we need for a healthy body and mind. We are more focused on calories and macronutrients and this focus is hurting our collective health. Micronutrients are crucial concerning the generation of serotonin and dopamine in our bodies.
No Quick Fix
● There’s no magic mineral or vitamin to make your brain healthy. We need a variety of micronutrients found in fruits and vegetables that help contribute to a healthy brain. We need to eat ‘real food’ and little to no ‘ultra-processed’ food.
● Julia always says food first. She doesn’t want everyone on vitamin/micronutrient pills.
● Julia brings up an interesting point that we rarely if ever select crops and food based on nutritional content. It’s more often than not determined by aesthetic. She asks would we choose our long term marital partner based on how they look?
● Julia lists some of the nutrient focused trails that have demonstrated positive results for participants experiencing mental health issues.
● Side effects observed during these trials are mild and transitory compared to those of some SSRI’s.
● Julia also highlights the research suggesting the healthier the brain (and diet) the more able we are able to cope, respond and attend to stressful and chaotic situations (LIKE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC).
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To removing stigma,
Jim and Seb
