Recap

Food & Mental Health

Clinical nutritionist and author of The Crazy Makers, Carol Simontacchi discussed the relationship between food and mental health. She pointed out that a direct causative relationship exists between the consumption of fruits and vegetables and depression and other mental disorders.

Mineral imbalance between magnesium and calcium can cause depression, Simontacchi said. A deficiency in essential fatty acids can give rise to certain cognitive disorders, she continued. High levels of sodium (found in processed foods) and low levels of potassium (found in fresh vegetables) affect the body's electrical system and can lead to an inability to concentrate, Simontacchi explained.

Simontacchi talked about the role environmental toxins and malnutrition have played in the rise in autism. She exposed some nutrition myths, pointing out the problems with vegetarian and low-fat diets. Simontacchi also discussed how caffeine effects the body, contributes to osteoporosis, shuts down short-term memory, and makes it more difficult for women to concentrate.

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