Transcript What are the signs of a Neurotransmitter Deficiency? Proper

What are the signs of a
Neurotransmitter Deficiency?
Proper amounts of neurotransmitters
are necessary for maintaining optimal
mental and physical health. Common
conditions associated with
serotonin/dopamine deficiencies
include:
 Appetite and Eating Disorders, especially
binging or bulimia
 Very strong cravings for sweets
 Depression
 Anxiety and Panic Attacks
 Chronic fatigue
 Fibromyalgia
 Headaches-especially migraines
 Premenstrual Syndrome
 Seasonal Affective Disorder
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Addictions
Attention Deficit Disorder
Chronic pain
Insomnia
Irritability and Anger Disorders
Low motivation
Compulsive Disorders
Decreased sex desire
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Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that allow communication to
occur in the brain.
DOPAMINE functions in:
Feelings of pleasure/bliss
Feelings of attachment/love
Sense of altruism
Integration of thoughts and feelings (focused)
Appetite control
Controlled motor movements
Dopamine Deficiencies result in:
Anhedonia (lack of pleasure)
Lack of ability to feel love and to love another
Lack of remorse about actions
Distractibility
Your world looks colorless
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Norepinephrine functions in:
Arousal, energy, drive, alertness
Stimulation
Fight or flight
Long-term memory and learning
Deficiencies result in:
Lack of energy
Lack of motivation
First “state” called depression
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Optimal levels can result in:
Wellbeing or euphoric effect in stressful situations.
Excess levels can result in:
Fear and anxiety (as may be the case for those who
suffer from anxiety disorders).
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Norepinephrine is produced from dopamine with the
help of amino acids: phenylalanine, lysine, and
methionine. Vitamin C and B-6, magnesium, and
manganese are important cofactors.
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Natural sources of building blocks:
Almonds
apples
Avocado
bananas
Beef liver or kidney blue-green algae
Cheese
fish
Most green vegetables
Lean meat
nuts
Grains
pineapple
Poultry
tofu
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Serotonin functions in:
Emotional stability
Reduces aggression
Sensory input
Sleep cycle
Appetite control
Serotonin deficiencies result in:
Irritability
Irrational emotions
Sudden unexplained tears
OCD
Sleep disturbances
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Serotonin – provides calming and stabilizing actions
Enough serotonin: we feel emotionally stable, we
can sleep, we can sort out feelings and determine in
a logical manner if there is a threat present.
Low serotonin – irritable, overly sensitive to sights
and sounds. Difficulty sleeping and sudden
outbursts of tears.
Enough serotonin:
Hopeful/creative
optimistic/focused
Calm/responsive
patient/good natured
Loving/caring
reflective/thoughtful
And---we don’t CRAVE CARBOHYDRATES!
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When we have a shortage of serotonin, lookout!
We are…
Depressed Anxious Irritable Impatient
Impulsive Abusive Reactive A real Pain!
Plus we…
Fly off the handle easily!!!!!!!!!
Have a short attention span
Seem to be blocked and scattered
Crave those sweets and high carbohydrates foods
Suffer from insomnia and have poor dream recall
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Enkephalins/endorphins functions in:
Internal calm
Sense of well-being
Feelings of euphoria
Self-concept
Pain management
Deficiencies result in:
Internal turmoil
Lack of “completeness”
Sense of inadequacy
Poor pain control
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What our body needs to supply Enkephalins…
D-Phenylalanine
Vitamin B6
Folic Acid
Natural sources of building blocks for
Enkephalins…
Fish
Blue-green algae
Wheat germ
green leafy vegetables
Tortula yeastegg yolks
(B-Complex)
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GABA: (gamma-aminobutyric acid)/it is really
an amino acid but classified as a
neurotransmitter.
Induces relaxation and sleep
Balances the brain where excitation is balanced
with inhibition
Stimulates HGH(human growth hormone) – HGH
helps build muscle and prevent fat.
Slightly sedative effect – best taken before going
to bed.
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What causes Neurotransmitter Deficiencies?
Here are some of the major reasons we can
suffer from depressed neurotransmitter levels...
Prolonged Emotional or Physical Stress.
The human body is programmed to handle
sudden, acute or short bouts of stress.
Prolonged, chronic stress takes it toll on the
“fight or flight” stress hormones and
neurotransmitters. Eventually, these become
depleted and coping becomes more difficult.
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Aging.
60% of all adults past age 40 have some
degree of neurotransmitter deficiency.
Aging neurons make smaller amounts of
neurotransmitters. Also, as we get older, the
body does not respond as well to them.
Weight Loss Dieting.
This is the most common cause of selfinduced neurotransmitter deficiencies.
Limiting food intake in order to lose weight
restricts the amounts of basic building blocks
(neurotransmitter precursors) needed to
produce enough neurotransmitters
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Studies from major universities, including
Harvard, MIT, and Oxford, have documented
that women on diets significantly deplete their
serotonin within three weeks of dieting. This
induced serotonin deficiency eventually leads to
increased cravings, moodiness and poor
motivation. These all contribute to rebound
weight gain – the most common yet unfortunate
consequence of dieting.
Increasing neurotransmitter production during
dieting is strongly encouraged to avoid yo-yo
dieting. This is accomplished by taking dietary
neurotransmitter precursor supplements during
dieting
Abnormal Sleep.
 Many neurotransmitters responsible for
proper sleep, especially serotonin, are
produced during REM sleep around 2-3
a.m. Serotonin converts to melatonin, the
sleep hormone. When serotonin levels are
low, melatonin levels will also be low.
Disrupted sleep occurs and less
neurotransmitters are produced causing a
vicious cycle
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Certain Medications.
Long-term use of diet pills,
stimulants, pain pills, narcotics and
recreational drugs can deplete
neurotransmitter stores. The use of
ma huang, ephedra and prescription
diet pills (like phen-fen, Fastin,
phentermine) use up large amounts
of dopamine and serotonin. This can
result in “rebound” appetite control
problems, low energy, unstable mood
and sluggish metabolism
Neurotoxins.
Heavy metal toxicity, chemical pesticides,
fertilizers, certain cleaning agents,
industrial solvents, and recreational drugs
cause damage to the neuron and
decrease neurotransmitter production.
Excess caffeine, nicotine and alcohol can
be neurotoxic. The street drug, Ecstasy,
has particularly concerning neurotoxic
effects. It can completely drain serotonin
and permanently damage the neuron
making treatment impossible
Hormone Imbalances.
Hormones influence neurotransmitter release
and activity. If hormones are deficient or are off
balance, neurotransmitters do not function well.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a classic
example of how low serotonin levels can
temporarily shift each month. Mood, appetite
and sleep can be severely disrupted one to two
weeks before the menstrual cycle.
Another neurotransmitter imbalance occurs
during menopause when dramatic changes in
mood, energy, sleep, weight, and sexual desire
occur
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Genetic Predisposition.
Some people are born with a limited
ability to make adequate amounts of
neurotransmitters. They exhibit
deficiency symptoms as children or
young adults and often have relatives
who suffered from significant mental
illnesses. As they get older, affected
individuals experience even more
profound symptoms and debilitation.
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Traditional Medicine Treatments
As recently as the l970’s the neurochemical pathways of the brain were not
very well understood. There was very little
in the way of successful treatments for
mood disturbances. Electroconvulsive or
“shock” therapy (ECT) was about the only
effective treatment for resistant severe
depression. We were unaware then of
exactly how this therapy worked but now
realize ECT works by artificially shocking
neurotransmitters out of neurons. This
flood of neurotransmitters results in
marked improvement of depression.
• The most commonly prescribed
medications for abnormal moods
(dysphoria) are the serotonin re-uptake
inhibitors, called SRI’s. These include:
Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Serafem,
Serzone, Celexa and Lexapro. SRI’s
prevent serotonin from reabsorbing back
into storage vesicles. More serotonin then
stays in the synapse, reattaching to
receptors and stimulating more neurons
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Alternative Medicine Treatments
Many alternative methods aimed at raising
neurotransmitter levels have been widely used
with reportedly good success, especially in Asia
and Europe. These include acupuncture,
hypnosis, massage, reflexology, meditation, yoga
and herbal remedies. Neurotransmitter
measurements of meditating Tibetan monks,
showed increased levels of serotonin, the
“serenity” messenger. With scientific data like this
now supporting the benefits of these ancient
treatments, more Western medical disciplines are
becoming convinced and integrating them into
their practices
The brain is a very hungry organ and a
picky eater.
 “You are what you eat!”
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Protein
Most neurotransmitters are made from
protein or its subunits, amino acids. Eating
adequate amounts of dietary protein is
critical. The average person requires 4070 grams (up to 90 grams for a very active
athlete) of protein daily.
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Serotonin originates from the amino acid
tryptophan. Tryptophan is the least common
amino acid in food. It is also the most
difficult to absorb into the brain. These
make serotonin synthesis more difficult.
Although tryptophan is mainly found in fish,
meat, dairy products, eggs, nuts and wheat
germ, eating these does not substantially
increase serotonin. This is because these
foods contain other amino acids that
compete with tryptophan for absorption.
Tryptophan “loses out” to the other amino
acids
 Surprisingly, eating carbohydrates raises
serotonin levels but eating protein
decreases serotonin levels. Carbohydrates
cause an insulin response that favors
tryptophan absorption over other amino
acids. This explains why many people who
need more serotonin (like being overlystressed or depressed) start to “selfmedicate” by eating more sweets or starchy
carbohydrates. As tryptophan absorption
rises, so will serotonin production
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Studies from Harvard, MIT and Oxford
medical universities demonstrate that
women on high protein/very low
carbohydrate diets lower their serotonin
levels, making them more prone to weight
gain relapse, depression, excessive
craving, bingeing, bulimia, severe PMS
and seasonal affective disorder.
• Dopamine is made from the
amino acid tyrosine. Eating high
protein foods promote dopamine
production. Tyrosine is
abundant and is found in
chicken, fish, dairy products,
almonds, avocados, bananas,
legumes, soy products, pumpkin
and sesame seeds
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Carbohydrates
Dietary carbohydrates play a critical role in
brain health. Women, especially, are
vulnerable to how carbohydrates affect
their moods. Serotonin, the main
neurotransmitter for mood and appetite
regulation, depends on carbohydrates for
synthesis
Dr. Judith Wurtman from Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) has published
many articles linking serotonin deficiency
conditions to low dietary carbohydrate
intake. Women normally have one third
less serotonin than men. Diets that
severely restrict carbohydrates will result in
even lower serotonin levels. Dr. Wurtman
found that women on high protein/very low
carbohydrate diets were at greater risk for
depression, seasonal affective disorder
(SAD), carbohydrate crave/binge disorder
and severe premenstrual syndrome.
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Dietary Fat
About two thirds of our brain is made of fat
(lipids). Lipids are incorporated into the brain
cell walls promoting membrane flexibility and
strength. A filmy fat layer covers the branches
of neurons allowing proper electrical
transmission of brain signals
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Dietary Fat
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Most lipids can be made directly by the body.
But two lipids can come only from food. These
fats are called essential fatty acids (EFA). The
cell membranes of neurons are made from the
essential fatty acids: alpha-linoleic acid (ALA)
and linoleic acid (LA).
Alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) belongs to the
“omega-3” fatty acid family. Main food
sources of omega-3 ALA include flax
seeds, walnuts, sea plants, green leafy
vegetables, canola, soy, and walnut oil.
Linoleic acid (LA) belongs to the “omega6” fatty acid family. LA is found in the oils
of seeds and nuts. Main food sources of
omega 6 LA include expeller cold-pressed
sunflower, safflower, corn and sesame oils
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The most abundant fat in the brain is
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), an
omega-3 fatty acid. Good dietary
sources of DHA come from high-fat,
cold water fish like salmon, sardines,
mackerel and trout. DHA made from
microalgae is also available in
supplement capsules. DHA is identical
to that found in neuron membranes.
 Acetylcholine – helpful in learning and memory.
Made from B vitamins choline, found in eggs and
organ meats, lecithin, and legumes/ 5 grams per
day recommended dosage.
 (Alzheimer’s is due in part to low acetylcholine as
a result of death of the cholinergic neurons that
make it).
 B Vitamins – aids in manufacturing
neurotransmitters and regulating energy release in
brain cells.
 Thiamin (B1)
Riboflavin (B2)
 Niacin, pyridoxine (B6) Folic acid, biotin,
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cobalimin (B12)
Supplements helpful to Brain
Functioning:
 Multivitamins – can raise non-verbal
IQ scores
 Antioxidants –help clean up the brain
like rust cleaners to help keep the “rust:
off our brain matter.(prunes, raisins,
blueberries, blackberries, garlic, cooked
kale, cranberries, strawberries, raw
spinach, raspberries).
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Omega-3 – helps brain functioning
and mood.(tuna, salmon, mackerel,
sardines, herring, oysters, walnuts,
flax seed oil).
 Selenium – naturally elevates mood.
(grains, garlic, meat, seafood and
Brazil nuts).
 Vitamin E – blood circulation and
heart conditions.
 Folic Acid – low levels result in
depression and increases the risk for
Alzheimer’s disease. (supplements)
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Ginko Biloba – helps prevent memory
loss. Increases circulation of oxygen
and blood to the brain.
 Phosphatidylserine – stimulates
acetylcholine and improves memory.
 Chromium – suppresses a sharp rise
in blood sugar.
 B Vitamins – helps combat stress.
Improves memory and brain
development.
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• “If you listen to your body
when it whispers, you won’t
have to listen to it when it
screams at you.”