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Overview
Vitamins and minerals are
Mother Nature's own potent tranquillisers so check them out for real
inner peace. Vitamin B6 is a natural anti-depressant. Vitamin B3 (niacin)
was found to prevent pellagra, a deficiency disorder whose symptoms
include dementia. The body's physiological cleansing department also
employs vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid as nutritional refuse collectors
dealing with the waste products of amino acid metabolism. Without them
unwanted by-products may build up, causing anxiety and mental illness.
B complex vitamins are present in brewer's yeast, wheatgerm, liver,
meat, fortified breakfast cereals, bread and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin C, found in citrus fruits and vegetables, also enhances endorphin
production.
Stock up on nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetable to obtain adequate
levels of magnesium. A lack of this has been linked with nervousness,
irritability, hyperactivity, insomnia and aggression. Zinc is vital
for healthy nerves and helps hormone control. Its deficiency may contribute
to anxiety and depression. It is found in fish, meat, nuts, pulses and
cheese. Anorexics and bulimics both experience roller-coaster mood swings.
Lena Zavaroni, who died after a brain operation, was plagued by anorexia
nervosa and depression for most of her life. Such patients are often
zinc deficient, resulting in rapid loss of appetite and possible damage
to the intestinal cell wall affecting food absorption.
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