Nutrition and Behavior (video and commentary)

The problem with people is their behavior. If they acted better we would like them better. The real problem isn't the behavior itself, the problem is what is controlling behavior and that is nutrition. The brain is most easily influenced by the nutritional status of a person and of course the brain controls behavior. Good nutrition means good behavior, bad nutrition equals bad behavior. The devil knew that, that's why he got Adam to eat wrong, so he would act wrong. Want right actions? Eat right. This is a very informative video. Enjoy it.

Nutrition and Behavior
Dr Russell Blaylock – Nutrition and Behavior


Tags: ADHD, Alcoholism, Alzheimer's disease, Anti-depressants, Aspartame, Crime, Criminal Behavior, Depression, Diabetes, dopamine, Dr Russell Blaylock, Free Radicals, Health, Health Food, Hyperactive, Hyperactivity, Hypoglycemia, Hypoglycemic, Junk Food, Lou Gehrig's Disease, Metabolism, MSG, Neurotransmitters, Nutrition, Obesity, Parkinson's Disease, Russell Blaylock, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenic, Serotonine, SSRI, Sugar Rush, Suicide, Suididal Thoughts









This blog offers background and supportive material to the topics raised in the video above. References are normally either put in place or added as footnotes, in case of controversy, I’ve added references in place as well as a footnote. The sources of the pictures not extracted from Blaylock’s lecture are accessible by clicking. All references present in this blog were added by me that were not explicitly supplied with the Blaylock video. My own occasional commentary will be given between square brackets, [like so].



Nutrition and Genes

Nutrition controls what genes are operative or not. Mothers help determine the character of the life of children already in the womb, depending on the quality of the food this can go either in a good direction or bad direction.[1][2]



Nutrition as fuel for the brain





The nervous system is the most metabolically active organ in the body. It’s metabolism never ceases.

Because of its high metabolism, the brain produces a lot of free radicals and lipid peroxidation generation. Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer, Parkinson, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, etc…) are characterized by high free radical generation, high lipid peroxidation.

The brain consumes 20% of all oxygen in the blood, 25% of all the glucose in the blood while being only 2% of the body weight. [this article even claims 60%]

Every component of the brain is constantly being replaced. Some lipids are replaced weekly.

Nutrition and behavior

1910 – George M Gould, MD, first mentioned connection between diet and behavior.

1935 – recognized that hypoglycemia could imitate anxiety neurosis, hysteria, neurasthenia, and even psychosis.

1973 – Dr Wendel and Beeb found 74% incidence of hypoglycemia with anxiety associated with schizophrenia.[3]





Hyperactivity-Behavior Connection

60% of members of families with hyperactive children have diabetes, obesity or alcoholism…. all sugar consumption problems.

75% of prisoners were hyperactive as children [both sources give numbers of 50% though]

How excessive sugar consumption triggers hyperactivity [4]:



Crime and Nutrition

Probation Violations: 56% while on a bad diet (junk food, lots of sugar); 8% while on a healthy diet

In particular, probation violation by using narcotics. 47% while on a bad diet; 13% on healthy diet

Dramatic reduction in suicides with improved diet

Alabama Prison systems, change of diet:

42% reduction in criminal events

61% reduction in antisocial behavior at one year

Case of Raymond who attempted murder of girlfriend

Age 4 -spells of weakness so mother gives him a bit of sugar

Age 13 – radical mood swings, his grades begin to fail

Age 23 – attempts murder

Diet: junk foods, donuts, pastries, candy and coffee

After diet change – no further criminal activity

Study of prison systems in 5 states

Adult felons had deficiencies of Mg, Zn, folate or B6

Violent offenders had 5 – 9 deficiencies in all 5 states. “The more violent the more deficient.”

Oklahoma Children’s Center

Change of diet resulted in 43% reduction in serious crime. Elimination of high fat and sucrose in diet.

Brain Wave abnormalities (EEG) in felons

Went from 14 to 2 abnormalities in those with serious offenses through supplementation

In one child went from 6 to 0 abnormalities by giving a vitamin

Even marginal deficiencies could cause criminal behavior to surface.





Selenium and Behavior

Deficiencies cause depression and confusion [preconceptual care]

High selenium supplementation (227 ug/d) saw significant improvement in mood.

Major role in brain function





Sugar Consumption and Behavior

1900 Americans consumed 4 pounds of sugar a year

Now 129 pounds a year, 2500% increase [actually in 1999 it was already at 159 pounds a year]

57% of this comes from processed foods

Leading source is fruit juices and sodas (43%)

Since 1974 consumption of sodas has doubled

Teenagers are drinking an equivalent of 54 teaspoons of sugar a day (nutritionists say not more than 10 teaspoons a day)

Adults age 40-59 increased intake of soft drinks 250% between 1972 and 2001

Over age 60+ increased 300%

Sugar makes the body age faster. People with a high calorie diet have more Altheimer’s disease than normal people.

Estimated that 50% of people have reactive hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia and Aggression





Strong connection between alcohol abuse, hypoglycemia and criminal behavior

97% of alcoholics are hypoglycemic vs 18% of controls are hypoglycemic

When hypoglycemia is treated:

71% attain sobriety

25% for Alcoholics Anonymous

Associated with aggression, especially those with temporal lobe dysfunction.

Indians of Peru – 55% hypoglycemia and aggression very high

Aspartame and MSG both stimulate insulin release from the pancreas and induce hypoglycemia and thus stimulates actual weight-gain.

MSG induces intense rage with micro-injections into the hypothalamus

In presence of hypoglycemia, MSG induced excito-toxicity is greatly magnified

Several amino-acids can make you hypoglycemic: taurine, glutamine, isoleucine, leucine… the latter kind kills babies (sudden death) and it can kill adults





Research

Virkkunen 1983 Study of violent offenders in prison

In impulsive violent offenders, blood sugar fell suddenly and rose quickly after a glucose challenge

Antisocial offender had a fall in blood sugar that was slow to rise

Ron Prinz University of Florida 1980

First to study effects of sugar in children

Children ate 40% of calories as sugar

The highest consumers of sugar (top 25%) demonstrated significantly poorer measures on attentiveness (hyperactive)

Jane Goldman at the University of Connecticut 1986

Giving sugar equal to one coke; decline in mental performance by 30 minutes and highly significant at 1 hour (2x as many mistakes)

Harmful effect subsided at 1.5 hours

Judith Wurtman found a strong correlation between sugar intake, behavior and brain serotonin levels

Can create killer mice by lowering brain serotonin

Dr Ralph Bolton studied the Quolla Indians in Andes of Peru, known to be very aggressive. Found that:

55% of male population were hypoglycemic

Main diet was mostly potatoes (a very powerful hyoglycemic)

Docile males had a normal blood sugar

Egger and Carter (1985) studied 76 hyperactive children who were placed on a low carbohydrate diet, which also eliminated food dyes

82% of the children improved on diet and 28% returned to normal

Highest reaction:

Yellow dye #5 (tartrazine)

Sodium benzoate

Most common reactive foods:

Soybeans 73%

Cow’s milk 64%

Chocolate 59%

College Male study Benton 1982

Screened for psychiatric history, drug use and medical conditions

Given questionnaire on aggressive behavior, hostility, anger and aggressive acts

Strong relationship between aggressive answers and hypoglycemia





Nutrients and Behavior: Amino Acids

Tryptophan (precursor to neurotransmitter serotonin)

Low tryptophan intake leads to depression, aggressive behavior and suicide

Corn is very low in tryptophan (corn flakes, cornstarch, corn flour etc…)

Tyrosine (precursor to epinephrine, norepinephrine (attention) and dopamine (motivation))

Low levels associated with depression and sensitivity to stress





Nutrients and Behavior: Vitamins

Niacin (vitamin B3)

Forms nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)

Pellegra-psychiatric symptoms common; 4 D’s: diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia and death

Subclinical deficiency described in 1938 – very common

Niacin-responsive schizophrenia [Counter-indication]

Vitamin C,D,E,K,A,B and carotenoids

All associated with behavioral manifestations when deficient, either in combination or alone

B1 deficiency: Beri-Beri

Insomnia, depression, memory failure, chronic fatigue and personality change

National Nutritional Survey of Adolescents

60% deficient in iron

57% in vitamin A

43% in vitamin C

39% in B1

30% in protein

16% in riboflavin

Research in Children

Study of 1.1 million NY Public school children found a daily multivitamin significantly increased CAT scores when sugar was also removed from diet





In the first three bars no dietary changes were implemented. In the first yellow bar, sugar was removed and some of the food dyes. The next bar, some more food dyes were removed. The next year no dietary changes were effected and the last year even more food additives were removed. The CAT scores improved dramatically with the removal of sugar and food additives.



Research in Adults

Tucker et al 1990, found that deficiencies in thiamin and riboflavin impaired neuropsychological performance and altered EEG patterns in a significant number of adults

Study of 260 adults age 60+ found association with status of vitamin C, riboflavin, B12, folic acid and concept learning

Carotene showed a stronger correlation than vitamin A





Brain Allergies

Food allergies associated with neurological effects

Immune factors interact with the brain

Food-triggered immune reactions: Lethargy, stupor, disorientation, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, agitation, rage, panic attacks, criminal behavior and even seizures

Schizophrenia:

88% allergic to wheat

60% to milk

50% to corn

100% to gliadin or gluten

put on a gluten free diet almost all schizophreniacs returned to normal

Food allergies often result in craving for the food causing the allergy

Food allergies and hypoglycemia are linked (adrenal effect) [5]

Leading foods for allergy

Milk (juvenile offenders drank more milk)

Wheat

Corn

Coffee

Eggs

Potato

Peanuts

Soy





Research Showing a Connection Between Nutritional Status and Brain Function

Animals fed lard (animal fat) had impaired spatial learning, temporal memory

Newer studies found impaired ability to learn and remember with saturated animal fats

Omega-3 fats improved depression, memory retention and thinking (brain uses much omega-3 fats for its membrane)

Animal fat absorb pesticides, industrial chemicals and herbicides

DHA and arachidonic acid (omega 3 fats) in baby formulas to improve infant brain quality

Low level of DHA in neurons correlated with violent behavior

MSG injected into hypothalamus or amygdala could produce rage

Lead is known to significantly increase violent behavior, suicide and juvenile delinquency



“N-3″ and “N-6″ stand for Omega-6 fatty acids (bad) and Omega-3 fatty acids (good), respectively.



References and Further Reading:



Symposium Introduction: Nutrition and Gene Regulation

Gene-nutrient interactions during fetal development

W. Wendel and W. Beebe, ‘Glycolytic activity in schizophrenia’, In Orthomol Psychiatry, treatment of schizophrenia, Eds. Hawkins D & Pauling L. (1973)

There seems to be some controversy on this topic. Read a scope of literature available on the Internet through Google, here.

Hypoglycemia