When most of us think of vitamins, we tend to concentrate on how they benefit us physically. They promote healthy muscles, help to fight infection and bolster immunity.
But, were you aware that they impact your mental well-being as well? That’s right. A diet lacking in crucial vitamins contributes to mental health problems. So if you’ve been feeling a little off recently, you should start by examining your diet. Here’s a more in-depth overview of the correlation between vitamin deficiencies and mental illnesses.
Effects of Vitamin Deficiencies on Mental Health
Nutritional deficiencies can negatively impact your mental wellness. In fact, several research studies have revealed that lacking these nutrients can lead to depression, anxiety as well as worsen symptoms of mental illnesses like bipolar and OCD.
It’s true that most psychiatric disorders stem from a combination of multiple factors, and that vitamins are just a small piece of the puzzle. However, we cannot ignore the fact that they play a role, no matter how small or big. Research to show this correlation is ongoing, but here are a couple of facts discovered so far:
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 plays a part in the formation of neurons- the cells that pull all the strings in the central nervous system (CNS). More importantly though, it regulates vital hormones that influence mood and stress. To be a little more specific, it regulates hormones such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.
Another role played by vitamin B12 is that of detoxification. This nutrient helps to break down homocysteine- one of the brain’s neurotoxins that leads to depression.
Vitamin B6
This nutrient has a strikingly similar function as vitamin B12. For instance, it’s responsible for the production of emotion-regulating hormones like dopamine, serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
It also keeps homocysteine’s levels under control. Extreme amounts of this amino acid increases the risk of depression. To prove this, researchers set out to examine the effect of vitamin B6 deficiency on depression. Based on the results, individuals with vitamin B6 deficiency were twice as likely to suffer from depression than those with sufficient nutrient levels.
This goes to show how important it is to take adequate amounts of vitamin B6, especially because it’s only available through our diet. Sources of vitamin B6 include salmon, milk, chicken liver, eggs and carrots.
Vitamin D
You probably know this nutrient as the “sunshine vitamin.” But what you don’t know is that it influences 1000+ genes responsible for controlling an individual’s mood and sleep.
In addition, it contributes to the synthesis of neurons. In fact, it regulates the production of the feel-good hormones- oxytocin and serotonin- which are found in the brain.
Vitamin D receptors are found throughout the body. And some of them are even found in parts that influence your mood, concentration, motivation and memory. Taking this into account, it’s no wonder vitamin D deficiency has been linked to anxiety and depression.
It’s safe to say that vitamins play an important part in boosting mental health. However, this doesn’t mean that you should overhaul your diet with vitamin supplements. It also doesn’t mean that taking vitamins is enough to cure a particular psychiatric disorder.
Rather, vitamins should be treated as an adjunctive treatment. In other words, you’ll still need to carry on with other forms of treatment; be it medication, talk therapy, herbal remedies and more. If you’re interested in high quality vitamins, use this link and code 466760 to access a 10% lifetime discount on one of the best brand of supplements, Pure Encapsulations. Pure Encapsulations has high quality, 3rd party tested supplements, that are not full of fillers or other junk.
