Inflammation and Mental Health [Part 2 of 9]

The American Diet Fuels Inflammation

Your diet is making you miserable. Nearly 60% of all Americans eat a diet that creates inflammation [1]. Research over the past two decades suggests that inflammation may very well be the source of many (if not most) cases of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

Inflammation affects all organs, including the brain. In fact, it can be argued that because of its lipid content, the brain is more susceptible to inflammation than other tissue.

The good news is that reducing inflammation often begins with something you can control—changing your diet. Click here to download the free Roadmap to Health and learn where to start.

What Mental Health Research Shows

Researchers found that high CRP levels made patients less responsive to treatment. High levels were also associated with cognitive impairment [2].
There is a strong correlation between C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α with depression and anxiety [3,4]. The authors of one study stated that lifestyle may be the culprit [3].
An increase in inflammatory markers is common in patients with anxiety disorders [5,6]. One review looked at patients with PTSD and found an increase in IL-6, TNF-alpha, and other inflammatory markers [7].

You don’t really need a chemistry lesson. CRP, IL-6, (TNF)-α, and “inflammatory markers” are simply the chemicals your body produces when inflammation is present. When they go up, the chances for developing depression or anxiety increase.

Homocysteine–A Source of Inflammation

Homocysteine: This is another inflammatory marker. It is inexpensive to test for, and high levels often suggest that you need more vitamin B₆, folate, or vitamin B₁₂. All three nutrients have been studied for their role in depression. Studies have shown that people with high homocysteine levels are up to twice as likely to experience depression compared with those whose levels are normal [10].

Homocysteine is important for another reason. High levels may also mean your brain is not getting enough usable folate (vitamin B₉). When that happens, it becomes more difficult for the brain to produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine [11].

Is There a Non-Drug Mental Health Solution?

Maybe we can accomplish what the drug therapy attempts: SSRIs and other drugs given for depression and anxiety work by increasing the availability of neurotransmitters, like serotonin, GABA, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Getting inflammation under control accomplishes the same thing.

How does inflammation interfere with brain chemistry? Illustrations in the next section will show how. Click to read part 3 and learn more.

Click to download the free PDF with all 9 parts.