NeuroPsych Nutrition

Zinc is a quiet powerhouse for brain health It plays a key role in mood regulation, immune function, and neurotransmitter support. From pumpkin seeds to oysters, these foods make it easier to nourish your mental health, one bite at a time. Which zinc-rich food is on your plate this week?

So heartbreaking 💔 We need integrated whole person care! Mental health = brain health. 🧠

Mia died on a children’s psychiatric ward in Sheffield in January 2024. She had been sectioned after what doctors described as an ‘acute psychotic episode’. Instead of asking what else might be happening in her brain and immune system that caused sudden onset of total behavioural and emotional change, plus many concerning physical symptoms, clinicians decided there was ‘no underlying physical cause’ and passed her on to mental health services.

We now know – because someone finally did the right tests after she died – that Mia had autoimmune encephalitis: a form of brain inflammation in which the immune system attacks the brain, causing dramatic neuropsychiatric symptoms including agitation, seizures and changes in personality and behaviour that are usually totally out of character. The coroner heard that if a lumbar puncture and further neurological investigations had been done before she was transferred to the Becton Centre, there was a chance her condition could have been identified and treated. The jury concluded that the failure to do that ‘possibly contributed’ to her death.

Mia’s mother, Chloe, says she believes her daughter was simply dismissed and pushed into mental health services as quickly as possible. I believe her. Totally. I think she is right.

And I know Mia is not an isolated case, because we have already watched this happen to other young women – including Lucy Dawson, who I had the privilege of talking to and writing about for my book in 2022, ‘Sexy But Psycho’.

Full article is now in my stories and on my blog.

Recall alert!

CHECK YOUR PANTRY: A salmonella outbreak has led to a nationwide recall of dietary supplement powders. Here's what to know: http://www.12news.com/article/news/nation-world/dietary-supplement-recalled-over-salmonella-concerns/507-4968cbd6-3a46-4cfd-a72e-3a651aa9a18e?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_12News

Are you guilty of sleeping next to your cell phone?

These devices put out invisible electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that interact with your body’s electrical fields in the brain, heart, and deep in the cells.

In addition to disrupting sleep, EMF exposure may play a role in:
-High blood pressure
-High pulse rate
-Decreased cognitive function (memory, focus, and concentration)
-Increased inflammation
-Mood changes
-Increased risk of stroke
-Increased risk of heart attack
-DNA damage

For this reason, it’s important to keep your cell phone and other devices away from your body whenever possible, especially while sleeping.

In honor of world breastfeeding week I thought this was too great not to share! ❤️ Nature’s first perfect food for baby.👶🏼😍

Happy World Breastfeeding week 🍈🍈 if b***s could give high-fives mine would give yours one. #worldbreastfeedingweek

Depression is essentially being in a state of chronic shutdown, a result of chronic dorsal vagal activation (one branch of our nervous system.) One of the best ways to upregulate your nervous system out of dorsal shutdown is through light active movement - like dancing, walking, exercising, etc.

Through 218 different studies with 14,170 participants, the researchers found that moderate reductions were made across the board with exercise, more so than simply prescribing participants with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Dancing stood at the top of the data charts in terms of the largest reductions in depression symptoms, while exercises like walking or jogging, yoga, and aerobic exercise with therapy were runners-up. In different demographics, the effects of exercises and standard treatment differed.

Schizophrenia in remission. No meds – just meat and fat.

After years of hospitalizations and failed treatments, one man put his schizophrenia into remission via carnivore ketogenic diet with guidance from a nutritional therapy practitioner.

🥩 2:1 fat-to-protein ratio
🧠 9 months of stable ketosis
💊 Off all psychiatric meds
✅ Complete remission confirmed

This is the first published case report of its kind, raising intriguing questions about the power of ketogenic metabolic therapy in complex psychiatric cases.

—

Newiss M. Case Report: Remission of schizophrenia using a carnivore ketogenic metabolic therapy with nutritional therapy practitioner support. Front. Nutr. 2025;12:1591937

📌 Link to study: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1591937

📌 Find more research summaries on our website: https://keto-mojo.com/research/

The 2025 study, “More Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend: Food Sensitivity and Dietary Correlates of Sleep and Dreaming” (PMID: 38975901), published in Frontiers in Psychology, surveyed 1,082 students at MacEwan University and uncovered significant links between lactose intolerance, dairy consumption, and various sleep disturbances beyond just nightmares. The findings showed that lactose intolerance is associated with not only increased nightmare frequency and severity but also poorer overall sleep quality, reduced dream recall, and disrupted sleep patterns, likely due to gastrointestinal discomfort (e.g., bloating, cramping, gas) from dairy affecting REM sleep and dream states. About 40% of participants believed specific foods, especially dairy (22%), worsened sleep, while unhealthy eating habits, like late-night snacking, were tied to negative dream content and lower sleep quality. Women reported more food intolerances, poorer sleep, and higher nightmare frequency than men. To improve sleep: 
• Try Grass-Fed Raw Dairy: Raw dairy from grass-fed cows may retain enzymes that aid digestion for some, potentially reducing sleep disruptions. Source from trusted suppliers. 
• Explore A2 Milk: A2 milk, free of A1 beta-casein, may be easier to digest for lactose-sensitive individuals, potentially improving sleep quality. 
• Consider Goat or Sheep Milk: These contain less lactose and different proteins, possibly causing fewer sleep-disrupting digestive issues. 
• Choose Coconut Milk: A lactose-free, plant-based alternative, coconut milk is ideal for bedtime drinks or recipes to avoid sleep disturbances. 
• Support Gut Health: Non-dairy fermented foods like coconut yogurt can enhance gut microbiota, potentially improving sleep via the gut-brain axis. 
 
I’ve talked about this topic at length on my podcast, The Art of Being Well and in articles on drwillcole.com.  
 
There is a lot of bio-individuality when it comes to food sensitivities of all kinds. Labs and tailored protocols can help these issues remarkably . Link in bio for how my telehealth team and I work with people around the world.  
     
       
       
       
          

The caffeine spectrum ☕️

Sardines are a nutritional powerhouse!

Canned sardines have a Nutrivore Score of 654, making them a high nutrient-dense food!

Per 4-ounce serving, canned sardines deliver 452% DV of EPA and DHA (long-chain omega-3 fatty acids), 428% DV vitamin B12 (cobalamin), 110% DV selenium, 92% DV vitamin B7 (biotin) ,
45% DV phosphorus, 38% DV vitamin B3 ​​(niacin), 34% DV calcium, 28% DV vitamin D, 24% DV copper, 24% DV linoleic acid, 20% DV vitamin B2 (riboflavin), 22% DV monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 20% DV alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), 19% DV each of iodine and iron, 16% DV each of choline and vitamin E, 15% DV vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), 14% DV zinc, 11% DV each of vitamin B6 and magnesium, and 10% DV potassium. Plus 28.3 grams of protein, 69.0 mg of taurine and 1.4 mg of coQ10, all for just 239 calories!

All this makes sardines the perfect addition to your salad! Does my Spicy Sardine
Salad look tasty? Then join the Nutrivore Salad-a-Day Challenge!

In the Nutrivore Salad-a-Day Challenge e-book, you will find 50+ recipes, like my Spicy Sardine Salad, including over 30 of my favorite salads, plus delicious dressings and tasty toppers. Also included is a collection of 10 handy visual guides and food lists, like my Nutrivore Salad Matrix.

On a tight budget? No worries, there is an 8-part email series that is also packed full of helpful guides and super simple recipes to make this challenge easy!

Get the e-book: https://nutrivore.com/product/nutrivore-salad-challenge/
Get the emails: https://nutrivore.com/salad-challenge/