Dr. Oz: Can Food Affect the Mood?
Dr. Oz talked about how food can affect the mood. Dr. Oz talked to neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter about this issue. He said that we now know that 90 percent of serotonin, the happy chemical, is manufactured in the gut. The literature also shows that when the gut is leaky, inflammation rises and mood goes down. He said it’s important to improve the health of the gut by encouraging good bacteria with probiotics to reduce inflammation, reduce leakiness, and improve the mood.
Dr. Oz: Is Prescription Medication Always a Good Idea?
Dr. Oz talked about how food can affect your mood and how targeting the gut can improve your happiness level and treat depression. (altemark / flickr)
Dr. Perlmutter has also been outspoken about prescription medications. He said that there is definitely a time and a place for them and they have a lot of good uses, but living on antidepressants to treat depression is “treating the smoke and ignoring the fire”. He said we need to find ways to treat depression and other issues outside of meds.
Dr. Oz: Overcoming Depression With Diet
Dr. Oz then introduced Nikki, who suffers from depression and anxiety. She has dizziness, brain fog, and sometimes can’t even read. Specialists always gave her antidepressants, but she felt like that wasn’t right for her. Dr. Perlmutter offered her a new approach. He suggested targeting the health of her gut.
Nikki said this program created a transformation for her within a week’s time. Within six weeks of following his advice, she feels 100 percent better. She ate lots of prebiotic and probiotic foods and lots of organic fruits and vegetables.
Dr. Oz: Eat 2/3 Veggies and 1/3 Proteins
Dr. Perlmutter’s plan is a daily plan. The first step is to fill the plate with 2/3 veggies and 1/3 protein. He said the exact ratio isn’t critical, but that should be the ballpark. The veggies should be the main dish and the protein should be the side. Fill the plate with nutrient dense foods that are high in prebiotics.
For instance, for breakfast he might have avocado, kimchi, and eggs. For a lunch he might enjoy shredded beets, chicken salad, and greens. Finally for dinner, he might have halibut, capers, fermented cabbage, and some steamed dandelion greens.
Dr. Oz: Probiotic Sources
For sources of probiotics, you might eat things like lemon preserves, cultured sour cream, coconut kefir drink, and kimchi. Of course, the classical choice of Greek yogurt is also a good choice.
Dr. Oz: Eat Chocolate, Coffee, Tea & Wine
Dr. Perlmutter also says we should have a daily treat of either chocolate, coffee, tea, or red wine. These foods are rich in polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants that reduce free radicals. These help nurture the gut bacteria.
For more on this diet, check out Dr. Perlmutter’s new book Brain Maker.
Leave a Reply