Understanding minerals – body chemistry and mental health
From the book – Chapter 21: Body Chemistry and Mental Health
Minerals
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Magnesium: 300+ reactions, nerve function, muscle relaxation. Deficiency linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, migraines, cramps. Sources: greens, nuts, seeds, whole grains, dark chocolate. Forms: glycinate (calming), citrate, oxide (less absorbable).
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Zinc: immune and neurotransmitter function. Deficiency linked to depression, immunity, hair loss, taste changes. Sources: meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds, nuts.
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Iron: oxygen transport, energy, neurotransmitter synthesis. Anaemia: fatigue, depression, brain fog, pale skin, shortness of breath. Excess can be toxic. Get tested before supplementing.
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Selenium: antioxidant and thyroid function. Deficiency linked to depression, anxiety, thyroid problems. Sources: Brazil nuts, seafood, meat.
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Calcium: bone, nerve, muscle. Imbalance can affect mood, anxiety, muscle function. Sources: dairy, leafy greens, fortified foods.
Read the full chapter – Chapter 21: Body Chemistry and Mental Health
Stories from real life
- Tired, Low and Forgetful at Forty – Sunita Patil, forty-two, a school teacher in Kolhapur, had been feeling flat for most of a year. She was exhausted by lunchtime, felt cold when others…
- Kabir’s Skipped Meals – Kabir Sheikh, thirty-five, drove a delivery van in Hyderabad. His days ran on tea and biscuits, with a large meal late at night. Lately he had…
- Neha’s Tingling Fingers – Neha Verma, nineteen, was a first-year student living in a hostel in Delhi. She was a strict vegetarian and survived on instant noodles, tea and biscuits.…
Shloks
- Bhagavad Gita 17.8 – Foods that increase life, clarity, strength, health, happiness, and love—which are juicy, naturally oily, stable, and agreeable—are dear to the sattvic mind.
More on this topic: The brain, hormones and body chemistry behind your moods
More questions
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- What is true: thyroid hormone imbalances can cause…?
- What is true: blood sugar imbalances can affect…?
- What is true: vitamin D deficiency is linked to…?
- What is true: B vitamins (especially B12 and folate) are important for…?
- What is true: dehydration can cause…?
- What does Bhagavad Gita 17.8 mean for the mind?