Vermilion The Better Brain

I gained very useful information from this book and it was well written and easy to understand. One of the vitamins that are discussed in this book I decided to go ahead and try and it has been a great benefit to me. If you struggle with anxiety, depression, etc. and are someone who doesn't want to end up on anti-depressants, this would be a great read for you to see more natural ways you can try to overcome the challenges you are facing.

I am a Functional Medicine consultant. I understand food, nutrition and supplementation and their impact on health, in general, and mental health in particular. Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Rucklidge explain very complex concepts in easy-to-understand language.Major takeaways for me:Page 265, the graph showing the dose of Vitamin B12 in OTC supplements versus the amount in research supplements. I knew that therapeutic doses of nutrients are much higher than RDAs, but I didn't know how BIG that difference was!Single nutrient studies versus using multiple nutrients: This problem plaques supplementation studies in heart disease, cognitive health, and not only mental health. As the authors rightly pointed out, each nutrient addresses a different pathway. (image 2 above)Both the authors are very well respected researchers! I feel very confident about recommending multi nutrients because I know that it is based on serious research and not only patient testimonials. Drs Kaplan and Rucklidge don't make money selling supplements. I was shocked to find out about the resistance (hostility?) from psychiatrists. It is akin to accusing them of research misconduct, the worst kind of academic dishonesty!I am not anti-medication. I am trained in Western medicine. But I am against using prescription drugs as the first line of therapy for every mental health challenge. I urge my psychiatrist colleagues to look outside the prescription pad. Food is medicine! Nutrients have a therapeutic dose. The bare minimum is not enough for everyone. Eating "real" food versus "food-like substances" is a good place to start. But for many people, this is not enough.I have already recommended this book to my patients and psychiatrist colleagues. This is one of the best research-supported books published on addressing mental health challenges!

I am no doctor, health practitioner or dietician, only an interested lay person. I have been using the supplement mentioned in the book for a year now. It’s hard to tell if there were any positive effects. I do feel better but also did many other things to improve my health (running, meditation, modern trauma therapy). So in my case, the jury is still out there on whether or not the supplement works for me. My children used half a stik per day for around half a year. It did not improve anything for them (aggression, whining), nor did anything slide back when they discontinued taking the stiks.I was a bit surprised that two Drs made the following mistakes: Vitamin B12 is not only cyanocobalamin. There are other forms as well. Yes, choline and inositol have been classified as vitamins in the past, but aren’t today (position 700 in the kindle book). Also, the information on omega 3 in vegan diets desperately needs an update! What they say is wrong and can be falsified within minutes of googling. At one point they mention a lot more essential amino acids than there are (there are 20-22 in total, depending on the source, but only around 9 are essential; position 2659 in the kindle book). In their jobs, they should know these basic things that everyone can verify quickly.Position 3656 in the kindle book: I was shocked to read about their suggestion of the “thank you bite” technique - Please never ever do anything like that with your child. My children eat a very good diet with tons of vegetables. People comment on that on a regular basis. I never ever forced them to eat or even try anything! A like-minded friend had the same results with her two boys. Trust your child. As a healthy mammal, they will eat what their caretaker eats anyway. If you yourself enjoy eating vegetables like I do, children will copy that over time. No need to freak out when they reject certain single foods - we all do.

I had the privilege of hearing Bonnie Kaplan speak at a medical conference her humility and no nonsense approach to her craft runs through this book. The book is thorough, well researched and supported by extensive peer reviewed evidence. When we have special diets for diabetes, cancer and heart disease it seems obvious that we should also be eating for our mental health. The consequences of not doing so have huge personal and social implications. Doctors, social policy designers and governments should read this book. The cost saving to the exchequer of a properly fed public alone should swing the argument never mind the improved quality of life. A no brainer. This book fills a much needed gap and I am sure it will become a standard text.I just wish I could have a time machine and bring it to past friends. I feel it would make a huge difference.

Honestly, the research behind this book has helped me feel that life is worth living again. If you've struggled with depression or anxiety like I have (perhaps without even realising it?), the wisdom in this book is a great way to take back control of your mental health. My kids also benefit. I can see the change in their mood and focus almost immediately when they have the benefit of extra nutrients. Share this book with those you care about! None of us is immune from mental health challenges at one time or another and you can help change lives.