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The Better Brain

The Better Brain

How Nutrition Will Help You Overcome Anxiety, Depression, ADHD and Stress

Summary

The surprisingly dramatic role of nutrition in our mental health, and how diet and micronutrients can be used to help treat and prevent anxiety, depression, ADHD and other mental health disorders.

'The Better Brain is the first book that will tell you both how and why nutrients can be used to treat mental-health issues. We are scientists who've uncovered that many symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD and more are caused by suboptimal nutrition. We've been doing research and clinical studies on this crucial topic for decades, yet we have never published our findings for a general audience before. Following our lectures and Julia's TEDx Talk, we get asked questions all the time about our findings and why nutrients are so important for our brains. People want to know more. They're desperate for answers. This is our solution.'

Leading scientists Bonnie Kaplan and Julia Rucklidge have dedicated their careers to researching the role that diet and nutrition play in our mental health. Together they have published several hundred peer-reviewed studies - those from the last two decades reveal the healing power of nutrients and the surprising role they play in brain health.

In this paradigm-shifting book, Kaplan and Rucklidge share their groundbreaking research for the first time and explain how to feed your brain to stabilise your mood, stave off depression and make yourself more resilient to daily stress. The Better Brain also reveals the hidden causes of the rising rates of depression, from the nutrients in our soil to our reliance on processed food. It explains why a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, pulses, fish and olive oil is healthiest for your brain, and why some people benefit from supplementary minerals and vitamins added to such a diet. Complete with a nutritional plan and thirty delicious, mood-boosting recipes, this book will be a complete guide to a healthier, happier brain.

Reviews

  • Bonnie Kaplan and Julia Rucklidge have done groundbreaking research on how the right doses of proper nutrients can fix many mental health issues. With all the changes in agriculture and processing of food, our brains are not getting the nutrients they need to perform properly. Too often, we resort to expensive and dangerous medications to treat these problems when we could find the solutions in our kitchens (or at our farmer’s markets) and in the use of the right supplements.
    Andrew Weil, MD, Director of Andrew Weil University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, author of 8 Weeks to Optimum Health

About the authors

Julia J Rucklidge

JULIA J. RUCKLIDGE, PhD is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. She was named in the top 100 Most Influential Women in New Zealand in 2018. Her 2014 TEDx talk has been viewed over 1.5 million times.
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Bonnie J Kaplan

BONNIE J. KAPLAN, PhD is a Professor Emerita in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary in Canada. In 2019, she was awarded the prestigious Dr. Rogers Prize, a national award given every two years in Canada for research or clinical work in complementary, alternative, integrative health. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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