Prison Study to Investigate Link between Junk Food And Violence
The Independent – London
01-30-08
Some of Britain’s most challenging young prisoners are to be given food supplements in a study aimed at curbing violent behaviour.
Scientists from Oxford University say the effect of nutrition on behaviour has been underestimated. They say increases in consumption of “junk” food over the past 50 years have contributed to a rise in violence.
The university will lead the 1.4m study in which 1,000 males aged 16 to 21 from three young offenders’ institutions in England and Scotland will be randomly allocated either the vitamin-and-mineral supplements or a placebo, and followed over 12 months.
In a pilot study of 231 prisoners by the same researchers, published in 2002, violent incidents while in custody were cut by a more than a third among those given the supplements. Overall, offences recorded by the prison authorities fell by a quarter.
John Stein, professor of physiology at Oxford University, said: “If you could extrapolate from those results you would see a reduction of a quarter to a third in violent offences in prison. You could reduce violent offences in the community by a third. That would have a huge economic benefit.”
“Our initial findings indicated that improving what people eat could lead them to behave more sociably as well as improving their health. This is not an area currently considered in standards of dietary adequacy. We are not saying nutrition is the only influence on behaviour but we seem to have seriously underestimated its importance.”
Mark Walport, head of the Wellcome Trust, which is funding the three-year study, said: “If this study shows that nutritional supplementation affects behaviour it could have profound significance for nutritional guidelines, not only within the criminal justice system but in the wider community – in schools, for example. We are all used to nutritional guidelines for our physical health but this study could lead to revisions taking account of our mental health.”
The theory behind the trial is that when the brain is starved of essential nutrients, especially omega-3 fatty acids, which are a central building block of brain neurons, it loses “flexibility”. This shortens attention spans and undermines self-control. Even though prison food is nutritious, prisoners tend to make unhealthy choices and need supplements, the researchers say.
Bernard Gesch, a senior scientist in the department of physiology and head of Natural Justice, a charity that investigates the causes of offending, said prisoners would be given the supplement with 100 per cent of the recommended daily amount of more than 30 vitamins and minerals plus three fish-oil capsules on top of their normal diet.
“We are trying to rehabilitate the brain to criminal justice. The law assumes crime is a matter of free will. But you can’t exercise free will without involving your brain and the brain can’t function properly without an adequate nutrient supply. It may have an important influence on behaviour.”
“This is a positive approach to preventing the problems of antisocial and criminal behaviour. It is simple, it seems to be highly effective and the only “risk” from a better diet is better health. It is a rare win-win situation in criminal justice.”
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14 Comments
This is the first step towards a new world of rehabilitation. Every one that comes in contact with the judicial system should have an automatic spect scan to rule out brain deformities and then an intensive compulsory three months of healthy eating, living and supplements to max that individual’s ability to cope in society.
They are inroads everywhere and I’m looking forward to that 51st monkey that tips the balance to reconstructive rehabilation from the vengence that controls the system now.
Merle Peer
we really should try to help those with violent tendencies in any way we can.
I have read so much of Dr. Amen’s work. I have cured my own depression, after losing my son, from the help of Dr. Amen and Joan Larson’s books. I believe in the Orthomolecular approach. I’ve just written my own book, as well, from a layman’s point of view. Having said that, I wonder if the people that really need this help would ever be disciplined enough to seek and follow up consistently in order to reap the benefits. Our SAD (standard american diets) are only going to cause more and more problems if people don’t start taking control of their own health. Even the closest people around me won’t take charge, knowing how it has changed my life.
It’s wonderful to hear about the baby step progress to mental health issues by the psychiatric and medical community. I wonder what would happen if they did a simple study where they gave their subjects whole, nutrient dense foods and exercise? Funny how you don’t see that kind of program anywhere around. It’s simple, inexpensive and easy to measure. Perhaps the scientists managing those studies need to examine their brain function for symetrical activity.
Thanks to Dr. Amen for encouraging a kind of back-to-basics therapy.
I used to say if more boys knew how to cook a potatoe then ther would be fewer men in prison.I now beleive that the most advanced education in basic nutician/health which it is practically possible to make a part of general education should be available for all.Sytematic exploitation of mass populations leading to malnutrician and desperate disturbed mindsets of individuals is a basic crime against humaneity.So thank you for bringing this matter to general community attention.I dont have an advaced education but have found the works of dr emen and associates to be enligtening and refreshing.The application of such advanced humane scientific methods is I feel of the utmost importance for individuals and society as a whole.The sooner that such are methods are embraced by as many as possible the better.TELL A FREIND…SMILE
I love the last line…the only risk is better health…it is a win/win.
I can’t imagine how prison food could be considered “nutritious”. Most “food” is “food products” and not healthy. The amount of chemicals and additives in food, food being grown in depleted soil, picked too soon and exposed too long can not be nutritious.
I agree with Liz who suggests whole dense food and exercise. And wouldn’t it be useful to do elimination diets as well to see if the inmates are food sensitive?
Thank you Dr. Amen for sharing this info. There is hope!
I’m really glad that this nutrient/mental health equation is getting some press.
I was homeless for one and a half years in the Santa Monica, CA area and discovered that most homeless shelters serve food of negligable nutritional value and full of trans fats, gluten, additives and simple carbs. How are the homeless, especially the mentally ill homeless, ever going to pull themselves back into productive society eating that stuff? Another problem is that the psychiatric services available to them leave a lot to be desired. An appointment might last five minutes and a prescription is always written. Once in the shelter system, if they’ve been prescribed a medication, they MUST take it, in order to stay at the shelter. No other tests are taken. Nutrients are never mentioned. I saw so many doped up, listless homeless folk, stumbling through their shelter stay only to return again after the required wait for re-entry. I believe that this heartbreaking cycle CAN BE BROKEN!
I have started a non-profit called, “Spirit of the Healing Heart” Here is the mission statement:
“Spirit of the Healing Heart will provide the homeless population of Greater Prescott, Arizona, environmentally safe transitional housing, high quality unprocessed food, comprehensive medical testing, primarily non-drug treatment, a variety of explorational and inspirational activities and work training to reignite in them health, hope and a passionate sense of personal purpose so that they can become self-sufficient and contributing members of society.”
Once established, I would love to invite you, Dr. Amen to open an Amen Clinic on site!
In addition to supplements we can also train the brain directly. I have been doing EEG Neurofeedback to stabilize the brains of kids with conduct disorders. It has been amazing to me, to the kids, and to their parents how fast it works.
Most of these children and adolescents don’t want to be “bad.” But as studies with fMRIs at the U of Illinois at Chicago have shown, the brains of persons with Bipolar Disorder, or Severe Mood Dysregulation, process new and unexpected information via a thalamo limbic pathway, rather than thalamo cortically. This means that the person is often overwhelmed by alarm responses that lead to highly emotional and extreme responses. I explain to my clients that their brain gets hijacked. Many respond that this is exactly how it feels when they lose control. Once they understand what is going on inside their brain, they are ready to work to change their brain.
what are the suplements
I am interested in the response by Hanno Kirk, but do not know how to reach this person. Has there been any work, success with chldren who were exposed during pregnancy to drugs such as meth?
Is there a way to ask this person, Hanno Kirk, to get ahold of me or how to get ahold of them.
Trying to help children exposed to this substance is very difficult as they can present looking like they have adhd or odd, but do not respond to the traditional treatments.
I have taken my son to the amen clinic and now have him on the recommended supplements. I know that they make a remarkable difference!!! We can even see it within the hour of taking them!
My brother is a repeat offender with drugs and I can’t seem to convince my family that he needs a brain scan to figure out what supplements he needs!! He has been on depression meds and because of insurance reasons, they were covered anymore so he quits- goes back to using and most of the time lands back in jail for theft/drugs, etc. If you ever need “people” to be a part of the study so they do not land back in the system, PLEASE let me know so I can get my brother to you!!!!!! All of us, including him, are tired of this cycle!! He needs to see his brain function and what he needs to do about it!!!!!!
I live with proof everyday that nutrition and supplements work in calming anger!!!!!!!
A large majority of jail birds have ADHD that got them into trouble in the first place. Part of untreated ADHD is certainly lack of impulse control and excessive tempermental behaviour. If their ADHD was recognised in the first place and treated effectively, they might not be in jail. I wonder how many of them actually are recognised when in jail as havig ADHD and in need of correct medical treatment? Reognisig their problem and treating it in jail would certainly reduce violenced. The research on supliments to prisioners to reduce violence was done in England where many if not most adults cannot be diagnosed as having ADHD as so many doctors do not believe ADHD is a condition and certainly frown on the concept of an adult ADHD!
(1) VIOLENCE and IV
Inasmuch as violence might be due to residual chemical medications in the brain, I have found out that IV (1000cc of normal serum –water with NaCl) was doing a great job.
This discovery happened while in Arizona and my son had been given an antibiotic via IV that made him violent to the point he was asking for help explicitely. An IV ”washed his brain clean” of the violence — we assume also of the antibiotic that had gone to his brain through the first IV.
Another time he had been given to breathe Lavander in an Aromatherapy treatment of his nervosity — that made him even more nervous (we did not know that Lavander is OK for any anxiety except for people with local epilepsy).
Again an IV calmed him down — and we assume removed the molecules of Lavander that might have been still present in the brain.
I wonder if such a cheap and non-invasive washing of the brain could be tried on young people in jail?
(2) COD LIVER OIL as Supplement to the brain:
Also as supplements I would strongly suggest ”Cod Liver Oil” that used to be the normal daily diet for all children both in the USA and Europe who were doing very well with it.
Suddenly about 50 years ago, without any counter-indication that I know of, it was removed from the children daily diet.
I wonder if there is not a direct link between Cod Liver Oil missing in the daily diet of children and the increase of ADD and ADHD in the same children?
You know, this isn’t always true. I was taking Omega-3’s for several days in a row. I got so amped up from them that my wife and I ended up splitting up which was completely outside the realm of thought for us. I was mad at her and she was uncaring towards me.
I think you have to be really careful with supplements. Even on St. John’s Wort, I can’t take that everyday, it can mess me up after too many days in a row.
GABA – another great supplement – helps in someways – but in others, or too much of it too many days in a row is not good. Or if I take them to close together time wise – I get like glazed eyes and I come off all stilted.
They can, however, be very good, if taken in moderation.
That’s my $.02, if you want to discuss in an open forum we have one available.
Just click on my name above and you’ll be there!!