What’s keeping you awake night after night? Do you go to bed utterly exhausted and ready for rest, only to have your brain betray you with racing thoughts and restless energy?
You could be battling subtle “sleep stealers” disguised as your everyday habits.
From environmental traps like blue light to lifestyle habits like irregular schedules and late-night snacking, these culprits quietly rob your brain and body of the deep, refreshing rest they need to recharge.
Mastering how to improve sleep quality starts with looking beyond the obvious and uncovering these hidden disruptors.
The good news? You don’t have to depend on sleeping pills to overcome your sleep problems. There are many natural sleep strategies that can help you get the rest you (and your brain) need. And better sleep leads to better energy, mental health, and cognitive function. Yes, you can feel smarter, happier, and more focused overnight!
From environmental traps like blue light to lifestyle habits like irregular schedules and late-night snacking, these culprits quietly rob your brain and body of the deep, refreshing rest they need to recharge.
Temperature and light directly influence how much melatonin your brain produces. That’s critical, because melatonin is the hormone that helps regulate sleep.
Research suggests that being in an overly warm room can prevent your body temperature from dropping naturally, making it difficult for you to drift off. Likewise, a bright room signals daytime, which suppresses melatonin and keeps you alert.
Learning how to improve sleep quality doesn’t have to be complicated. A cool room (ideally between 60–67°F) makes it easier for your body to lower its core temperature. That’s a natural signal that it’s time for you to sleep.
Again, darkness is just as important. It can boost the production of melatonin and strengthen your brain’s internal clock.
Part of mastering how to improve sleep quality is recognizing that screens capture your attention. In addition, screens and other visible cues can keep your brain in alert mode without you even noticing.
Blue light from TVs, phones, and tablets suppresses melatonin, making it hard for your brain to signal your body to sleep. Digital light also engages parts of the brain that control emotions and stress hormones.
With that in mind, here are some tips to help you reduce blue light at night:
Related: Why You Need a Brain Detox Now (and 7 Ways to Do It)
Feelings of anger, worry, and stress do not simply fade when you switch off the lights. They can keep your nervous system on high alert, causing your mind to linger on the unresolved tension.
Such emotions activate the same stress circuits responsible for keeping you awake and alert during the day. It’s not surprising that this directly interferes with your ability to rest at night.
When stress follows you to bed, your body releases cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Research shows that high levels of cortisol delay the onset of the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and deep sleep.
These are the very stages needed for your brain to consolidate memories, create emotional balance, and allow full body repair.
In such a case, your brain stays in the lighter stages of sleep instead of entering the slow wave cycles. It leaves you restless and prone to waking up throughout the night.
Studies show that even if you may fall asleep after drinking late-night coffee or a glass of wine, your brain may not be getting the restorative rest it requires. Consuming substances in the evening can interfere with your sleep cycles, leaving you restless, groggy, or wide awake in the middle of the night.
If you want to know how to improve sleep quality, you need to understand why some substances lead to trouble sleeping. Here are common sleep stealers.
Alcohol may make you feel drowsy at first, but then it fragments REM sleep, the most important stage for mood balance, memory, and emotional processing. It can cause you to have shallow, disrupted rest.
It’s a stimulant that blocks adenosine, the chemical in your brain responsible for signaling your body’s natural urge to sleep. Again, even if you take it in the afternoon, coffee can stay in your system for six to eight hours.
Prescriptions like steroids, decongestants, and some antidepressants can alter your sleep architecture, making it harder for you to fall asleep and reach the deeper stages of rest.
Timing matters. Research suggests avoiding alcohol at least three to four hours before bedtime and cutting caffeine by 2 p.m. to protect the quality of your sleep. Instead of alcohol and evening caffeine, you can try calming herbal teas
If you suspect medications may be disrupting your sleep, talk to your health care provider about alternative dosing times or other medication options.
Beyond daily habits and stress, certain physical conditions or an underlying sleep disorder can also interfere with your sleep. Sleep apnea, snoring, acid reflux, or an uncomfortable mattress can trigger brief awakenings (micro-arousals) that fragment your sleep cycle without you even noticing it.
Such interruptions prevent you from reaching the deeper stages of rest, and as a result, they leave you tired despite spending enough hours in bed. You may also have postural issues like sleeping on your back, which can worsen airway blockage, increasing the likelihood of disrupted breathing at night.
Try making simple changes in your sleeping posture and environment to ease the interruptions. For instance, side sleeping can help to keep the airway open, which can reduce both sleep apnea and snoring symptoms.
You can also use a supportive pillow to align your neck and head. It can lessen nighttime discomfort and further improve your airflow.
Embrace specific lifestyle strategies such as avoiding alcohol close to bedtime, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping your nasal passages clear to promote deeper breathing and deep restorative sleep.
You need a well-structured evening routine to help you prime both your body and brain for uninterrupted rest.
Align your mindset, habits, and environment so you can reduce stimulation and signal to your nervous system that it’s time to wind down. If you take small, intentional steps consistently, you can make a major difference.
Studies show that ideally, a sleep-supportive routine should start about two hours before bedtime. It will train your brain to associate these cues with rest and make it easier for you to fall and stay asleep. Below is a sample flow you can consider adapting:
To reduce mental stimulation and blue light exposure, power down tablets, phones, and laptops.
Adjust the temperatures of your room, dim the lights, and make your bedroom as inviting as possible.
Avoid heavy or sugary foods. Instead, choose a magnesium-rich snack if you need to bite into something to.
Read a physical book, stretch gently, journal, or meditate to help shift your brain into a relaxed state.
Aim to have a regular bedtime and wake-up schedule to regulate your circadian rhythm.
At Amen Clinics, we go beyond surface-level sleep advice. Our specialists focus on the command center of sleep—the brain—to uncover the root causes of disrupted rest.
We use advanced brain imaging and tailored protocols to create solutions that go beyond medication. Our personalized strategies are designed to help you relax, recharge, and wake up refreshed.
Brain SPECT imaging allows clinicians to see blood flow and activity patterns in the brain. It reveals areas that are underactive, overactive, or misfiring. For instance, an overactive limbic system can be an indicator that anxiety or chronic stress may be keeping you awake.
Combined with comprehensive neuro-evaluations that assess mood, cognition, and lifestyle factors, Amen Clinics can unearth stress patterns and brain circuit dysfunctions that typical sleep advice often misses. With this level of insight, our clinicians are able to provide precise and personalized treatment plans.
Patients who follow our integrated brain-based sleep protocols often experience remarkable improvements in the quality and quantity of their rest. Many enjoy longer and more restorative sleep with fewer awakenings and deeper slow wave and REM stages.
Our patients also notice significant improvement in morning clarity, focus, mood, and energy. This gives them that “get up and go” feeling and allows them to stay more alert and mentally sharp throughout the day.
Brain fog and daytime fatigue also decrease as the brain and body receive proper restoration. In many cases, patients get to eliminate or reduce reliance on medications.
At Amen Clinics, we provide personalized, science-backed treatment plans designed to target the root causes of your symptoms. Our 360-approach includes brain SPECT imaging, clinical evaluations, innovative therapeutic techniques, medications (when necessary), and holistic lifestyle recommendations to promote the health of your brain, body, and mind.
Speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
Why do some people seem to bounce back from loss while others carry the same pain for years, unable to move forward?
It has nothing to do with willpower.
Most people don’t realize that grief and trauma aren’t just emotional wounds. They are experiences that leave lasting imprints on the brain.
Whether you’ve lost someone you loved or faced the shock of a life-threatening event, these encounters can alter your brain activity and leave you feeling stuck in a constant state of despair.
Trauma and grief can be mistaken for other mental health conditions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, ADHD, and depression. They can also mimic symptoms seen in people with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Understanding all underlying issues is key to getting the most effective treatment.
At Amen Clinics, we use advanced brain SPECT imaging to identify brain patterns to ensure an accurate diagnosis. We then create personalized, brain-based treatment plans to address the root cause and not just the symptoms, and to help you move forward with clarity and hope.
Whether you’ve lost someone you loved or faced the shock of a life-threatening event, these encounters can alter your brain activity and leave you feeling stuck in a constant state of despair.
Trauma, grief, and loss can leave you with a host of uncomfortable symptoms, such as:
Because these symptoms are similar to those seen in other mental health issues, it’s not uncommon for people suffering from grief and trauma to be misdiagnosed.
Even the most skilled clinicians can have challenges trying to distinguish grief and trauma from other conditions like PTSD and depression. According to research, your brain’s response to deep emotional pain can mimic such disorders, making misdiagnosis common.
Small stressors may seem minor while they are happening on their own. However, as they happen repeated
Misdiagnosis can lead to interventions that don’t target the real problem. For example, a grieving individual may be prescribed antidepressants that don’t address changes in the brain that are trauma-related. That can leave symptoms like irritability, anxiety, or memory problems unresolved.
Because deep loss and emotional trauma can make it hard to focus and pay attention, it can sometimes be misdiagnosed as ADHD. Giving someone who’s struggling with past trauma stimulant medication for ADHD may actually make their symptoms worse.
In such cases, the wrong treatment can prolong suffering and cause frustration and hopelessness. It can slow down the recovery process and make it more complicated.
ly, their effects compound, a process known as allostatic load.
This term, according to research, describes the wear and tear that your brain and body go through when your stress response is constantly activated without enough time to reset.
Understanding how these micro-stressors accumulate is the first step towards protecting your brain resilience and restoring emotional balance.
Think of it like drops of water falling on a rock. One drop cannot change much, but over time, those drops may wear down the rock. In the same way, microtraumas subtly reshape how your brain manages attention and emotion.
Your brain’s alarm system stays partially activated, where it floods your body with the hormone cortisol. As a result, you remain in a constant state of alert. As the quiet buildup continues, it becomes harder for you to focus, relax, and bounce back after moments of stress.
You can’t completely avoid life’s small stressors. Neither can you prevent them from happening. But you have the power to condition your brain and body to adapt and recover more effectively.
Resilience has nothing to do with brushing off
Without seeing what’s really happening inside the brain, mental health professionals are left guessing what might be causing a person’s problems. Studies have shown that clinicians can mistake PTSD for anxiety, effects of mild traumatic brain injury for emotional instability, and grief for depression.
SPECT imaging measures blood flow and activity patterns in the brain to reveal which areas are underactive, overactive, or damaged. With these added insights, clinicians can better determine whether symptoms are rooted in PTSD, unresolved grief, or traumatic brain injury.
Pinpointing the true cause allows precise targeting when it comes to treatment. It also reduces the risk of ineffective or unnecessary interventions.
difficult emotions. It is about learning how to recover, reset, and keep your inner balance even when things are tough.
Below are four tips to help you build resilience to microtrauma:
Studies reveal that unprocessed trauma or grief won’t just fade away. Your brain doesn’t just move on.
Instead, the emotional impact gets stuck in the networks designed to help you survive danger. Your mind keeps replaying the ordeal, causing your body to respond as if the event is happening now, even if years have passed.
Unresolved trauma usually lingers in the limbic system, which is your brain’s emotional control center. It specifically takes root in the amygdala, the area responsible for detecting threats, keeping it in a constant state of high alert.
With that overactivation, even small reminders such as scent, a sound, or a phrase can trigger your stress hormones. Your body tends to react as if the original event has happened again, leading to challenges like:
Grief reshapes your brain. It alters activity in your prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and focus, and the hippocampus, which is critical when it comes to memory. Those changes lead to the following:
In other words, unresolved grief and trauma hijack your emotional and cognitive systems, making your everyday life feel heavier and harder to manage.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a well-researched therapy that can help the brain safely reprocess traumatic experiences so they no longer trigger intense distress. Research highlights that it promotes lasting emotional relief by allowing you to face past situations without feeling overwhelmed.
Related: What Is EMDR Therapy?
The EMDR process starts with the identification of the traumatic event alongside the beliefs, emotions, and sensations connected to it. While focusing on a specific memory, a trained therapist guides you through bilateral stimulation, using side-by-side eye movements, sound, or taps.
This activates your brain’s natural healing process to help reframe the memory, then integrate it in a way to reduce its emotional charge.
A lot of people experience significant relief in just a few sessions as the memories that used to trouble them lose their emotional intensity. Even though trauma that is deeper or more complex may take longer to heal, studies show that EMDR can deliver results in weeks as opposed to the months or years often required by traditional talk therapy.
Medication can allow you to feel temporary relief from intense emotional pain. However, it may also dull the feelings your brain needs to process.
Grief is a natural cycle, and even though it can be deeply painful, it allows emotional closure over time. As medication suppresses these emotions, it can interrupt your brain’s ability to complete the cycle and leave you stuck emotionally.
Some of the proven strategies that you can use to navigate grief naturally include:
People may tell you to wait to heal from grief, but if you fell and broke your arm, when would you want to starting healing? Immediately! This doesn’t mean healing will be quick—it rarely is—but you start with one step.
Grief often steals sleep, so try well-researched nutritional supplements, such as melatonin, vitamin B6, magnesium, GABA, 5-HTP, and L-theanine. They may help promote grief-related sleep.
There is no set schedule for grief. Understanding that your process is unique can help reduce pressure and self-judgement.
Spend 15 minutes a day for four days getting the story out, making sure to list both the positives (“He is no longer suffering”) and the negatives (“I miss her so much it hurts”) of the situation. Studies have shown this can reduce anxiety and depression while improving grief recovery.
When you get anxious or short of breath, belly breathing can calm you down or help you catch your breath.
Join a grief support group that will allow you to share your story with other individuals who are going through similar pain to foster connection and understanding.
You don’t have to endure pain alone. You can take your first step towards healing today!
At Amen Clinics, your healing journey starts with a clear picture of your brain’s health. Brain SPECT imaging measures blood flow and activity patterns, revealing areas of the brain that with healthy activity and regions that need support.
Other brain assessments evaluate your cognitive, emotional, and intellectual functioning. Combine this with a deep dive into your personal history, and our physicians can develop a customized plan designed to restore both your mental clarity and emotional balance.
Depending on your individual needs, a personalized treatment plan for trauma and grief may include:
Our patients often experience measurable improvements that include:
It’s simple. Call the phone number at the top of this web page or fill out our quick online form near the end of this blog to schedule an evaluation. Our trained care coordinators can help guide you to the best options for your needs.
Yes, Amen Clinics provides support for children, teens, and adults of all ages. We have helped countless people who have experienced various types of trauma and loss.
Our approach is best for people who are seeking brain-based, proven strategies for lasting mental health and emotional well-being.
At Amen Clinics, we provide personalized, science-backed treatment plans designed to target the root causes of your symptoms. Our 360-approach includes brain SPECT imaging, clinical evaluations, innovative therapeutic techniques, medications (when necessary), and holistic lifestyle recommendations to promote the health of your brain, body, and mind.
Speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
Komischke-Konnerup, K. B., Vang, M. L., Lundorff, M., Elklit, A., & O’Connor, M. (2023). Do early symptoms of prolonged grief disorder lead to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression? A longitudinal register-based study of the first two years of bereavement. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 132(8), 996–1006. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000859
Lenferink, L. I. M., Nickerson, A., de Keijser, J., Smid, G. E., & Boelen, P. A. (2020). Trajectories of grief, depression, and posttraumatic stress in disaster-bereaved people. Depression and Anxiety, 37(1), 35–44. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22850
Chen, G., et al. (2020). Amygdala functional connectivity features in grief: A pilot study. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 580. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00580
Gainer, D. (2020). A flash of hope: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 17(7–9), 12–20.
Shapiro, F. (2014). The role of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in medicine: Addressing the psychological and physical symptoms stemming from adverse life experiences. The Permanente Journal, 18(1), 71–77. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/13-098
Lillian M. Range et al., “Does Writing about the Bereavement Lessen Grief Following Sudden, Unintentional Death?” Death Studies 24, no. 2 (March 2000): 115–134.
Food can be medicine or poison, contributing to illness or health. That’s why, when it comes to managing chronic pain, what you eat is just as important as how you move or think.
In his new book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Pain, Dr. Daniel Amen dives into the power of nutrition for managing and reducing chronic pain—whether it’s physical pain or emotional problems. You’ll learn how the foods you choose can either fuel the cycle of pain or help you break free from it.
Chronic pain is often driven by inflammation, and one of the most effective ways to combat that inflammation is through your diet.
When you’re in pain, it’s common to seek solace in food. You may think of food as a “friend” you can turn to when you need help coping with physical or emotional pain. When your back is aching or you’re feeling anxious, you may use food to cover up those uncomfortable feelings.
But trying to soothe your mind and body often involves eating unhealthy, high-calorie foods. While these foods may make you feel better in the short term, they end up making you feel worse in the long run. They harm your brain, mind, and body.
Eating foods you love that aren’t good for you—think fries, chips, and ice cream—sets you up for greater emotional and physical pain. Learning to love healing foods that serve your brain, mind, and body will decrease your pain.
At the core of Dr. Amen’s approach is the idea that food is medicine for the brain. Chronic pain is often driven by inflammation, and one of the most effective ways to combat that inflammation is through your diet.
Related: 10 Best Brain Foods
We know that the Standard American Diet (SAD) triggers inflammation and impairs brain function. On the other hand, by choosing anti-inflammatory foods that support brain health, you’re not just nourishing your body. You’re also calming the pathways in your brain that amplify pain.
Make sure to only love food that loves you back. If you follow just this one rule, it will go a long way to ending both physical and emotional pain, moving you toward the pain-free life you want.
Here are some key dietary principles from Change Your Brain, Change Your Pain:
Focus on whole foods that are rich in antioxidants and low in inflammation-promoting substances. Choose colorful vegetables, berries, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil and avocados.
These foods help reduce inflammation throughout the body and brain, making it easier for you to manage pain.
Processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats are like throwing gasoline on the fire of inflammation. These foods spike your blood sugar and contribute to brain fog, mood swings, and increased pain sensitivity.
Dr. Amen recommends minimizing processed foods and opting for natural, whole-food alternatives whenever possible.
Related: Never Eat These 15 Foods
Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds are powerful brain boosters. They help reduce inflammation in the brain and body, protect neurons, and even improve mood and mental health.
By increasing your intake of omega-3s, you can simultaneously support brain health and reduce pain.
Don’t underestimate the power of water. Proper hydration is essential for your brain to function at its best, and dehydration can exacerbate pain.
Aim to drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body and brain well-hydrated and functioning optimally.
Many people have hidden food sensitivities that contribute to inflammation and pain. Gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and sugar are common culprits.
Dr. Amen suggests experimenting with eliminating these foods from your diet to see if your pain levels improve.
| Foods That Fuel Pain | Foods That Fight Pain |
|---|---|
| Processed foods high in sugar, refined carbs, and unhealthy fats | Colorful veggies and fruits rich in antioxidants |
| Fried foods, chips, pastries, and sodas | Healthy fats: olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds |
| Artificial sweeteners and preservatives | Omega-3s from salmon, sardines, flaxseed, and walnuts |
| Common triggers: gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and added sugar | Hydrating foods and plenty of water |
And the best part? These dietary changes don’t have to be overwhelming. Start with small steps, like adding an extra serving of veggies at dinner or swapping out sugary snacks for nuts or fruit. Over time, these changes will add up, helping you reduce pain and improve your overall well-being.
Yes. Many types of chronic pain are driven by inflammation, which is heavily influenced by what you eat. At Amen Clinics, we use brain SPECT imaging and integrative nutrition to identify how diet affects your brain and pain levels—then create a personalized plan to support healing from the inside out.
Anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, berries, avocados, salmon, and walnuts can calm pain pathways in the brain and body. These foods support healthy blood flow, stabilize mood, and promote recovery—key goals of our nutrition-based treatment programs at Amen Clinics.
Our team looks beyond symptoms to uncover the root causes of your pain—whether physical, emotional, or brain-based. Using advanced brain imaging, nutritional support, and lifestyle strategies, we create customized treatment plans that address both the body and the brain for long-term relief.
You probably brush off the small frustrations, rejections, and pressures you face each day—but your brain doesn’t.
A coworker’s curt comment. A traffic jam that makes you late. The endless stream of digital demands. These may seem insignificant, yet over time, these “microtraumas” can quietly chip away at your mental and emotional resilience.
Your brain perceives each of these moments as a tiny threat, activating stress responses meant to protect you—but when this happens repeatedly, it can keep your brain stuck in survival mode. The result? Chronic tension, irritability, fatigue, and even changes in mood, memory, and focus.
Understanding how microtraumas impact the brain can help you recognize the silent buildup of stress—and more importantly, learn how to interrupt it. With the right tools, you can retrain your brain toward resilience, calm, and healing.
Let’s take a closer look at the hidden effects of everyday stress—and how to recover from the toll it takes on your brain.
You probably brush off the small frustrations, rejections, and pressures you face each day—but your brain doesn’t.
Microtraumas are the minor but persistent psychological stress experiences or tiny emotional micro-wounds that quietly wear on your emotional and mental well-being.
Unlike major trauma, which often results from a single overwhelming event, microtraumas, according to research, are a slow but steady buildup of stress that your brain continues to record over time. They can stem from issues like:
Although they may seem insignificant, they can trigger stress responses and end up reshaping how your brain processes emotion, focus, and resilience.
Related: How Chronic Stress Rewires Your Brain and What to Do About It
Your brain is wired to keep you safe. So, every time you face these moments of stress, your brain’s emotional center, which is the limbic system, sounds an alarm. These constant “mini alerts” may not feel like a big deal on their own, but when they happen over and over, your brain stays on high alert.
Each of these micro-alerts triggers the surge of your body’s major stress hormone, cortisol.
Research shows that chronic exposure to high cortisol can shrink your hippocampus, the part of your brain responsible for memory, focus, and emotional balance. As a result, you may struggle to focus, remember details, and stay calm under pressure.
When your limbic system is overactive, calming down after minor stressors can become increasingly hard. It leaves you stuck in a cycle of anxiety, irritability, or even depression.
Studies have shown that daily micro-stressors keep your brain thinking that the world isn’t a safe place, even when nothing is wrong. That’s why it may be difficult for you to relax, connect, and think clearly.
Small stressors may seem minor while they are happening on their own. However, as they happen repeatedly, their effects compound, a process known as allostatic load.
This term, according to research, describes the wear and tear that your brain and body go through when your stress response is constantly activated without enough time to reset.
Understanding how these micro-stressors accumulate is the first step towards protecting your brain resilience and restoring emotional balance.
Think of it like drops of water falling on a rock. One drop cannot change much, but over time, those drops may wear down the rock. In the same way, microtraumas subtly reshape how your brain manages attention and emotion.
Your brain’s alarm system stays partially activated, where it floods your body with the hormone cortisol. As a result, you remain in a constant state of alert. As the quiet buildup continues, it becomes harder for you to focus, relax, and bounce back after moments of stress.
You can’t completely avoid life’s small stressors. Neither can you prevent them from happening. But you have the power to condition your brain and body to adapt and recover more effectively.
Resilience has nothing to do with brushing off difficult emotions. It is about learning how to recover, reset, and keep your inner balance even when things are tough.
Below are four tips to help you build resilience to microtrauma:
Awareness is the first step toward healing. Start by paying attention to the small triggers you normally ignore.
Take a minute to notice how your body feels when you are tense, frustrated, or rejected. That clenched jaw, quick sigh, or scrolling habit after a tough email. These are all clues that your brain is feeling overwhelmed.
Your brain can’t calm what it doesn’t recognize. Try mindfulness, brief journaling, or identifying Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs).
Writing them down can help your brain process emotions and reduce their impact on your mental wellness. The more you notice, the faster it is for you to react and respond calmly instead of reacting.
Taking short breaks during the course of your day can make a great difference. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, try a quick walk, take five slow breaths, or stretch gently. Even if you do 60 seconds of slow, steady breathing, research has shown that your brain will understand that it is safe to relax.
You may also consider tools like Heart Rate Viability (HRV) training or guided breathwork to strengthen your body’s ability to recover after stress. These are practices that help to regulate your heart and breathing patterns, signaling safety to your nervous system and restoring calmness.
Not all situations deserve your attention. Reduce your exposure to conversations that are toxic, relationships that drain you, or digital overload.
Here is what this might look like:
Such boundaries will help keep your brain from staying in constant alert mode.
At the core, it’s the basics that matter most. Sleep well, move your body, and eat nourishing foods. Regular exercise helps to regulate your hormones and mood.
A diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3s, and whole foods provides your brain with the nutrients it requires to stay strong amid cumulative stress and daily pressures. Good sleep helps in clearing out stress chemicals from your brain.
Healing from psychological microtrauma doesn’t require you to erase the past. It’s a journey of helping your brain recover from the quiet load of stress it’s been carrying.
Even though the “small hurts” have built up over time, your brain is capable of truly healing when you give it the right support.
You can consider therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and neurofeedback.
How It Helps: Helps in identifying and reframing the negative thought patterns that form after repeated stress.
How It Helps: Often used to deal with emotional trauma, EMDR can also be powerful in handling cumulative stress. It can help your brain to process stored tension and ensure it no longer triggers emotional distress.
How It Helps: Helps people cope with emotional trauma by retraining the brain’s stress response. This non-invasive technique leads to improved emotional regulation.
What feels like “no big deal” in the moment can quietly build into real strain on your brain and emotional well-being.
The good news? No matter how long it’s been under pressure, your brain is not stuck.
You can begin to reverse the effects of microtraumas by nurturing your brain with awareness, compassion, and simple, healthy habits. Over time, you will experience a calmer mind, steadier emotions, and a renewed sense of balance.
Remember that healing doesn’t happen overnight, but every small act of care will help your brain rebuild strength and peace. It’s never too late to start healing from the small things that have been holding you back.
Major trauma comes from big, overwhelming incidents, but microtraumas are the small daily stressors that accumulate over time. At Amen Clinics, our imaging work shows how both can disrupt brain activity and emotional balance.
At Amen Clinics, brain SPECT imaging plays a special role in revealing how stress affects different areas of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system.
When Amen Clinics physicians see these patterns on brain scans, we are able to personalize treatment combining nutrition, therapy, targeted supplements, and lifestyle changes to promote emotional balance and brain recovery.
We provide therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR, neurofeedback, and more to reduce the cumulative impact of stress on your brain.
Yes. Many people with long-term anxiety or depression have brains overloaded by daily stress. Our clinicians create personalized plans to restore emotional balance and strengthen brain resilience.
When you hear the word “insulin,” you might think of it as the “diabetes hormone.” But it’s actually a key player in mental health too. This chemical messenger controls blood sugar and fuels how your brain cells communicate, regulate mood, and maintain focus.
When your body becomes resistant to insulin, it’s not only your metabolism that suffers. Your energy crashes, your concentration slips, and your emotions can become harder to manage.
Scientists are now discovering that insulin resistance may be the hidden thread connecting seven major mental health issues. Understanding this connection between insulin resistance and mental health could be the breakthrough you need to know why you feel the way you do and how to restore balance within your brain and body.
If you’ve been struggling with fatigue, mood changes, or difficulty concentrating, this one hormone, not just your habits, may be at the root of it.
If you’ve been struggling with fatigue, mood changes, or difficulty concentrating, this one hormone, not just your habits, may be at the root of it.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows your body to use glucose from carbohydrates for energy. When you eat, your blood sugar rises, signaling the pancreas to release insulin so glucose can enter those cells, giving you sustainable energy.
However, when you have insulin resistance, your cells ignore these signals. The pancreas compensates by making more insulin, eventually exhausting itself.
Over time, this imbalance contributes to fatigue, weight gain, inflammation, brain fog, and metabolic syndrome—all of which impact brain health and mental wellness.
Insulin resistance and mental health are more intertwined than you might realize. Your nervous system and stress hormones play a major role in this process.
Chronic stress can spike cortisol, which in turn worsens insulin resistance, disrupts appetite, and drains energy. Because of this, you get a vicious cycle that causes imbalances in your body and brain.
Over time, this biochemical tug-of-war can contribute to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline if left unaddressed. All of these are warning signs that your metabolism and mental health may be struggling.
Related: The Stress Hormone: How Cortisol Crushes Mental Health
There’s a growing body of evidence linking insulin resistance and depression as well as anxiety. Insulin directly influences neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood and motivation. When insulin signaling is disrupted, so is emotional regulation.
One study published in 2025 found a strong connection between insulin resistance and anxiety and depression. Rates were higher among those with both insulin resistance and diabetes but also present among nondiabetic people.
| Mental Health Conditions | Insulin Resistant + Diabetic | Insulin Resistant + Nondiabetic |
|---|---|---|
| Depression | 75% | 60% |
| Anxiety | 65% | 55% |
Another 2025 study published in Nature Mental Health found that young people with insulin resistance were more likely to develop mood disorders even without diabetes. The researchers noted that poor insulin sensitivity alters brain metabolism, particularly in regions involved in emotional control and stress response.
Emerging research suggests that insulin resistance and ADHD symptoms may share a biological connection. A 2021 study found that insulin resistance in the prefrontal cortex, which is your brain’s CEO for decision-making, can impair attention, planning, and impulse control.
At Amen Clinics, brain SPECT imaging has shown similar patterns: reduced blood flow and metabolism in the prefrontal cortex of people with ADHD and those with insulin resistance. Both conditions disrupt dopamine regulation, making focus and motivation harder to maintain.
Poor insulin signaling has been identified as a key contributor to Alzheimer’s disease, sometimes referred to as “Type 3 diabetes.”
When insulin can’t properly fuel brain cells, neurons struggle to communicate, leading to cognitive decline and memory loss. Over time, this can increase the risk of various types of dementia.
The reward centers of the brain depend on the neurotransmitter, dopamine, which is influenced by insulin. When insulin resistance develops, your dopamine signaling weakens, which increases cravings for sugar, alcohol, or other addictive substances.
Research in Frontiers in Psychology shows that this disruption makes it harder for the brain to feel pleasure naturally, pushing people toward unhealthy behaviors to get that same dopamine “hit.” Healing hormone imbalance and insulin resistance can therefore reduce compulsive eating and improve emotional self-regulation.
Related: Do You Need a Dopamine Detox?
If you’ve ever felt irritable or anxious after skipping a meal, there’s a reason. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, causes your brain to release adrenaline and cortisol. These “fight-or-flight” hormones start to make you feel jittery, moody, or even panicked.
When insulin resistance causes your blood sugar to swing up and down, these emotional crashes can feel like mini anxiety attacks. This connection between blood sugar and mood explains why emotional stability often begins with metabolic balance.
The relationship between insulin resistance and mental health conditions goes far beyond mood. Psychiatrists have long known that many antipsychotic medications that are used to treat schizophrenia have side effects, such as glucose elevation, which may lead to diabetes, and in turn insulin resistance.
However, a pair of studies point to insulin resistance as a potential risk factor for schizophrenia.
| Insulin Resistance Is Linked To 7 Mental Health Issues: |
|---|
| 1. Depression |
| 2. Anxiety |
| 3. ADHD |
| 4. Dementia |
| 5. Addiction |
| 6. Anger |
| 7. Schizophrenia |
Food can be medicine or poison, depending on how it affects your hormones. Your diet plays one of the biggest roles in preventing and reversing insulin resistance symptoms.
Processed foods, refined sugars, and trans fats can inflame your body and worsen hormonal imbalances for a long time. In contrast, nutrient-dense foods help improve blood sugar levels and restore equilibrium.
Yerba mate, mulberry leaf, chamomile, mint, hibiscus, and cinnamon teas may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. Although not considered an herbal tea, green tea produces the same effects.
Salmon, tuna, chicken, turkey, and tofu provide amino acids that stabilize blood sugar.
Broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus are low in carbs but high in fiber and antioxidants.
Avocados, almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds improve hormone balance and reduce cravings.
Berries, green apples, and pears deliver fiber that slows sugar absorption, keeping energy steady.
Do you want to address insulin resistance? Brain health support with the right interventions can improve insulin levels.
Healing begins with regulating the nervous system, because chronic stress is often the spark that ignites hormonal chaos. Simple lifestyle shifts can make a powerful difference:
Remember, the goal isn’t just to stabilize your blood sugar, but to restore energy and emotional balance to your mind and body.
When insulin levels stabilize, so does the mind. By addressing insulin resistance through nutrition, lifestyle, holistic care, and medication (when necessary), you’re not just preventing disease—you’re supporting a clearer mind, calmer mood, and longer life. Healing your metabolism is, quite literally, healing your brain.
At Amen Clinics, we use brain SPECT imaging along with lab tests to assess blood sugar, insulin, and other key biomarkers. This integrative approach helps uncover whether metabolic issues are contributing to symptoms like depression, anxiety, or focus problems.
Yes. Stabilizing blood sugar can reduce mood swings, improve memory, and decrease risks for conditions like dementia and schizophrenia. At Amen Clinics, we combine nutrition coaching, lifestyle strategies, and targeted therapies to support both brain and body.
Our team develops personalized treatment plans that may include dietary guidance, nutritional supplements, psychotherapy, and medical care when needed. We focus on the least toxic, most effective solutions to restore balance and improve mental health.
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Abdelfattah, H.E., Bekhet, M.M.M., Tawfik, F.A. et al. The association between insulin resistance and risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders in a sample of Egyptian population. Egypt J Intern Med 37, 56 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43162-025-00434-9
Shin, M., Crouse, J.J., Weger, M. et al. Insulin resistance as an early marker in youth with mood disorders. Nat. Mental Health 3, 969–971 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00472-w
Mathew P, Thoppil D. Hypoglycemia. [Updated 2022 Dec 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534841/
Berridge, K. C. (2018). Evolving concepts of emotion and motivation. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1647. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01647
Choi, S. E., Roy, B., Freeby, M., Mullur, R., Woo, M. A., & Kumar, R. (2020). Prefrontal cortex brain damage and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Journal of diabetes, 12(6), 465–473. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-0407.13019
Zhang, X., Zhang, L., Zhang, B., Liu, K., Sun, J., Li, Q., & Zhao, L. (2022). Herbal tea, a novel adjuvant therapy for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus: A review. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 982387. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.982387
American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Non-starchy vegetables for blood glucose control. https://diabetes.org/food-nutrition/reading-food-labels/non-starchy-vegetables
Calvano, A., , Izuora, K., , Oh, E. C., , Ebersole, J. L., , Lyons, T. J., , & Basu, A., (2019). Dietary berries, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes: an overview of human feeding trials. Food & function, 10(10), 6227–6243. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9fo01426h
Verkouter, I., Noordam, R., le Cessie, S., van Dam, R. M., Lamb, H. J., Rosendaal, F. R., van Heemst, D., & de Mutsert, R. (2019). The Association between Adult Weight Gain and Insulin Resistance at Middle Age: Mediation by Visceral Fat and Liver Fat. Journal of clinical medicine, 8(10), 1559. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8101559
Fritschi, C., Park, C., Quinn, L., & Collins, E. G. (2020). Real-Time Associations Between Glucose Levels and Fatigue in Type 2 Diabetes: Sex and Time Effects. Biological research for nursing, 22(2), 197–204. https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800419898002
Zhao, H., Zhang, J., Cheng, X. et al. Insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome across various tissues: an updated review of pathogenesis, evaluation, and treatment. J Ovarian Res 16, 9 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-022-01091-0
Jiao, Y., Butoyi, C., Zhang, Q. et al. Sleep disorders impact hormonal regulation: unravelling the relationship among sleep disorders, hormones and metabolic diseases.Diabetol Metab Syndr 17, 305 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01871-w
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Tomasik J, Lago SG, Vázquez-Bourgon J, et al. Association of Insulin Resistance With Schizophrenia Polygenic Risk Score and Response to Antipsychotic Treatment. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019;76(8):864–867. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.0304
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In the journey to reduce chronic pain, your brain needs every advantage it can get. While lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and stress management are essential, sometimes your brain requires an extra boost.
That’s where targeted supplements and nutraceuticals come in. In his new book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Pain, Dr. Daniel Amen shares research-backed recommendations for natural supplements that can enhance brain health and help calm the brain’s suffering pathways.
Certain mood-enhancing supplements have been shown to help both emotional and physical pain. They can work like antidepressants—with dramatically fewer side effects than most prescription medications.
We know that the brain, mind, and body are strongly connected. That’s why certain mood-enhancing nutraceuticals (supplements with pharmaceutical actions) have been shown to help both emotional and physical pain. They can work like antidepressants—with dramatically fewer side effects than most prescription medications.
These supplements work, in part, by boosting both serotonin and GABA, which have a calming effect on the medial pain “suffering” pathway. By targeting this pathway, you can manage physical and emotional pain more effectively.
Related: Try These 9 Natural Serotonin Boosters
In addition, when your brain is functioning at its best, it becomes more resilient to pain. Supplements help by supporting the brain’s ability to repair itself, reducing inflammation, and balancing neurotransmitters. All these benefits can have a profound impact on pain levels.
Here are a few of Dr. Amen’s top recommendations for targeted supplements and nutraceuticals:
Known for their powerful anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3s are critical for brain health and can help reduce pain by calming the brain’s inflammatory pathways.
You can get omega-3s from fish, such as salmon, or you can take a high-quality fish oil supplement. The recommended dosage is 1,000-3,000 mg per day.
The active compound in turmeric, curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It helps protect the brain from damage, reduce pain caused by inflammation, and prevent the spread of pain.
Taking curcumin as a supplement is an easy way to harness its pain-relieving benefits. The recommended dosage is 500-2,000 mg per day, often divided into multiple doses.
This essential mineral is known for its ability to relax muscles and calm the nervous system. Magnesium can be especially helpful for reducing muscle tension and improving sleep, both of which are key factors in managing chronic pain. The typical dosage is 200-400 mg per day.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter that helps calm the brain. GABA supplements can reduce anxiety and stress, helping to quiet the brain’s suffering circuits and lower pain levels. An appropriate dosage ranges from 250-1,500 mg per day.
This spice is not only a mood enhancer but also has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Studies have shown that saffron can help lift mood and reduce pain sensitivity.
Think of saffron as a gardener who tends to your emotional weeds, allowing the flowers of well-being to bloom. The usual dosage is 30 mg per day.
Adequate levels of vitamin D are crucial for brain and immune health. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to increased pain sensitivity and mood disorders.
Conversely, supplementing with vitamin D can help support overall brain function and reduce pain. The recommended dosage is 1,000-2,000 IU per day, with higher doses often required for those with significant deficiency.
5-HTP helps boost serotonin levels, which can improve mood and reduce the perception of pain. It’s particularly helpful for emotional pain and the anxiety that often accompanies chronic physical pain. The usual dosage is 100-300 mg per day.
Supplements aren’t a cure-all. But, when used alongside brain-healthy habits, they can significantly enhance your body’s ability to heal and reduce pain. The numerous benefits of nutraceuticals, partnered with their minimal risks, make them useful additions to your well-being toolbox.
Dr. Amen emphasizes the importance of choosing high-quality, evidence-based supplements and consulting with a healthcare professional before starting any new regimen. It’s always crucial to use the least toxic, most effective, science-based treatments for optimal results.
In Change Your Brain, Change Your Pain, you’ll find more detailed guidance on which supplements might work best for your specific needs. You can then take an empowered, proactive role in managing your pain and boosting your brain health.
The brain is the most expensive real estate in the human body. But too many of us don’t treat it with the same respect we give to other precious commodities.
For example, would you feed a million-dollar racehorse junk food? Would you pour leaded gasoline in a million-dollar car? Of course not!
Your brain is far more valuable than a horse or a car, but how are you feeding your mind? Are you fueling your most valuable asset with junk food? If so, you may be setting yourself up for nutritional deficiencies. Mental health problems may be one of the consequences.
The nutrients you’re getting—or aren’t getting—play a critical role in your brain function and mental well-being. “Even minor gaps in your nutrition are enough to throw off your brain chemistry, deplete your energy, and intensify issues like depression, anxiety, or brain fog,” according to Karen Mayo, an Amen Clinics Integrative Nutritionist.
Deficiencies in key nutrients are linked to a range of symptoms of mental health disorders. Because some of these deficiencies can be subtle, their effects are often attributed to everyday stress.
It’s time to learn about five key nutrients that can make or break your mental health. In this blog, we look at some of the most common deficiencies linked to mental health, how they disrupt your brain function, and what it means for your mood and well-being.
Are you fueling your most valuable asset—your brain—with junk food? If so, you’re likely missing out on essential nutrients the brain needs for peak performance.
Mental health is a state of well-being that allows a person to realize their own potential, cope with everyday stresses, contribute to their community, work productively, enjoy strong relationships, and feel fulfilled in life. Having a healthy brain is the key to mental strength.
To have a healthy brain, you need a healthy diet. The brain is the fattest, most energy-hungry organ in the body. It uses 25-30 percent of all the calories you consume. And the gray matter contains 50 percent fatty acids that are polyunsaturated in nature and come from what we eat.
Food is medicine, or it’s poison. Without vitamins and essential nutrients, our cells—including our brain cells and enzymes—will not work optimally.
The Standard American Diet (SAD) with its reliance on processed fast foods has left a majority of Americans deficient in many nutrients, especially essential vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Related: What the Standard American Diet is Doing to Your Brain
About half the U.S. population isn’t getting enough dietary magnesium, according to research. That’s bad news considering this important mineral is essential for every human life function in the body.
Magnesium, also known as a relaxation mineral, helps to regulate your nervous system and support your body’s stress response. When your magnesium levels are low, your brain and body may become more reactive to stress, making it harder for you to remain calm under pressure.
Studies have linked magnesium deficiency to increased anxiety, irritation, agitation, insomnia, and in some cases depression. Lack of enough magnesium can also interfere with how your body regulates cortisol (the stress hormone), leaving you in a constant state of restlessness and tension.
Nutrient-dense foods to choose: Good sources of magnesium include pumpkin seeds, spinach, almonds, and dark organic chocolate (at least 72 percent).
Absolutely. Low B12 or folate isn’t just a lab value. It’s a red flag. Vitamin B12 and folate (B9) are essential for producing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are essential for mood regulation.
When you have low levels of these vitamins, your mood-regulating pathways weaken. Again, elevated homocysteine—an indicator of insufficient B12 and folate—can harm the blood vessels in your brain and disrupt your mood regulation.
In a study done in Ireland, older adults who had low B12 levels had a 51 percent greater chance of developing symptoms of depression over four years. Research also shows that patients diagnosed with depression are found to have lower levels of vitamin B12 compared to those who do not.
Additionally, trials of a combination of folate and B12 have achieved better cognitive function when used together with antidepressants. It’s important to understand that your brain needs these vitamins to build the chemicals required to stabilize your mood.
Nutrient-dense foods to choose: Natural sources of B vitamins include eggs, fatty fish such as salmon, and leafy greens. Additionally, folate is present in dark green vegetables, beans, peas, citrus fruits, and legumes (such as lentils and garbanzo beans).
Related: What is Nutritional Psychiatry?
Yes. Vitamin D functions more like a hormone than a typical vitamin. It influences the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are crucial for creating mood balance.
Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and even SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)—a form of depression that usually appears during the darker winter months when people have limited exposure to sunlight.
According to research, people with low vitamin D levels are more likely to report depressive symptoms. In such cases, supplementation has been seen to improve mood in certain individuals.
Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating how your body responds to stress, which explains why deficiency can leave you more vulnerable to irritability, anxiety, and fatigue.
Nutrient-dense foods to choose: Good sources of vitamin D include salmon, tuna, eggs, and mushrooms. Another natural way to boost vitamin D levels is to get 10-20 minutes of sun exposure on a daily basis.
Even though it doesn’t get as much attention as other nutrients, zinc is essential for your brain health. Research shows that it supports more than 100 enzymatic reactions in your body, many of which are connected to neurotransmitter activity, memory, and learning.
With low zinc levels, your brain may struggle to regulate the signals that affect your mood and cognition. That’s bad news for close to 12 percent of the US population who are at risk for zinc deficiency, according to research. That number is even higher among the elderly.
Zin deficiency occurs primarily in people who do not absorb nutrients well due to digestive disorders or who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery.
Studies have linked zinc deficiency to difficulties with concentration, higher rates of depression, impaired memory, and slow learning. Low levels of zinc can weaken your brain’s ability to manage stress, which can leave you more vulnerable to emotional instability and anxiety.
Biologically, zinc regulates glutamate and GABA, two neurotransmitters that help your brain to balance between alertness and calm.
Nutrient-dense foods to choose: Cashews, pumpkin seeds, oysters, beef, and beans are good sources of zinc.
Choline is a vital nutrient that your brain uses to make acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter essential for learning, memory, and attention). Choline also helps in the formation of the protective myelin sheaths found around nerve fibers that keep communication between your brain cells clear and efficient.
When you lack sufficient choline, these systems start to weaken. According to research, there is a close relationship between low choline intake and poorer cognitive performance.
In fact, a large community-based study found adults with higher choline intake performing better on memory and processing speed tests than those who consumed less. Low levels of choline can also put you at risk of developing neuropsychiatric conditions.
Again, choline plays a significant role in regulating homocysteine (a byproduct linked to depression, mood disturbances, and high risk of dementia when elevated). By keeping it in check, it supports your mental health and enhances long-term brain resilience.
Choline is the fuel your brain depends on. Low levels mean your memory can lag, your mood stability can waver, and your attention may wander.
Nutrient-dense foods to choose: Plenty of foods contain choline, such as meat, eggs, poultry, fish, dairy products, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, beans, nuts, seeds, and organic gluten-free whole oats.
Nutritional deficiencies do not always show up as obvious physical problems. Sometimes, the first red flags can be cognitive or emotional changes. Take note of the following symptoms:
Related: 9 Worst Foods for Depression
It can heighten your body’s stress response by increasing adrenaline and cortisol activity.
Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency:
The two are important for the formation of red blood cells and the methylation process in your brain.
Symptoms of B12 and B9 Deficiency:
Adequate levels of vitamin D help in regulating serotonin, and as a result, it stabilizes your mood.
Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency:
Zinc plays an important role in supporting brain signaling and neuroplasticity. A Lack of adequate zinc can result in slower information processing, reduced stress resilience, memory difficulties, and impaired learning.
Symptoms of Zinc Deficiency:
As the precursor to acetylcholine, choline deficiency can weaken your memory recall, attention, and overall cognitive performance. Over time, you may start experiencing mood disturbances and cognitive decline.
Symptoms of Choline Deficiency:
Since these symptoms can overlap with sleep deprivation, stress, and other health conditions, nutritional deficiencies often go unnoticed. This is why lab work can be beneficial in identifying low levels of key nutrients.
How can you tell if you’re missing out on these vital nutrients? At Amen Clinics, key bloodwork tests can help detect any deficiencies. Then you can start to balance your levels by going from “low” to “normal” then into the “optimal” range, according to Mayo.
If you have any lingering mental, behavioral, or cognitive health issues that aren’t responding to traditional treatment, look into testing for nutritional deficiencies.
At Amen Clinics, we understand that every brain is unique, so there is no one-size-fits-all nutraceutical regimen. However, basic supplements that can benefit every brain include a broad-spectrum multivitamin/mineral, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D.
Learning more about your brain function through brain SPECT imaging at Amen Clinics can help you find a targeted supplement plan geared to your unique brain.
