Can Nutrition Help with PTSD Symptoms?

Healthy Brain Food for PTSD

Long standing chronic toxic stress can create blood sugar imbalances, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, malabsorption and gut dysfunction.

This is a typical "toxic stress metabolism" picture and over time, it can contribute to worsening of symptoms and the development of other chronic diseases.

The way to resolve these issues isn't through talk therapy - it's by first using bottom up approaches like nutrition to help stabilize a stressed metabolism.

When the metabolism is under less stress and into restorative mode, then the symptoms can begin to improve and the person can recover from PTSD.

What are some of the things you can do right now to restore your metabolism if you've experienced chronic toxic stress?

Consume good sources of quality protein consistently at least every 3-4 hours. Think nuts, beans, eggs, lean meats as good sources of protein. Protein is also the building blocks of our feel good brain chemicals such as serotonin.

Ensure that you are properly hydrated. Dehydration can lead to issues with cognitive function, as well as an increase in stress hormones. If there are no restrictions to your hydration, half your weight in body ounces is a good marker to start.

Consume rich sources of Omega 3s anti-inflammatory fats, while avoiding sources of Omega 6, which are pro-inflammatory fats. Omega 3’s are found in nuts, seeds, wild caught fatty fish, while Omega 6s are found in canola and vegetable oils. By having an optimal ratio of 1:1, this can lead to lower levels of inflammation, which is often an issue in those dealing with chronic toxic stress.

Nutrition, when combined with other therapies for PTSD management can help.

If you're looking for outside the box approaches to help you manage PTSD symptoms, join our Manage PTSD course launching on November 6.