Page 20 - Spring2013

The brain The disturbing tendencies we see today con- ated with increased risk of depression and panic.

and nervous trast strongly with Dr. Weston Price’s descrip- Researchers from the Children’s Hospital and Re-
tions of harmonious, well-nourished primitive search Center in Oakland, California, defined the
system cultures—from smiling, joyful South Sea Island- role of vitamin D in neurological health, pointing

require ers to highly spiritual Gaelic fisherfolk to Swiss out the wide distribution of vitamin D throughout
villagers celebrating “one for all and all for one” the brain. The vitamin affects portions of the
specific during their summer festivals. Likewise, Dr. brain involved in learning and memory, as well
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nutrients Francis Pottenger described peaceful, harmoni- as motor control. 11
ous behavior among well-nourished cats. Both
Vitamin D is very much involved in produc-
to maintain cats and humans degenerated into disharmoni- tion of serotonin, the molecule of will power,
function, ous behavior patterns with the change to foods and delayed gratification. Decreased serotonin
devitalized by heat and processing.
activity can lead to an inability to create and act
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and the Modern commentators are blind to the on well-formed plans. 12
evidence is solution, a solution that is in plain sight: clearly There are many vitamin D receptors in the
defining good nutrition and putting it back into brain. Bright light going through the eyes in-
overwhelming the mouths of our children, starting before they creases serotonin production―sunglasses block

that nutrient are even conceived. . . because food is informa- this effect―and sunscreen blocks the vitamin D
tion and that information directly affects the formation in the skin.
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deficiencies emotions, the nervous system, the brain and Studies with rats show that the production of
can lead to behavior. serotonin is directly related to duration of bright
sunlight. Sunbathing and exposure to bright
aggression FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS light during the day can have a similar effect to

The brain and nervous system require antidepressants and of course are far safer. Other
and violent specific nutrients to function properly, and the ways to boost serotonin in the dark of winter are
behavior. evidence is overwhelming that nutrient deficien- exercise, massage and happy memories, and, of
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cies can lead to aggression and violent behavior. course, vitamin D-rich food.
Let’s start with the fat-soluble vitamins, Calcitriol, the hormonally active form of
vitamins A, D and K , so important in the diets vitamin D, accumulates in the adrenals, and this
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of primitive peoples. stimulates the production of the gene for tyro-
Preformed vitamin A, called retinoic acid, sine hydroxylase, which is involved in serotonin
is critical to brain development. Receptors in the production. Serotonin synthesis is thought to be
amygdala, hippocampus and other paralimbic dependent on the duration of light exposure the
brain regions suggest that vitamin A signaling previous summer. 15
plays a vital role in cognitive function. When Less is known about the correlation be-
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vitamin A is lacking during gestation, as it is for tween vitamin K status and behavior. However,
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most mothers in our fat-phobic society, children research has shown that vitamin K is involved
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may be set up for abnormal behavior patterns in the biochemistry of nervous tissue and is
later in life. needed for the formation of myelin. 16,17 Vitamin
In animals, vitamin A deficiency results K contributes to the biological activation of pro-
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in problems with spatial learning and memory. teins Gas6, which are involved in many cellular
Vitamin A deficiency may lead to dopamine functions such as cell growth, survival and apop-
receptor hypo-activity and the typical symptoms tosis. In the brain, vitamin K also participates
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of schizophrenia, such as flat affect, apathy and in the synthesis of sphingolipids, an important
lack of insight, as well as hallucinations and de- lipid present in high concentrations in brain cell
lusions. Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and membranes. Vitamin K can affect psychomotor
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serious brain disorder. People with schizophrenia behavior and cognition. Weston Price cured a
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hear voices and believe people are controlling child of seizures with high-vitamin butter oil,
them. 10 rich in vitamin K . 19
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Recent studies from the U.K. show that low All these vitamins were consumed in very
levels of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) are associ- high levels in primitive diets. Today, due to
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20 Wise Traditions SPRING 2013 SPRING 2013 Wise Traditions