Jen Notes: the anti-anxiety food solution, Chapter 7B
The book I am reviewing currently is the anti-anxiety food solution by Trudy Scott. These are my notes on chapter 7B, Address Pyroluria or Low Levels of Zinc and Vitamin B6.
For those who have 15 or more of the symptoms in the pyroluria list, you are likely low in zinc and Vitamin B6, even if you don’t have pyroluria.
Trudy Scott recommends starting with 30 mg of zinc daily and then increasing to 60 mg. If urine testing confirms pyroluria, it is probably safe to start with 90 mg zinc daily. It is important to monitor zinc levels with the zinc taste test (in previous post). As the liquid zinc sulfate begins to taste chalky, it is important to reduce the amount.
Ms. Scott recommends OptiZinc as it is very effective and usually well used by the body. For some people though they do use zinc picolinate or chelate more successfully. If you supplement for a month and and don’t see changes, try another form. If it still does not work, then avoid gluten as gluten sensitivity can impair the digestion of zinc.
Zinc and copper keep a balance together so it is important that there is no copper in the zinc supplement. Most people get plenty of copper in their diet and not nearly enough zinc. Zinc is depleted by stress, exercise, and high sugar consumption. If nauseus taking zinc it may be a sign the body is not tolerating that form or it may be time to cut back. Taking it with meals is also important to prevent nausea.
Dietary sources of zinc include oysters, other shellfish, red meat, fish, chicken, and hard cheeses. It is also found in lesser amounts in whole grains, beans, miso, seeds, mushrooms, and broccoli but the grains, nuts and seeds also have phytic acid which binds to zinc and prevent it from being absorbed. Soaked and roasted pumpkin seeds are another good from of zinc that is usable by the body.
Vitamin B6 Supplementation
For those pyroluria, it is valuable to supplement with 200 to 800 mg of Vitamin b^ daily..Ms Scott recommends starting with 100 mg daily and increasing by 100 mg every two weeks. If it is making a positive difference your dreams should become more frequent and more pleasant. If you do have pyroluria, then you can supplement with up to 500 mg daily.
A sign of too much vitamin B6 is tingling in your fingers and and toes. This is called peripheral neuropathy. Since Vitamin B6 is water soluble, this will resolve if you stop the B6 or slow down how much you take. Another form that you can take is PSP (pyridoxal 5-phosphate). This is the active form of Vitamin B6 and is more absorbable.
This should be taken with meals. Food sources include grass fed organic meat, chicken, eggs, and wild fish, vegetables like carrots, spinach, broccoli, and cabbage, whole grains like brown rice and quinoa, brewers yeast, blackstrap molasses, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and alfalfa sprouts.
Other nutrients for pyroluria
People with pyroluria also need to supplement with omega 6 fatty acids. So Ms Scott recommends 240 mgs of GLA from evening primrose oil or borage oil.
Other minerals that may be needed are manganese, B complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, iron, and magnesium.
For mild to moderate pyroluria supplementing with zinc, Vitamin B6, GLA, and manganese can lead to improvements in anxiety in just a few days and significant changes in a week. For those with severe anxiety it can take a few weeks but progress should be evident. If you have pyroluria you may have supplement indefinitely. And during times of stress and ilness you may need higher amounts of zinc and B6.
For the rest of the posts in this series, go to my Pinterest board.
