If nutrition can affect anxiety and depression, what should we actually measure, change, and investigate before reaching for another prescription?
Knowing that mental health can have nutritional and biological drivers is one thing. Knowing what to do with that information is another. Should we start with fiber, test vitamin D and iron, examine thyroid function, or investigate what is happening inside the cells? Without a clear approach, nutrition can easily become another world of guesswork, conflicting advice, and supposed quick fixes.
In Part 2, we move from understanding the nutrition, mental health connection to identifying the practical next steps. Dr. Oscar Coetzee explains why the average American may not be eating enough fiber to properly support the gut microbiome, which nutrient deficiencies he prioritizes when evaluating mental health symptoms, and how thyroid function can influence mood and energy. He also walks us through the organic acids test and what it can reveal about cellular energy, nutrient status, neurotransmitter pathways, stress, detoxification, and microbial activity.
In this episode, I continue my conversation with nutritionist, author, and speaker Dr. Oscar Coetzee. We explore how to investigate the biological factors affecting mental health without falling for quick fixes, why antidepressants should never be stopped abruptly, and the emerging probiotic research that Oscar believes could change how we support the gut and brain.
What You'll Discover In This Episode
-
Why fiber matters for the gut bacteria involved in producing the building blocks for serotonin and dopamine
-
How the average American’s fiber intake compares with the amount Oscar believes is needed to improve the microbiome
-
Why fiber should be increased gradually instead of added in large amounts overnight
-
The connection Oscar sees between an underfed microbiome and rising levels of anxiety and depression
-
Why vitamin D deficiency and iron deficiency are among the first problems Oscar investigates
-
How anemia can affect mood, energy, and cognition, particularly in menstruating women
-
Why B vitamins also deserve attention when evaluating mental health symptoms
-
How selenium, iodine, and vitamin A support thyroid function—and why an underactive thyroid can resemble anxiety or depression
-
The role omega-3 fatty acids and zinc play in supporting brain-derived neurotrophic factor
-
How medication can provide short-term relief while nutritional deficiencies and other underlying problems are addressed
-
Why Oscar is concerned about prescribing and combining multiple psychiatric medications in children and teenagers
-
What an organic acids test can reveal that routine bloodwork may miss
-
How this test can offer insight into mitochondrial function, B vitamin status, neurotransmitter pathways, cortisol, detoxification, and microbial activity
-
Why mental health is too complex for TikTok remedies and one-size-fits-all solutions
-
Why anyone taking an SSRI should never reduce or stop it without working with the prescribing healthcare professional
-
How new technology is making it possible to deliver previously difficult-to-supplement anaerobic bacteria
-
Why emerging probiotic research could create new possibilities for mental, metabolic, and immune health
About the Guest
Dr. Oscar Coetzee is a nutritionist, published author, professor, and nationally recognized speaker, and VP of Clinical Education and Practitioner Support at Designs for Health. With more than 25 years of experience in nutritional science and research, he currently serves as a faculty member at the University of Bridgeport and Associate Director of the Nutrition Track within its Doctor of Health Sciences program. His work focuses on evidence-based nutritional science and developing nutrition intervention protocols for chronic disease. To learn more, visit https://www.designsforhealth.com/ or send an email to ocoetzee@designsforhealth.com.
PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people.