104 Achieving pH Balance to Treat Specific Ailments
per because, as a receptor for red light, copper plays a vital role in
respiration.
Few people realize that sunlight plays an active role in the conver-
sion of the chemical energ y in the food we eat into heat energ y for body
function. The importance of sunlight in the brain for the production
of energy is underscored by the fact that in developing countries,
although coronary heart disease, cancer, and diabetes have become
common (since the introduction of refi ned sugar, fl our, soda, and
canned goods), schizophrenia and depression are still rare. While the
great majority of the inhabitants in these countries have given up their
traditional foods, because of the tropical climate they still spend a great
deal of time in the sun. It would seem then that as far as the health of
the brain is concerned, sunlight for the manufacture of energy is even
more important than a healthy diet.
Cellular respiration (energy production) in the brain can also ben-
efi t from a substance not ordinarily associated with the synthesis of
energy, and that is glutamic acid, an amino acid. If taken in the form
of L-glutamine, it can get through the brain’s highly selective blood-
brain barrier. (The walls of the brain’s capillaries have no receptors
through which glutamic acid can pass, but they do have exit points for
L-glutamine.) L-glutamine produces a special, concentrated energy
useful for those with or without brain disorders who suffer from
inertia. It also gets rid of excess ammonia in the blood, a problem in
most mental disorders. (Dr. Roger Williams recommends 1 to 4 g L-
glutamine per day for schizophrenics.) There can be a downside to
taking L-glutamine: being essentially glutamic acid, the amino acid
in monosodium glutamate (MSG), it is highly allergy causing. For
those who are allergic to it, it acts as an excitotoxin, distorting the
functions of the brain’s neurons by accelerating their movements.
This increased speed causes the neurons to heat up, resulting in such
side effects as headaches, dizziness, and restlessness.Nutritional Therapy for Mental Disorders
Individuals with mental disorders tend to have a defi ciency in the B
vitamins, vitamins E and C, and such minerals as zinc, magnesium,