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A helpful adjunctive treatment for PTSD is a targeted diet.

Foods to avoid for PTSD: sugar, fast food, fried foods, and high-GI carbs like white bread.

Blueberries, Omega-3s, and Vitamin E are linked to decreased PTSD symptoms.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, for example, war, a serious accident, or abuse. Treatment usually includes medication, psychotherapy, and adjunctive treatments such as aerobic exercise, yoga, getting proper sleep, utilizing stress management techniques, and choosing food wisely.

What we eat has a major influence on how our brains function. This is partly because of the strong link between the brain and our GI tract. The vagus nerve runs from the brainstem to the GI tract and interacts with the nerves embedded in the gut wall. There is two-way communication between the brain and the gut. Each one influences the other.

Also, the gut has a microbiome consisting of millions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It plays a major role in digestion, the functions of the immune system, and produces neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. Furthermore, the gut microbiome is involved in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, brain volume, neurocircuitry, and other brain functions (MacKay, 2024).

The microbiome is powerfully influenced by what we eat. Food provides nutrients for the microbes, helps determine which species will predominate, and what metabolic products are made by them. Given the tight connection between the brain and the gut, it's........

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