Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

A simple answer for your husband would be this. If you don't want me taking any vitamins, then we need to start eating all freshly prepared food. Nothing that comes in a box or can or ready for the microwave.

Our food today has been over produced and over processed. By over-produced, the growers grow it as fast and big as possible for the least cost. This leaves the soil and fruit or vegetable lacking in many nutrients. When we eat this food, the nutritional values are much less than our body needs. An injured body needs even more nutrition.

The brain needs the precursors to the critical neurotransmitters and also the amino acids and fatty acids that are used to repair the brain cells. The main stream food producers will say that they add the necessary nutrients during processing. The Big Pharma companies say that vitamins are not needed, just their patented medicines.

Interestingly enough, recently, two big pharma cos have patented forms of niacin and Omega 3 fatty acids. They develop most of their patented medicines to mimic naturally occurring substances. St John's Wort is the source of research into anti-depressants.

The simplest way to handle this is to try a nutrition program. It will take a few months to start to see any benefit. First, you need to undo the deficiencies. Then you can start the healing process.

My wife can tell when I have run out of some of my vitamins. My behavior changes. She will drive 15 miles to Costco and back just to get me back on my regimen.

I do not know of any double blind studies. They would be very costly. The evidence is mostly anecdotal but based on the anecdotal accounts of thousands if not millions of people.

Some blood work will help. You can be tested for Folate, Vit B-12, Vit D. You want to be at the top of the normal range for each since an injured brain will likely struggle at the bottom of the normal range. For example. B-12 range is 176 to 840. I am at 1067.
Folate range is 2.6 to 19.5 I am at 20 plus.
I take substantial doses of both to get to this level.
If I did not, I would be much lower.

Some people do not process B-12 through their digestive tract very well. It is a hereditary thing. Those people will benefit from B-12 injections. 28 years ago, I suffered from a deep depression. My doctor got me on good nutrition and gave me B-12 shots. Within 8 weeks I was a different person. No drugs, just getting my body and brain healthy.

Caffeine is an excito-toxin. It can stimulate ( exicite) brain cells to a point of damage. Two cups spread out over the day should not be a big problem. A single drink also should not be a problem. Getting tipsy or worse, getting drunk, is definitely counter-indicated for an injured brain. If you look up the metabolism of caffeine, you will find that it interacts with your adrenaline system. It can raise you blood pressure and do other things to stress a brain.

Hope this helps.

My best to you.

btw, When you hear someone mention Israel (Mountain, Road, River), You can tell them that he trapped the north woods and surveyed that area for the King. Many of the property lines ( Mason Grant lines) were survey by Israel and his brothers and father. Then he and his brothers joined the Continental Army and fought against the King. Partiotic turncoats they were. Off Moutonborough Neck is Glines Island, named after my family. There is a greater concentration of Glines descendants around the Lakes area than anywhere else in the USA.