Neurotransmitter imbalances can be caused by a very large number of factors and often times a person will be impacted by a combination of factors. The most common causes of neurotransmitter imbalance include:
- Genetics
- Stress
- Toxic Burden
- Head or neck trauma
- Nutritional deficiency
- Digestive imbalances
- Sleep disturbances
- Alcohol use
- Chronic pain/inflammation
- Food hypersensitivities
- Illicit drug use
- Medication use, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety, sleep and migraine medications
The impact genetics, stress, trauma or toxic burden has on your health as well as your neurotransmitter balance is greatly exacerbated by a nutrient-deficient diet. The Standard American Diet (SAD) almost seems to be designed to cause neurotransmitter imbalances, emphasizing lots of processed foods full of artificial ingredients as well as many highly allergenic foods that can cause the body to dump serotonin and stimulate the output of excitatory neurotransmitters.
Part 2 of this series will focus on how and why the Standard American Diet – with its inherent vitamin and mineral deficiencies – can create and exacerbate neurotransmitter imbalance(s).
