Almost nightly, there are numerous news stories of violent acts, as well as television and movie depictions of violence. One can see the devastating effects of violence on individuals, victims and perpetrators alike, as well as their families and entire communities. What is more dismaying than the acts themselves is how frequently the perpetrators are youths, often with little remorse for their actions. Puzzled, society is left to ask some very difficult questions: Why are violent perpetrators ever younger? What motivates someone to commit a violent crime? What can be done to reverse the rise in violence, especially in youths, who represent the future?
The root causes of delinquency, maladaptive and antisocial behavior, crime and violence have been debated for decades. The medical world has long believed that behavior disorders (ranging for mild temper tantrums to assaultive rages) result from life experiences such as lack of love, bad parenting, child abuse, broken homes and poverty. However, during the past decade, scientific research has shown that imbalances in neurotransmitters, their precursors, and other biochemicals and nutrients can significantly contribute to severe behavior disorders and violence. Even more compelling is the growing number of studies demonstrating that behavior can be enhanced through nutrient supplementation and dietary changes.
The brain is a chemical factory that constantly produces neurotransmitters throughout a person's life. The raw materials are amino acids, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The step-by-step processes by which the body produces the major neurotransmitters have been known for years. One can usually obtain enough nutrients to produce neurotransmitters from a well-balanced diet involving the major food groups. However, many people have poor diet, absorption or metabolic disorders that result in severe nutrient imbalances that adversely affect brain functioning.
It would be a simple matter if all nutrient imbalances were deficiencies, since a multiple vitamin/mineral supplement would then have efficacy..................
