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This is a synopsis of the Diet, Daily Supplements, and Interventions in times of trouble for the Guardian Brain Chemistry Type, as detailed in
The Brain Chemistry Plan: The personalized nutritional prescription for balancing mood, relieving stress, and conquering depression , by Michael Lesser, M.D.
Information in the following tables has been extracted for personal use from Lesser's work (Berkley Trade; 2003: 251-5; 261; 267-74; passim). All material presented here has been checked and rechecked to ensure consistency with the book. Given the complexity of this schema, however, it is strongly
recommended that the reader obtain and study the full text of The Brain Chemistry Plan, which contains a great deal of additional information required to make an informed decision regarding diet;
lifestyle choices; vitamin, mineral, amino acid, and related supplementation.
Lesser presents chemical markers typical of the biochemical profiles for the other primary types, but notes that the Dreamer has no such set of typical markers.
"The only common ground," he writes, "is that whatever the results, they are usually extreme. One Dreamer may be very high on a particular marker,
while the next one may be quite low" (p.236). To make sense of the wide range of blood chemistry results for this type, he describes four subtypes -
Stoic Dreamer, Warrior Dreamer, Star Dreamer, Borderline Dreamer - and provides natural medicine solution for each. These solutions
are shown at the bottom of this page.
Lesser also provides a separate dietary chart for the Stoic subtype, because it contains so many additions to the basic Dreamer diet. Immediately following the
primary Dreamer diet, the Stoic subtype diet is presented below.
The Warrior subtype adds several items to the "Best Choices" column; these are integrated in
the primary Dreamer diet below.
Not shown in the primary Dreamer diet are additions for the Star subtype. Serotonin-promoting foods such as eggplant, tomatoes, walnuts, and plums (as
well as avocados, bananas, and pineapple) - are foods that will benefit the depressed Star, but which should be avoided during a manic upswing.
Lesser recommends that the Borderline subtype follow the primary Dreamer diet. (p.253) |
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This plan is designed primarily to balance [Dreamer] brain chemistry, but ... in combination with reasonable physical activity, [it] will also
also help you control your weight and stay healthy in general... [I]t isn't necessary to count calories or precisely measure what you eat in any way. All you need to keep track
of is the rough number of servings of food you get in a few different categories...
Foods not mentioned [in the table below], and not included in the text as what you should avoid, are basically neutral and fine to include. Just about all vegetables are good, for example,
though the ones mentioned in the [table] have particular benefits... (pp.250-1)
The Dreamer diet:
- 5-7 small meals a day
- 3-4 servings lean animal protein (optional)
- 3-5 servings legumes, nuts, and seeds (vegetable protein)
- 7-11 [½ c] servings of vegetables
- 5-6 [½ c] servings whole grains (optional)
- 1-6 servings of fruit (optional)
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