Your mental health refers to your emotional, psychological, and social well-being and is integral to your overall health. Your mental health affects how you think, feel, act, and cope with the normal stresses and anxieties of life. So, it is critical to take care of your mental health through proper nutrition, adequate exercise and sleep, and stress management practices.
Nutrition’s vital role in supporting mental health is gaining increasing awareness. In addition to food sources, nutritional supplements for supporting mental health can fill many nutritional gaps. So, what are the best mental health support supplements? Are cannabinoids good for your mental health? Are there mental health support supplement formulations?
Get the answers to questions about the top mental health support supplements, including how they promote your emotional health, the role of endocannabinoids as mental health support supplements, and advanced supplement formulations. Use the links below to jump ahead to different topics on the page.
Neurological Health: An Overview
Your neurological system is responsible for your intelligence, learning, memory, thoughts, sensations, emotions, perception, physical movement, and autonomic body functions. Neurological health is defined as the healthy functioning of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system (the nerves). Mental health refers to the state of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and behave, and influences how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Your mental health is largely dependent on the health of your nervous system in addition to your general physical health.
Emerging research highlights the relationship between nutrient imbalances and neurological conditions1. There is also a growing body of evidence supporting the connection between nutrition and mental health. Several studies and reviews have highlighted the potential impact of diet on mood disorders, including depression and anxiety2,3. Both macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein and fat) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and antioxidants) play a vital role in the proper functioning of the nervous system, promoting mental well-being.
The Relationship Between Neurological and Gastrointestinal Health
A growing body of evidence suggests that disturbances in the gut-brain axis (the communication system between the gut and the brain) can contribute to mental health disorders. We now know that the gastrointestinal tract is lined with trillions of beneficial microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses and others) collectively known as the gut microbiome. These microbes do many beneficial things for us including digesting food, producing vitamins, regulating the immune system, protecting against harmful pathogens, metabolizing drugs, maintaining gut health, regulating metabolism and influencing mood and mental health4. Dysfunction in the gut microbiome has been associated with poor cognitive performance5. Conversely, certain neurological conditions can affect gut function and cause adverse inflammatory responses in the gastrointestinal environment6. Micronutrients as well as prebiotic and probiotic supplements have been shown to support a healthy gut microbiome, indicating their potential beneficial role for promoting mental health7,8.
Food Sources That Promote Your Neurological Health
Food sources rich in vitamins (folic acid, vitamin D), minerals (zinc and magnesium), poly-unsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3 fatty acids), amino acids (glycine, N-acetylcysteine), and probiotics (as well as postbiotics) are known to promote mental health. The following table highlights the food sources that promote good neurological health.
| Foods Promoting Brain Function | |
| Vegetables and fruits | Vegetables and fruits contain kaempferol, a flavonoid with antioxidant and neuroprotective effects9. Cruciferous, yellow, and green leafy vegetables, such as kale, cabbage, green beans, cucumber, squash, tomatoes, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. Fruits include berries (gooseberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries), apples, grapes, citrus fruits, peaches, and grapefruit. |
| Proteins | Meat, fish, seafood, and eggs are rich sources of arachidonic acid — an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid that displays immuno-modulating properties and plays a critical role in neurodevelopment10. |
| Spices and herbs | Spices, such as black pepper and long pepper, contain a novel plant compound guineensine, that helps maintain normal inflammatory responses in the nervous system11. Herbs like dill, chives, saffron, and tarragon contain kaempferol. |
| Beverages | Beverages like tea — particularly green and black Kenyan tea — also contain kaempferol. |
| Chocolates and Truffles | The mood-boosting effects of (unprocessed) chocolate are attributed to cacao beans or nibs, which contain various beneficial compounds, including anandamide (a cannabinoid neurotransmitter also produced by the body). Truffles are underground mushrooms that contain endocannabinoid metabolic enzymes that enhance the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in our body (a system that regulates our neurotransmitters, immune function, metabolism, pain and sensory perception, and protection of the nervous system). |
| Probiotics & Postbiotics | Food rich in probiotics, like yogurt, cheese, and kombucha, support the growth of the beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome, indirectly promoting mental wellness. Certain microbiome imbalance can lead to low levels of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid produced by certain bacteria in your gut when they break down fiber. Butyric acid plays an important role in keeping the gut healthy by providing energy to the cells lining the intestines and helping to maintain a strong barrier against harmful substances. Supplementation may be useful in conditions where levels are low. Postbiotic nutrients, such as butyric acid, support brain health by countering gastrointestinal disturbance caused by certain microbiome imbalances. |
Cannabinoids: Are They Good for You?
Cannabinoids are a class of compounds with psychoactive properties (substances that can affect your mind, mood, emotions, or behavior) which exert an overall modulatory effect on the brain reward circuitry, thereby supporting mental and emotional health12. Cannabinoids can be derived from plants, and some are produced by our bodies (referred to as ‘endocannabinoids’). Examples of plant-derived cannabinoids include Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) are the cannabinoids produced in the body.
The plant-derived cannabinoid THC interacts directly with the endocannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) to mimic the functions of endocannabinoids. CBD, on the other hand, works indirectly with CB1 receptors to enhance endogenous anandamide signaling. So, are plant-derived cannabinoids good for you?
It is worth noting that the use of THC or CBD products as nutritional supplements or food additives is much debated. In contrast, anandamide supplements are a suitable alternative to THC/CBD and are widely recognized as one of the top mental health support supplements for promoting brain health and overall well-being.
Anandamide: The Cannabinoid Your Body Produces
Let’s understand what anandamide is before considering its beneficial effects. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) in our body consists of a group of neuro-modulatory lipids that influence emotional processing. The key components of the ECS are —
- Endocannabinoids: Anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG)
- Endocannabinoid receptors: Including CB1 and CB2 receptors
- Associated enzymes: Including fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol acid lipase (MGL)
Chemically, anandamide is arachidonyl-ethanolamide (AEA), a lipid-based neurotransmitter that binds to the cannabinoid receptors in different regions of the body and brain. The following table highlights the potential benefits of anandamide on brain health.
| How Does Anandamide Promote Mental Health? | |
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Tesseract’s Advanced Mental Health Support Supplement Formulations
Tesseract Medical Research’s AnaQuell® is an innovative nutritional supplement formulation that supports the body’s natural response to stress.* The combination of anandamide and L-citrulline in the proprietary complex supports a healthy response to mood changes and mild non-GAD anxiety.* The addition of L-citrulline to the complex supports nitric oxide (NO) production, maintaining healthy blood flow and promoting cardiovascular health.*
AuRx® is a gold-standard medical food for ASD, featuring a stabilized butyric acid complex delivered in a palatable powder to ensure user compliance, especially in children. This hypoallergenic medical food supports healthy levels of butyric acid, promoting healthy behavior, language and emotional stability in ASD children.*
Tesseract’s proprietary and revolutionary CyLoc® – DexKey® technology enhances the solubility and absorption of active nutrients in the above two formulations to achieve their benefits. It is a nanomolecular nutrient delivery system that maintains the integrity of nutrient molecules during transit through the stomach, thereby enabling their targeted delivery at the desired point in the intestinal tract for optimal absorption.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health Support Supplements
Why should you consider taking a mental health support supplement?
You should consider a mental health support supplement to:
- Complement an inadequate diet or support low plasma levels of a specific nutrient to achieve the recommended nutrient intake.
- Fill nutritional gaps of specific nutrients lacking in a typical Western diet.
- Enhance the bioavailability and absorption of nutrients to achieve their health benefits.
Are there side effects to taking a mental health support supplement?
Mental health support supplements are generally safe for oral intake. However, research shows that the overstimulation of CB1 receptors can disrupt the brain’s reward circuitry, resulting in unhealthy dietary patterns and subsequent weight gain. Hence, it is always recommended to consult with your healthcare provider before including a mental health support supplement in your diet.
Can I take a mental health support supplement with a prescription medicine?
There may be an interaction between a mental health support supplement and a prescription medication. There is limited data on the use of these supplements with medications as well as limited data on prolonged intake of these supplements with prescription medications. Therefore, you should always consult with your healthcare provider before taking a mental health support supplement with a prescription medication.
What are the features of an advanced mental health support supplement?
When considering an advanced mental health support supplement, you should look for the following features:
- Optimal absorption: Formulations with advanced nutrient delivery systems enhance the bioavailability of active nutrients, resulting in optimal absorption.
- Targeted delivery: Targeted delivery of active nutrients at the desired point in the intestinal tract enables the controlled release of the nutrient molecules.
- Micro-dosing: Micro-dosing refers to achieving the desired health benefits of an active nutrient in lower doses than previously required. It allows for multiple nutrients to be highly efficacious in a single capsule.
Tesseract’s mental health support supplement formulations have these three features to achieve the benefits of active nutrients promoting emotional and mental well-being.*
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they can support your neurologicalhealth and well-being.*
1Tsalamandris G, et al. The role of nutrition in neurological disorders. Nutrients vol. 15,22 4713. 7 Nov. 2023, doi:10.3390/nu15224713
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3Scherma M, et al. Brain activity of anandamide: a rewarding bliss? Acta Pharmacologica Sinica vol. 40,3 (2019):309-323. doi:10.1038/s41401-018-0075-x
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13Scherma M, et al. Brain activity of anandamide: a rewarding bliss? Acta Pharmacologica Sinica vol. 40,3 (2019):309-323. doi:10.1038/s41401-018-0075-x
14Kimura T, Ohta T, Watanabe K, Yoshimura H, Yamamoto I. Anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand, also interacts with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor. Biol Pharm Bull. 1998;21(3):224-226. doi:10.1248/bpb.21.224
15Ameri A, et al. Effects of the endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, on neuronal activity in rat hippocampal slices. British Journal of Pharmacology vol. 126,8 (1999):1831-1839. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0702478
16Murillo-Rodríguez, E et al. “Anandamide modulates sleep and memory in rats.” Brain research vol. 812,1-2 (1998): 270-4. doi:10.1016/s0006-8993(98)00969-x
