SCHIZOPHRENIA: Where you live, what you eat may play roles

[bloom]

This isn't new - but I thought it was intersting...

SCHIZOPHRENIA: Prevalence of illness unluck of the Irish; Where you live, what you eat may play roles

Schizophrenia Update, December 2002


By: Veronique Mandal Star Health-Science Reporter, Windsor Star
October 9, 2002 Wednesday Final Edition

Geography plays a role in the incidence of schizophrenia, scientists suspect.

American researcher Dr. E. Fuller Torrey discovered that southern Ireland has probably the highest incidence of the disease in the world -- four per cent of the population, compared to one per cent for the rest of the world.

...One factor being studied is potato consumption. When exposed to light, the potato produces a keloid called solanine which can cause gastrointestinal disturbances and psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations. Torrey says while it might sound far-fetched, in the 20th century it was proved that many people living in the southern U.S. were spending lifetimes in institutions for a mental illness which turned out to be pellegra, caused by a lack of the vitamin niacin.

Other countries with a high rate of schizophrenia include Croatia, a part of Yugoslavia and some of the Scandinavian nations. In other countries, such as New Guinea, Torrey says schizophrenia is hard to find. Low rates have also been found in Italy and Spain, as well as in most developing countries. Schizophrenia has also been hard to find in remote parts of Africa and Southeast Asia.

Rates are higher in India and Sri Lanka, with studies in India showing that the illness is more common among the upper castes -- those who are more educated and exposed to western technology.

http://www.schizophrenia.com/New/Dec2002/irishDec02.htm

[aquart]

1. Don't eat green potatoes.

[Sinti]

2. Not at all surprsing, but cool that it's being realized

Various vitamin deficiencies and/or overloads can cause psychotic symptoms. Any major alteration in the body's chemical system is bound to have ill effects, in some cases in the neural facilities. I wonder when they'll catch on that the high levels of lead in the water in many of our inner cities causes brain damage, difficulty in learning, and violent behavior. :)

[sam sarrha]

3. there is some worry about the flood of Estrogen and estrogen mimickers in

our food... it effects the steritonin levels in the brain and growth hormones, there is research going on to see if it relates to cancers and especially prostate gland and breast cancer.

the statement was.. our environment is 'Awash in female hormones'.. pesticides are particularly bad for mimicking female hormones.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. There are hormones where you least expect them:

1. Milk - To make the cows render more milk
2. Water - Believe it or not, I read that treatment plants cannot totally remove leftover estrogen, etc. from waste water that has originated from birth control pills. Therefore, some of it is in our water supply.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Omega threes may help people dealing with schizophrenia. n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Tonight's episode of "House" was about a woman who had niacin deficiency

induced schizophrenia.(Pellegra).
I never heard of that before, and now twice in the same night.