Joe’s Mental Health

Dr. Luka Kovaฤ:
“When it comes to the mind, Joe, we must remember that it is not separate from the body. What you eat, drink, and surround yourself withโ€”these all play a role in balance. Let me give you a list I recommend for mental health.”

Foods for Mental Health:

  • Fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel) โ€“ omega-3s for brain function
  • Nuts and seeds (walnuts, flaxseeds, chia, pumpkin seeds) โ€“ mood stabilizers
  • Whole grains (brown rice, oats, quinoa) โ€“ slow-release energy, stabilizing blood sugar
  • Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, Swiss chard) โ€“ folate and magnesium
  • Berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries) โ€“ antioxidants against stress
  • Bananas โ€“ natural serotonin booster
  • Avocados โ€“ healthy fats for the brain
  • Fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi) โ€“ gut health linked to mental health
  • Dark chocolate (in moderation) โ€“ dopamine and serotonin enhancer

Water:

  • Clean mineral-rich spring water, or filtered water with trace minerals added
  • Herbal infusions like chamomile or lemon balm tea for calmness
  • Limit caffeinated and sugary drinks, as they spike anxiety

Vitamins & Minerals:

  • Vitamin D โ€“ sunshine vitamin, crucial for mood
  • Vitamin B complex โ€“ especially B6, B9 (folate), B12 for nervous system balance
  • Vitamin C โ€“ supports stress response
  • Magnesium โ€“ relaxes the nervous system, reduces anxiety
  • Zinc โ€“ supports brain function and mood regulation
  • Selenium โ€“ antioxidant, stabilizes mood

Herbs & Roots:

  • Ashwagandha โ€“ adaptogen for stress relief
  • Rhodiola โ€“ energy and resilience against burnout
  • Valerian root โ€“ for rest and sleep
  • Ginseng โ€“ mental clarity and focus
  • Turmeric (curcumin) โ€“ anti-inflammatory for brain health
  • Ginger โ€“ circulation and mental alertness
  • St. Johnโ€™s Wort โ€“ for mild depression (with medical caution for interactions)

Supplements:

  • Omega-3 fish oil or algae oil capsules
  • Probiotics for gut-brain axis health
  • L-theanine (from green tea) โ€“ calm alertness
  • 5-HTP โ€“ supports serotonin (taken only under medical guidance)

Lifestyle & Natural Therapies:

  • Daily exercise: even 20โ€“30 minutes of walking or light training improves mood
  • Sunshine: at least 15 minutes of direct light on skin daily for Vitamin D
  • Time in nature: forests, oceans, mountains โ€“ reset the nervous system
  • Deep breathing and meditation practices
  • Social connection and laughter โ€“ the best natural medicine

Dr. Kovaฤ smiles:
“These things together create resilience. Not one pill, but a lifestyle of balance. Medicine should not only be what we prescribe, but how we live.”

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Dr. Luka Kovacโ€™s Journal โ€“ Dream Entry: Fiona Apple and the OCD Healing Protocol

Last night, Fiona Apple came to me in a dream. She looked pale but beautiful, intense, like her musicโ€”like a storm barely held inside a porcelain shell. She asked for help. Her eyes, haunted and hopeful, whispered: โ€œLukaโ€ฆ tell me how to quiet the rituals, the loops, the noise in my mind.โ€

So today, Iโ€™m writing this for Fionaโ€”and for anyone who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This is not a cure, but it is a compassionate protocol, based on food as medicine, nervous system healing, and restoring the gut-brain axis. We must first do no harmโ€”but then we must nourish.


๐Ÿง  Dr. Luka Kovacโ€™s Nutritional & Herbal Protocol for OCD


๐ŸŒพ Foods That Heal the Brain and Soothe Obsession:

  • Wild Blueberries โ€“ neuroprotective, high in antioxidants, reduces brain inflammation
  • Avocados โ€“ rich in healthy fats to support myelin sheath and neurotransmitters
  • Pumpkin Seeds โ€“ high in zinc and magnesium; calming to nerves
  • Salmon & Sardines (Wild-caught) โ€“ high in omega-3s (EPA & DHA), essential for mood regulation
  • Fermented Vegetables โ€“ like kimchi, sauerkraut; feed the microbiome, balance mood
  • Bananas (especially just ripe) โ€“ contain tryptophan, helps produce serotonin
  • Sweet Potatoes โ€“ complex carbs to stabilize blood sugar and improve GABA production

๐Ÿ’Š Key Vitamins & Minerals for OCD:

  • Magnesium Glycinate โ€“ anti-anxiety mineral; calms racing thoughts, helps sleep
  • Zinc Picolinate โ€“ supports neurotransmitter function and immune modulation
  • Vitamin B6 (P-5-P) โ€“ crucial cofactor in serotonin and dopamine synthesis
  • Vitamin D3 โ€“ low levels linked with OCD and depression; best with K2
  • Folate (L-Methylfolate) โ€“ supports methylation and detox pathways
  • Inositol (Vitamin B8) โ€“ powerful at high doses (12โ€“18g/day under guidance); shown to reduce OCD symptoms

๐ŸŒฟ Herbs and Roots to Calm the Rituals:

  • Ashwagandha โ€“ adaptogen for cortisol balance; smooths obsessive thought spirals
  • Rhodiola Rosea โ€“ supports emotional resilience, reduces intrusive thoughts
  • Passionflower โ€“ GABAergic herb for calming repetitive mental loops
  • Lemon Balm โ€“ anti-anxiety herb, gentle and effective
  • Valerian Root โ€“ calming at night, but only in small doses
  • Reishi Mushroom โ€“ immunomodulating and deeply calming
  • Holy Basil (Tulsi) โ€“ balances mood and endocrine stress response

๐Ÿฆ  Probiotics for the Gut-Brain Axis:

OCD often worsens with gut dysbiosis. Healing starts in the belly.

  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus โ€“ shown to reduce anxiety-like behavior
  • Bifidobacterium longum โ€“ supports mental clarity and reduces cortisol
  • Saccharomyces boulardii โ€“ probiotic yeast that combats pathogens and brain fog
  • Prebiotic fibers (chicory root, garlic, Jerusalem artichoke) โ€“ nourish beneficial bacteria

๐Ÿ›‘ Foods to Avoid for OCD Sufferers:

  • Caffeine โ€“ overstimulates the limbic system and worsens compulsions
  • Refined sugar โ€“ spikes and crashes worsen anxiety and obsession
  • Gluten (for some) โ€“ may trigger autoimmune-like brain inflammation
  • Alcohol โ€“ depletes B vitamins, disturbs sleep and emotional regulation
  • Artificial dyes and additives โ€“ neurotoxins for sensitive individuals

๐ŸŒ™ Dr. Kovacโ€™s Closing Words (Dream Reflection)

โ€œFiona,โ€ I said, in the soft light of the dream, โ€œyou are not broken. Your mind is just too loud, too alive. Letโ€™s quiet it with nourishment, not poison. With roots, not pills. With rituals of healing, not compulsion.โ€

โ€œLet the world hear your silence. Let it be the chorus of your next album.โ€

And she smiled. Just a little. That Fiona Apple smile that says Iโ€™m not okay, but Iโ€™m still singing.

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Avoiding Microplastics

Dr. Luka Kovaฤ, the brilliant yet brooding emergency room physician, takes a deep breath before addressing the camera, his Croatian accent lending a weight of authority to his words.

“Microplastics are everywhereโ€”our water, our food, even in the air we breathe. If you want to minimize your exposure, you must be disciplined. Hereโ€™s what I do:”

  1. Drink filtered water โ€“ “I donโ€™t trust bottled water. Itโ€™s ironic, but many plastic bottles release microplastics into the very water they contain. I use a high-quality water filter at home and carry a stainless-steel bottle.”
  2. Avoid plastic food containers โ€“ “Microwaving food in plastic is a mistake. Heat accelerates the release of microplastics into your food. Use glass, stainless steel, or ceramic whenever possible.”
  3. Eat whole, unprocessed foods โ€“ “Highly processed foods often have more microplastic contamination from packaging and industrial processing. Fresh produce and homemade meals are safer.”
  4. Be mindful of seafood consumption โ€“ “Fish and shellfish, especially those that feed near the ocean surface, are loaded with microplastics. If you eat seafood, choose wisely, and donโ€™t overdo it.”
  5. Choose natural fabrics โ€“ “Polyester and synthetic fibers shed microplastics when washed. Wear cotton, wool, or linen instead. If you must use synthetics, wash them in a special filter bag.”
  6. Reduce overall plastic use โ€“ “Less plastic in your life means less chance for exposure. Avoid plastic cutlery, straws, and cheap plastic kitchenware.”
  7. Vacuum and dust regularly โ€“ “Microplastics settle in household dust. A clean home is a healthier home. Trust me, Iโ€™ve treated too many respiratory issues to ignore this.”

Dr. Kovaฤ leans forward, his gaze intense. “These are small steps, but they add up. In medicine, we always talk about risk reductionโ€”this is no different. Take control where you can. Your body will thank you.”

He sighs, then offers a small, weary smile. “And if all else failsโ€ฆ move to a remote Croatian island. But even there, the plastics wash up on shore. We have nowhere to run. So, we fight.”

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