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DREAMER — Brain Chemistry Type Diet
The Brain Chemistry Plan

NUTRI > DREAMER...

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 ((NY: Perigee; 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)

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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FOOD	BEST CHOICES	BEST CHOICES Warrior Subtype	GOOD CHOICES	AVOID
The Dreamer Diet
Animal Protein (lean) 3-4 servings (optional)	beef chicken fish dairy products eggs salmon	poultry red meat turkey (especially dark meat) herring oysters	tuna clams crab pork	processed dairy and meats
Legumes, Nuts and Seeds 3-5 servings	soybeans soy products (soy burgers, tofu, etc.) lima beans sunflower seeds	black beans almonds pumpkin seeds and other squash seeds pecans	garbanzo beans (chickpeas) lentils navy beans cashews peanuts walnuts	canned beans in sugar sauce
Vegetables 7-11 servings	asparagus peas spinach	kale carrots mushrooms onions	alfalfa sprouts avocados broccoli Brussels sprouts cabbage carrots cauliflower collards green vegetables kale lettuce mustard greens parsley peppers potatoes tomatoes	canned or frozen vegetables with added sugar, EDTA, or preservatives
Fruit 1-6 servings, optional	lemons limes grapefruit bananas oranges		apricots berries cherries guava grapes kiwi mangoes melons papaya pineapples raisins strawberries	overripe fruit (encourages candidiasis)
Whole Grains 5-6 servings, optional	wheat bran brown rice	wheat germ oatmeal	shredded wheat whole wheat rice polish wheat germ	white flour white rice
Sweeteners			honey maple syrup	white sugar chocolate refined sweeteners
Beverages	milk		water tomato juice	caffeinated drinks (including coffee, tea, sodas, and diet sodas)
Condiments and Seasonings	brewer's yeast			baker's yeast

FOOD	BEST CHOICES	GOOD CHOICES	AVOID
The Stoic Dreamer Subtype Diet
Animal Protein (lean) 4-5 servings	chicken turkey skim milk yogurt buttermilk cottage cheese cheddar cheese eggs salmon beef lamb halibut organ meats	canned salmon (with bones) canned sardines (with bones) milk and dairy products poultry herring oysters fish tuna pork	shellfish sweetened evaporated milk
Legumes, Nuts, and Seeds 2-4 servings	almonds lima beans peanuts soybeans soy products (soy burgers, tofu, etc., particularly tofu made with calcium - read labels) sunflower seeds walnuts	garbanzo beans (chickpeas) lentils navy beans cashews pumpkin seeds sesame seeds pecans black beans pinto beans pistachios kidney beans
Vegetables 8-12 servings	avocados broccoli eggplant peas spinach tomatoes potatoes	asparagus alfalfa sprouts Brussels sprouts cabbage carrots cauliflower collards green vegetables kale lettuce mustard greens onions parsley peppers tomatoes turnip greens
Fruit 1-6 servings, optional	lemons limes grapefruit bananas pineapple plums	apples apricots berries cherries guava oranges kiwi mangoes melons papaya strawberries	dried fruit
Whole Grains 4-5 servings, optional	brown rice oatmeal corn or other whole grain tortillas	whole grain cereal whole grain bread
Sweeteners		honey maple syrup (modest amounts) chocolate (only naturally sweetened, with honey or maple syrup)	white sugar refined sweeteners
Beverages			caffeinated drinks (including coffee, tea, sodas, and diet sodas)
Condiments and Seasonings	brewer's yeast iodized salt		cocoa

CAUTION:
The following material regarding vitamin, mineral, amino acid and other dietary supplements is presented for purposes of information only, and is in no way intended to supersede advice from a qualified health care professional. Unless you have in-depth knowledge of these supplements and know what you are doing, it is strongly recommended that you consult your pharmacist or physician before attempting to medicate yourself. The Brain Chemistry Plan describes each supplement, its actions, uses, and contraindications - all of which are beyond the scope of this synopsis.

Responses to vitamin and mineral supplements can be highly idiosyncratic. In elevated dosage, for example, niacin (nicotinic acid) causes histamine release, resulting in cutaneous vasodilatation and increased blood flow, with symptoms of flushing, itching and tingling sensations, an increase in skin temperature, and increased motility of the stomach. These effects are transient, usually occurring a few minutes after ingestion and lasting up to an hour. Adverse reactions may include severe generalized flushing, decreased glucose tolerance, activation of peptic ulcers, abnormalities of hepatic function tests, jaundice, gastrointestinal disorders, dry skin, keratosis nigricans, pruritis, hyperuricemia, toxic amblyopia, hypotension and transient headache. When properly used, however, in conjunction with a high-protein diet, niacin is extremely effective.

If I had to choose only one vitamin [in] my repertoire for improving mood or guarding against the blues,
[niacin] is the one I'd probably pick. (p.71)

Caffeine can cause or worsen anxiety... A study of hospitalized schizophrenic patients revealed that those who used the most caffeine tended to have the most psychotic symptoms. We know from animal studies that caffeine increases serotonin ... but it also increases dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline ... [which] are excitatory neurotransmitters [that] can cause overstimulation... (p.247)

Essential Foods	Danger Foods
Grilled meat Vegetables Dairy products Beans Nuts Legumes (p.247)	Fruits Sugar Refined simple carbohydrates Caffeine idem

Daily Supplements	Interventions
Vitamins & Minerals	Amino Acids
Vitamin C	Tryptophan
B Complex	5-HTP [5-Hydroxy-Tryptophan]
Niacin (vitamin B3)	Methionine
Thiamine (vitamin B1)	Tyrosine
Folic Acid	Minerals
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)	Lithium
Cobalamin (vitamin B12)
Zinc
Calcium
Magnesium
Manganese

Stoic Dreamers
p.267

To lower histamine:

Calcium: 500 mg twice a day and
Methionine: 500 mg twice a day

To raise serotonin:

Niacin: 1-6 g a day

5-Hydroxy-Tryptophan (5-HTP): 200-300 mg at bedtime or
Tryptophan: 1-3 g a day

To stabilize blood sugar:

Niacin: 100 mg three times a day

Zinc: 30-60 mg daily

Balanced B Complex: containing 50-100 mg of each B vitamin

To help normalize thyroid function:

Tyrosine: 1,500 mg daily

Balanced B Complex: 1-2, twice a day

Thiamine: 500-1,000 mg daily

Colloidal Iodine: 150 mcg daily

Magnesium: 400 mg daily

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NUTRI — Diet & Nutrition

DREAMER — Brain Chemistry Type Diet The Brain Chemistry Plan

DREAMER — Brain Chemistry Type Diet
The Brain Chemistry Plan