Nourished with Dr. Anikó
On Nourished with Dr. Anikó, you’ll discover a refreshing, integrative approach to whole-person wellness, motherhood, and authentic living. Hosted by Dr. Anikó Gréger, a double board-certified Integrative Pediatrician and Postpartum specialist trained in perinatal mental health, this podcast is a powerful space for people who are ready to feel deeply supported, emotionally connected, and truly nourished—physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Nourished is rooted in both clinical expertise and lived experience. As a mother and a healer, Dr. Anikó shares thoughtful conversations, solo episodes, and expert guest interviews that explore the many layers of what it means to live a nourished life. From Integrative Medicine and nervous system regulation to postpartum recovery, mental health support, hormone balance, lifestyle practices, and relationship dynamics, each episode offers transformative insights and practical tools to help you reclaim your vitality and inner calm.
You’ll learn how to nourish your body with intention, support your emotional well-being, strengthen your relationships, and reconnect with your sense of purpose. Whether you're navigating early motherhood, midlife transitions, or simply seeking a more mindful and empowered way of living, this podcast meets you where you are and helps you grow.
Nourished is your invitation to stop just surviving and start thriving through evidence-based wisdom, soulful storytelling, and a deeper connection to yourself and the world around you. Subscribe now and share Nourished with someone you love who’s ready to feel more aligned, supported, and well. Your presence here is truly appreciated.
Nourished with Dr. Anikó
64. Micronutrients for ADHD, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Depression: What the Research Shows with Julia Rucklidge, PhD (Part 2)
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If micronutrients can help with severe psychiatric conditions, why isn't everyone doing this already? In Part 2, Dr. Anikó and Professor Julia Rucklidge unpack the real controversy and institutional resistance behind this research, from patients deemed "incompetent to consent" for wanting to try micronutrients over medication, to a clinical trial disrupted by an earthquake. Their shared message: this isn't about rejecting medication, it's about expanding the menu of options available to patients and clinicians.
The conversation then turns to the Nutramum study, Professor Rucklidge's RCT testing broad-spectrum micronutrients in pregnant women with depression. The results: lower rates of preterm birth, fewer low-birth-weight babies, less postpartum hemorrhaging, and a fivefold reduction in postpartum depression risk compared to standard care. They also cover why pregnancy depletes mom's nutrient stores, what five-year follow-up data shows for the babies, and why this belongs in every informed-consent conversation during pregnancy.
Whether you're a clinician, an expecting parent, or just curious why nutrition isn't taken more seriously in mental health care, this episode makes the case for why that needs to change.
Episode Highlights:
2:00 The Controversy: Why a "Good News Story" About Micronutrients Faced So Much Resistance
3:00 Deemed "Incompetent to Consent": The Ethics Battles That Shut Down Early Studies
6:00 Studying Through a Disaster: Running a Clinical Trial During the Christchurch Earthquake
7:00 The First ADHD RCT: 47% Much-to-Very-Much Improved on Micronutrients vs. 20% on Placebo
11:00 Fear, Stigma, and Undertrained Providers: Parallels to Perinatal Mental Health Care
14:00 Not Anti-Medication: Reframing This as an Expanded Menu of Options
19:00 Side Effects Worth Having: Better Sleep, Reduced Irritability, Improved Growth
23:00 Why the RDA Was Never Designed for Brain Health
27:00 Understanding the Upper Limit (UL): Why It's Not the Same as Toxicity
28:00 The Pellagra Lesson: Why Blaming a Single Nutrient Misses the Bigger Picture
30:00 Introducing Nutramum: A Pregnancy Study Born From Wanting to "Change the World"
31:00 Inside the Trial Design: Randomizing 88 Moms to Micronutrients or Placebo
34:00 Who Responded Best: Moms With a History of Medication Saw the Biggest Gains
40:00 Where Do the Nutrients Go? How Pregnancy Depletes Mom's Reserves
47:00 The Birth Outcomes: Lower Preterm Birth and Resuscitation Rates
54:00 A Surprising Protective Effect: Reduced Postpartum Hemorrhaging
1:03:00 Assessing the Infants: What the Brazelton Assessment Scale Revealed
1:07:00 The Postpartum Depression Findings: A Fivefold Risk Reduced Back to Baseline
1:12:00 Five Years Later: Developmental Outcomes for the Nutramum Kids
About Professor Julia Rucklidge, PhD:
Professor Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist, is the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury. Originally from Canada, she's a renowned clinical psychologist focusing on nutritional interventions for mental illnesses. With over 160 publications and 100s of global talks, she advocates for healthy eating to enhance mental health. Notable achievements include co-authoring "The Better Brain," a TEDx talk with over 5 million views, >100,000 learners on her popular edX course "Mental Health and Nutrition: and receiving awards like the University of Canterbury's Innovation Medal 2024, the Ballin Award from the New Zealand Psychological Society, and being named one of New Zealand's top 100 influential women.
Te Puna Toiora: Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-rucklidge-b58372b7/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentalhealthandnutrition/
Connect with Dr. Anikó:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/
Website: https://www.draniko.com/
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Disclaimer:
The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.