Dr. Taylor Thurston, ND

Dr. Taylor Thurston, ND Integrative Mental Health Care

I see a lot of people struggling with gut issues and mental health.And I also see a lot of oversimplified advice out the...
04/03/2025

I see a lot of people struggling with gut issues and mental health.
And I also see a lot of oversimplified advice out there.
Here’s what I want you to know 😊😊

Let’s talk about that “95% of serotonin is made in your gut” stat.Yes, it’s true that the majority of the body’s seroton...
03/27/2025

Let’s talk about that “95% of serotonin is made in your gut” stat.

Yes, it’s true that the majority of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut — but here’s the key:
That serotonin is made by specialized cells in the digestive system (called enterochromaffin cells), and it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier.

The serotonin that affects your mood? That’s produced in the brain stem, and it stays within the central nervous system. These are two completely separate pools of serotonin, functioning differently in different parts of the body.

So when we hear, “most of your serotonin is in your gut, therefore gut health = better mental health” — we’re skipping over a lot of important nuance.

And here’s the bigger question:
We already know that low serotonin isn’t the root cause of depression… so why are we still focusing so much on a single neurotransmitter?

👉🏽 Does that mean diet and gut health have nothing to do with mental health?
Not at all. But we need more research — and we’re not quite there yet.
That said, there are so many other reasons to care about nutrition for overall health. There’s important research happening around inflammation, the gut-brain axis, and disorders of gut-brain interaction — and how it might all tie into this big, complex web of mental health (because yes… it’s always more complicated than we’d like).

But catchy slogans like “happy gut, happy mind” can oversimplify what’s actually a very complex system — and sometimes leave people more confused than empowered. In some cases, I think it even steers people down the wrong path for treatment.
(For now, at least… I’d love to see the research evolve!)

So, should you still focus on eating a well-balanced diet, a wide variety of fruits and veggies, and getting plenty of fiber (if your digestion allows)?
Yes. Always yes.

But let’s not pin our entire understanding of mental health on one neurotransmitter — especially one that isn’t even crossing into the brain — or promote something that just isn’t true (at least not yet!).

More on this soon — especially the real ways the gut-brain connection might matter.

Menopause & Mental Health—What You Need to KnowIf you’ve been struggling with mood swings, anxiety, depression, or brain...
02/14/2025

Menopause & Mental Health—What You Need to Know
If you’ve been struggling with mood swings, anxiety, depression, or brain fog during midlife—you are not alone.

💡 Did you know? Up to 70% of women experience depressive symptoms during perimenopause—more than double the rate in premenopausal years. (Soares, 2019)

This isn’t just stress or life changes—hormonal shifts play a real role in mental health, and too many women are left without answers or support.

At our upcoming presentation on menopause & mental health, we’ll cover:
🧠 What’s really happening in menopause & how it affects your mental health
💊 The evidence on hormone therapy—does it help?
🌿 Beyond hormones—what else can we do to support our mental well-being in midlife?
✨ You deserve information. You deserve support. You deserve to feel like yourself again.

📅 Join us! Tuesday Feb 25th @ 4pm PST
🏡 Virtual - in the comfort of your home
🔗 Link in bio to register
💰ITS FREE :) (nothing is free anymore!!)

           

Menopause & Mental Health—What You Need to KnowIf you’ve been struggling with mood swings, anxiety, depression, or brain...
02/14/2025

Menopause & Mental Health—What You Need to Know
If you’ve been struggling with mood swings, anxiety, depression, or brain fog during midlife—you are not alone.
💡 Did you know? Up to 70% of women experience depressive symptoms during perimenopause—more than double the rate in premenopausal years. (Soares, 2019)
This isn’t just stress or life changes—hormonal shifts play a real role in mental health, and too many women are left without answers or support.
At our upcoming presentation on menopause & mental health, we’ll cover:
🧠 What’s really happening in menopause & how it affects your mental health
💊 The evidence on hormone therapy—does it help?
🌿 Beyond hormones—what else can we do to support our mental well-being in midlife?
✨ You deserve information. You deserve support. You deserve to feel like yourself again.
📅 Join us!
🔗 Link in bio to register
💰ITS FREE :) (nothing is free anymore!!)

It’s not always easy to tell the difference between withdrawal and relapse—many symptoms overlap, making it really confu...
02/11/2025

It’s not always easy to tell the difference between withdrawal and relapse—many symptoms overlap, making it really confusing. Even if you don’t have classic withdrawal signs like brain zaps, withdrawal and relapse can feel very similar.
That’s why tapering slowly and working closely with a trusted healthcare professional is so important. Having a solid plan and a supportive team can make all the difference. 💙
What Can Help?
✔ Taper slowly—reducing too fast can trigger withdrawal.
✔ Work with your provider to create a plan that supports your mental health.
✔ If symptoms feel unfamiliar or strange, it’s more likely withdrawal.
⚠ Not sure? Don’t guess—talk to your doctor before making medication changes!
📌 Modified from Distinguishing Relapse from Antidepressant Withdrawal: Clinical Practice and Antidepressant Discontinuation Studies (April 2022) & The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines.

Your mental health journey is personal—if you’re considering staying on or tapering off antidepressants, consult your he...
02/05/2025

Your mental health journey is personal—if you’re considering staying on or tapering off antidepressants, consult your healthcare provider for guidance tailored to you 💙💙

How long do you need to take an antidepressant? 🤔 It depends! Most people don’t have to stay on them forever, but in som...
02/01/2025

How long do you need to take an antidepressant? 🤔 It depends! Most people don’t have to stay on them forever, but in some cases, longer-term treatment makes sense. There’s no exact answer—just what works best for you. 💛

Deciding to start a medication, like an antidepressant, is often a thoughtful, emotional process. Choosing to stop that ...
01/29/2025

Deciding to start a medication, like an antidepressant, is often a thoughtful, emotional process. Choosing to stop that medication should be approached with just as much care and intention.

✨ I don’t approach care with the intent of stopping medications, but I believe in helping people make informed, supported decisions. Whether that means continuing your medication, tapering off, or simply exploring your options, every step deserves thoughtful consideration.

If you’re wondering whether stopping a medication is the right choice for you, here’s what to keep in mind:
✔️ Evidence-based guidance is essential—this isn’t a decision to make lightly.
✔️ Work with a provider you trust to guide you through the risks and benefits.
✔️ Tapering is a process—slow and steady is the safest path.

✨ Your mental health journey is your own, and there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Whether you stay on your medication or explore tapering.

Whatever your reason, it’s worth having a conversation with your healthcare provider.💛 Your mental health journey is you...
01/27/2025

Whatever your reason, it’s worth having a conversation with your healthcare provider.
💛 Your mental health journey is yours, and decisions like these deserve thoughtful consideration.

✨ Important reminders:

Never stop taking your medication cold turkey!
Always make decisions with your healthcare provider, not social media. 💕
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being on medication—your journey is your own, and sometimes it’s slower than we’d like, and that’s okay.
If you’ve never wondered about coming off your medication, there’s no pressure to do so! The right path is the one that works for YOU.

💡 In my next post, I’ll share tips on how to know if it’s the right time to taper—or if continuing your medication might be the best choice for now. Stay tuned!

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