Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition

11/23/2025

What REALLY happens in addiction treatment?
In this clip, John Giordano breaks down the truth behind most detox and treatment centers — and why so many people continue to struggle.

This is a must-watch for anyone in recovery, supporting a loved one, or working in the treatment field.
It’s time to rethink what real healing looks like.

Full Episode: https://youtu.be/5fvox8xdZKQ

11/19/2025

📘 When Recovery Meets Nutrition: A Powerful Shift Happens

One of our students, Amanda , recently shared her reflections after reading a book that completely shifted how she views alcoholism and addiction. Her insights were too powerful not to share.

For decades, alcoholism has often been seen as a mysterious and uncontrollable illness, something unpredictable and something that only surrender and willpower could influence. And while the 12-step community provides incredible support, Amanda pointed out something essential…

🔍 There is a deeper layer we cannot ignore.

This book explores the biological side of alcoholism, breaking it down into different types rooted in brain chemistry and nutritional needs. When you can identify the type, recovery stops feeling like guesswork.

She was struck by how clearly the book outlined
✨ Dietary changes that support stabilization
✨ Nutritional deficiencies that can drive cravings
✨ Amino acid and nutrient protocols that help the brain heal
✨ Treatment tools that integrate the body and mind in recovery

It is a powerful reminder that addiction is not just behavioral or emotional, it is also biochemical. And when the body is supported properly, people can finally access the recovery skills they learn in therapy. Their minds are clearer. Their capacity grows. Their progress becomes real and sustainable.

Amanda shared that she plans to keep this book close in her office, a resource she will return to many times.

Insights like these are exactly what students begin to understand when they explore the nutritional side of mental health, especially in foundational programs like our Level 1 Core Amino Acid Therapy Training. It is not about replacing anything, it is about adding the missing biological layer that can make recovery more effective and more compassionate.

If you are curious about how nutrition and brain chemistry shape recovery or want to understand this work more deeply, feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments. Your insight might lead you to your next step in this field.

If this sparked something for you, share a comment below. It may be the beginning of a deeper path.

11/18/2025

In this episode of Power Up Recovery with Nutrition, Christina Veselak sits down with the legendary John Giordano — addiction expert, researcher, author, and founder of the National Institute for Holistic Addiction Studies. With over 40 years of experience, Dr. Giordano has dedicated his life to transforming how we understand and heal addiction through integrative, whole-body approaches.

Dr. Giordano shares his extraordinary journey from a turbulent South Bronx upbringing to becoming one of the most respected voices in holistic addiction treatment. Drawing from decades of clinical experience, research, and personal recovery, he reveals what truly works to rebuild the addicted brain.

In this episode, we explore:
✅ Why nutrient deficiencies, gut imbalance, and inflammation fuel addiction
✅ How amino acids and targeted nutrition help repair dopamine and serotonin pathways
✅ The powerful connection between trauma, the nervous system, and mental health
✅ Why short-term detox often fails — and what integrative recovery should include
✅ How modalities like EMDR, somatic work, breathwork, and hyperbaric therapy support lasting healing
✅ The role of ibogaine as an addiction interrupter when used medically

Whether you’re a clinician, in recovery, or passionate about breakthrough approaches to mental health, this conversation will change how you think about healing the brain — and the body.

Watch the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/5fvox8xdZKQ

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4F7IjNuhVrb7rlQ8twjIM1?si=sraanjTjRJmYEkUFlhXt8g

11/11/2025

Missed last Saturday’s Community Forum? The replay is here!

Watch Neuroplasticity and Nutrition: Feeding the Brain for Recovery and Wellbeing with Dr. Justin James Kennedy and Dr. Karla Garjaka. Learn how your brain can rewire itself for healing, growth, and lasting recovery.

Discover how nutrition and key amino acids can:

✅ Reduce cravings
✅ Boost resilience
✅ Improve mental health
✅ Support overall wellbeing

This session is full of practical, science-backed tips you can start using right away.

Watch the replay now: https://youtu.be/GvnGq70vaPw

Want more? The Community Forum happens every second Saturday of the month at 11am ET.

Register for the next session here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwucO-hqjkiG9WB5rbS7GaSC38lNNpC2Wms

Join Dr. Justin James Kennedy, Co-Founder and Chairman, Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience, Master (M.npn) Neuroplastician®, and Dr. Karla Garjaka, Intern...

11/06/2025

In this episode of Power Up Recovery with Nutrition, Christina Veselak sits down with the inspiring Diane Greco Allen, RN, FNLP, CFNC, FMCHC of Pancreatic & Digestive Wellness: Food Relationships: Pain Management — a nurse, author, and functional nutrition coach who turned her own health struggles into a powerful mission to help others heal through food.

Diane shares her remarkable journey from chronic illness, burnout, and pancreatitis to thriving through mindful eating, gut-brain healing, and functional nutrition.

In this episode, we explore:
✅ How childhood and family patterns shape our relationship with food
✅ The deep link between nutrition, gut health, and mental wellness
✅ Why mindful eating is key to lasting recovery
✅ How functional nutrition supports emotional balance and resilience
✅ Practical steps to rebuild your health — one mindful meal at a time

Whether you’re a clinician, in recovery, or simply curious about how food can heal the mind and body, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s on your plate — and how it impacts your life.

Watch the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/i-fXvJLJkz4

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6J8AGwQoKIHY7wPg9YHyiy?si=Pt0H0AiDQJ6-ghDHob628A

11/05/2025

🧠 Discover How Your Brain Heals and Thrives

Join us this Saturday, November 8 at 11 AM ET for our free Community Forum: Feeding Your Brain for Change: The Role of Neuroplasticity and Nutrition in Addiction Recovery and Well-being.

Led by Dr. Justin James Kennedy, Co-Founder and Chairman, Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience, Master (M.npn) Neuroplastician®, and Dr. Karla Garjaka, International Speaker, Consultant, and Best-Selling Author, this session explores how neuroplasticity and nutrition work together to support emotional balance, reduce cravings, and build long-term resilience.

💡 Learn how your brain’s natural ability to rewire itself can transform recovery and well-being.

🗓 Saturday, November 8
🕚 11 AM ET
💻 Free Online Event

👉 Register now to save your spot! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwucO-hqjkiG9WB5rbS7GaSC38lNNpC2Wms

11/02/2025

⏰ Daylight Saving Time Has Ended

A friendly reminder that clocks in the United States have moved back one hour as we return to Standard Time.

Daylight Saving Time is the seasonal practice of adjusting clocks to make better use of daylight — moving them forward in spring and back in fall.

Please remember that all Academy events are scheduled in Eastern Time (ET). If you’re joining us from another time zone, make sure to double-check your local time so you don’t miss your session.

You can use this time zone converter to help you adjust:
👉 https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Stay tuned for our upcoming classes and events!

11/01/2025

In this clip, Carolyn Dean MD ND , founder of RnA ReSet , explains why magnesium is the spark that powers your brain and body — and how mineral deficiencies can quietly drain your energy, focus, and emotional balance.

She breaks down how magnesium fuels every cell, supports brain mitochondria, and helps regulate mood, sleep, and nervous system function — forming the foundation of mental and physical wellness.

But that’s just the beginning.

In the full episode of Power Up Recovery with Nutrition, Dr. Dean and host Christina Veselak explore:
• Why magnesium deficiency is one of the most overlooked causes of anxiety and fatigue
• How nutrient imbalances can mimic or worsen mental illness
• The surprising connection between vitamin C, magnesium, and addiction recovery
• Why modern diets and depleted soils affect our emotional health
• Simple, science-backed ways to rebuild your mind and body naturally

Watch the full conversation to learn how nutrition and minerals can restore balance, energy, and clarity from the inside out.

Watch now: https://youtu.be/prU7y0-zBvM

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mD0FLFVVmXIrOJGChOROl?si=aQcK88QrQ4OiPxd9fJarpA

10/30/2025

In this episode of Power Up Recovery with Nutrition, Christina Veselak sits down with the amazing Carolyn Dean MD ND — a pioneering medical doctor, naturopath, and founder of RnA ReSet , a company dedicated to restoring health through mineral-based nutrition.

Dr. Dean is the bestselling author of The Magnesium Miracle and more than 35 other books, including Total Body ReSet for Women’s Health, Total Body ReSet for Men’s Health, The Complete Guide to Mental Wellness, and the newly revised Death by Modern Medicine (2025). She also hosts a weekly YouTube radio show where she shares her latest insights on natural health and healing.

In this episode, we explore:
✅ Why magnesium and minerals are essential for brain and emotional balance
✅ How nutrient deficiencies fuel anxiety, fatigue, and addiction
✅ The truth about modern soil depletion and processed foods
✅ The connection between vitamin C, magnesium, and recovery
✅ Simple, science-backed ways to rebuild your mind and body naturally

Whether you’re a clinician, in recovery, or simply curious about how nutrition transforms mental health, this episode will inspire you to nourish your body — and your brain — from the inside out.

Watch the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/prU7y0-zBvM

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mD0FLFVVmXIrOJGChOROl?si=aQcK88QrQ4OiPxd9fJarpA

10/30/2025

🧠 Feeding Your Brain for Change
Free Community Forum | November 8 | 11 AM Eastern

Can your brain really rewire itself? Absolutely, and what you eat plays a vital role in that process.

Join guest host Dr. JJ Kennedy and colleagues for a fascinating discussion on neuroplasticity and nutrition in addiction recovery and well-being.

You’ll discover:
✨ How neuroplasticity supports healing and long term recovery
✨ The crucial role of amino acids and nutrition in feeding the recovering brain
✨ Practical, science-backed strategies to reduce cravings, balance mood, and build resilience

This educational forum is open to everyone interested in the connection between nutrition, neuroscience, and recovery.

📅 Saturday, November 8
🕚 11 AM Eastern
💻 Free to join

Don’t miss this insightful conversation that bridges the science of brain change with the power of nutrition.

👉 Register Now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwucO-hqjkiG9WB5rbS7GaSC38lNNpC2Wms

10/29/2025

A well-functioning pre-frontal cortex is crucial to sobriety 🧠

Did you know that low blood sugar could be a primary relapse trigger for all addictions?

Here’s why:

Your pre-frontal cortex (PFC) creates willpower, but it needs glucose to function properly.

Low blood sugar = less glucose to the PFC = lower willpower and harder to say “NO”.

Hypoglycemia triggers a surge of adrenaline and stress hormones, which impair your executive functioning.

This can make it harder to use your recovery and relapse prevention skills and may even stimulate conditioned cravings.

Simple tip: Eat protein every 4 hours to stabilize blood sugar and support your recovery. Missing meals can make relapse triggers stronger.

💚 Share this with someone in recovery — this information could help save a life.

Learn more: www.aminoacidtherapy.com

📞 (303) 888-9617

10/22/2025

In this clip, Jayne Reynolds, founder of Sycamore And Sage Nutrition , explains how small nutrient shifts — like adding vitamin B6 and zinc — can make a world of difference for mental health.

She breaks down how nutrients mix together to create neurotransmitters, balance blood sugar, and support adrenal health — the foundation of emotional wellbeing.

But that’s just the beginning.
In the full episode of Power Up Recovery with Nutrition, Jayne and host Christina Veselak explore:
• How one simple food change ended seven years of panic attacks
• The gut-brain connection behind mood, anxiety, and focus
• Why amino acids and protein timing can rewire the brain
• How to uncover hidden food sensitivities that drive depression
• Practical ways to find food freedom without perfectionism

Watch the full conversation to learn how nutrition, gut healing, and amino acid therapy can transform your mood and mental health from the inside out.

👉 Watch now: https://youtu.be/4Uo58LmFGdI

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ImhjTzsWpOzJkWC3U4EIi?si=8Y0-z2t3RVeMHfy1YNkkIQ