In the recent episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, "Vitamins vs. Antidepressants: Nutritional Psychiatry in Action," host Sam Believ sat down with Taron Fletcher, biochemist and research specialist at Hardy Nutritionals, to explore the science of nutritional psychiatry — and how targeted micronutrient therapy can support mental wellness over time.

For over two decades, Hardy Nutritionals has been known for formulating broad-spectrum, research-backed micronutrients used by doctors worldwide. With 60+ medical journal publications supporting their efficacy, these nutrients are helping reshape how we think about mood, focus, stress resilience, and even medication tapering.

And unlike medication, which delivers a foreign chemical to trigger change, micronutrients supply the brain with the essential building blocks it needs to restore balance naturally.

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See Hardy scientist Taron Fletcher explain how micronutrients work differently from antidepressants — and why a nutritional foundation matters for long-term mental wellness.

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From Animal Nutrition to Human Brain Health

The origins of Hardy Nutritionals trace back to founder David Hardy, who began his career in animal nutrition. He asked a simple but game-changing question: If we understand how to optimize the nutrition of animals for resilience and performance, why not apply those same principles to humans?

That curiosity led to Hardy Nutritional's core formulation philosophy:

• Completeness – delivering all essential nutrients together, in the right amounts
• Balance – maintaining clinical ratios that work synergistically
• Bioavailability – using forms that the body can easily absorb
• Research-backed efficacy – testing formulations in rigorous clinical settings

Nutrition as the Foundation for Safe Tapering

One of the most powerful topics in the conversation was the role of micronutrients in supporting safe, gradual tapering from SSRIs and other psychiatric medications.

Medications often target the same core functions micronutrients support — clear thinking, emotional balance, stress resilience — but when nutrient status improves significantly, the combined effects can sometimes make a medication dose feel stronger than intended, potentially increasing the likelihood of side effects. That’s why professional guidance is important when combining the two.

We offer a complimentary visit with a Hardy Wellness Advisor to help you understand how micronutrient therapy can fit into your overall wellness plan and guide you in working alongside your healthcare provider. We also train clinicians incorporating micronutrient therapy into their wellness practice. 

The Four Key Effects Our Customers Report

Over time, our customers consistently report that broad-spectrum micronutrient therapy helps them experience:

• Clearer thinking and sharper cognition – less brain fog, better focus.
• An improved sense of well-being – feeling more grounded and balanced day-to-day.
• Steadier mood regulation – reductions in anger, aggression, and mood swings.
• Greater resilience to anxiety and stress – the nervous system adapts more easily to challenges.

These reported changes tend to build gradually as nutrient stores are restored, with many customers noting that benefits increase the longer the body is fully supported.

Targeted Nutrients for Mood and Withdrawal Symptoms

Specific vitamins, minerals, and amino acids help modulate stress response, enhance neuroplasticity, and support emotional stability, making transitions like medication tapering smoother. Higher balanced doses — carefully formulated within safe limits — often deliver greater clinical benefit as the brain’s nutrient reserves are replenished.

The Hidden Cost of Deficiency

Modern processed diets leave many people unknowingly depleted of key nutrients, which can intensify symptoms like low mood, irritability, brain fog, and fatigue. Hardy’s formulations are designed to restore these levels, creating a foundation for long-term brain health.

As Taron noted, this is about more than “coming off” a medication — it’s about building a resilient brain that can thrive long after the transition is complete.

Listen to the Full Conversation

This podcast episode offers a deep dive into how nutrition can work hand-in-hand with medical care to support mental wellness for the long term.

🎧 Listen on Spotify: Ayahuasca Podcast – Vitamins vs. Antidepressants: Nutritional Psychiatry

🍏 Listen on Apple Podcasts: Ayahuasca Podcast – Vitamins vs. Antidepressants: Nutritional Psychiatry

Explore the research-backed foundation for mood and mental clarity and how Daily Essential Nutrients supports brain health at every stage of life.

Ready to get started? Book your complimentary visit with a Hardy Wellness Advisor — get your questions answered, understand the science, and take the first step toward building your foundation for long-term mental wellness. Book your visit here.

About Hardy Nutritionals®

Hardy Nutritionals® multivitamin-mineral products are powered by our proprietary NutraTek™ mineral delivery technology, which combines each mineral with specialized organic molecules—just like nature—to optimize absorption and distribution to body cells. Our flagship supplement, Daily Essential Nutrients, is widely considered to be the most research-backed micronutrient treatment.