The Vision Behind Daily Essential Nutrients

David Hardy and the Question That Changed How We Think About Mental Health

Hardy Nutritionals exists because David Hardy asked an essential question—one rooted in biology rather than ideology:

Can highly bioavailable, broad-spectrum nutrients positively impact mental health, rather than simply covering up symptoms?

It was not a rejection of medication, nor an attempt to replace existing mental health care. It was an inquiry into whether the brain, when provided with balanced levels of the nutrients it requires, could function more effectively and with greater stability. David was interested in whether addressing micronutrient sufficiency could support mental health at a foundational level—particularly for individuals who were not experiencing lasting improvement with other methods.

Daily Essential Nutrients (DEN) emerged from that question. Not as a shortcut, and not as a workaround, but as a formulation designed to support the brain’s biology rather than override it.

For a deeper look at why foundational nutrition matters for resilience and mental balance, see The Foundation of Resilience.

Mental Health & Nutrition Go Hand in Hand

Mood and mental health are the foundation of our daily lives. They are expressions of our biological processes—processes that rely on vitamins and minerals as essential cofactors. When the brain is deficient in essential nutrients, it cannot function optimally. This is often exhibited individually or in combination as stress, irritability, anxiety, lack of focus, or mood swings. 

Neurotransmitter synthesis, enzymatic activity, mitochondrial energy production, stress response, and neural signaling all depend on adequate micronutrient availability. When nutrients are missing, poorly absorbed, or out of balance, the system adapts. Sometimes those adaptations are exhibited as emotional or cognitive symptoms.

This perspective did not originate from theory alone. It was shaped by David’s early experience in animal nutrition and his background in the applied use of biology—fields where nutrient sufficiency is assumed, not debated. In animal health, outcomes are directly linked to nutritional inputs. Deficiencies are addressed systematically, not symptomatically. David recognized that the same biological principles apply to humans. The brain is an organ, governed by biology, and biology responds to nutrients.

That lens informed his approach to mental health: not as something to suppress, but as something to support at the cellular and systemic level.

Why Bioavailability and Balance Matter

From the beginning, David was clear that simply adding more individual nutrients was not the solution. Completeness mattered.

Human biology does not operate one nutrient at a time. Vitamins and minerals interact. Ratios matter. Increasing one nutrient without adequate support from others can create an imbalance rather than restore stability.

Daily Essential Nutrients was formulated as a broad-spectrum micronutrient approach for this reason. It contains every essential vitamin and mineral science has shown to be required for optimal human health, delivered in carefully balanced ratios and in highly bioavailable forms.

You can learn more about how DEN is formulated and why broad-spectrum balance matters in The Power of Micronutrients for Mental Health.

Addressing Root Cause, Not Just Symptoms

David’s work was never centered on symptom suppression. His focus was on supporting the brain’s nutritional requirements to improve underlying resilience—particularly in the context of chronic stress, medication use, and modern dietary limitations.

Depleted soils, food processing, poor diet, long-term stress, and increased metabolic demand all contribute to widespread micronutrient insufficiency. Even individuals who eat well may struggle to meet those needs consistently.

The Evidence 

David was deliberate and cautious in both formulation and communication. He emphasized gradual titration, individual variability, and the importance of practitioner involvement when appropriate—especially for individuals using psychiatric medications.

Over time, the research followed the work.

Today, more than 60 independent, peer-reviewed medical journal publications support the safety and efficacy of the proprietary formulation used in Daily Essential Nutrients—specifically—across a range of mental health outcomes and populations.

A full overview of the published research can be found here.

Supporting Stability During Transition

In his guidance on transitioning to Daily Essential Nutrients, David consistently emphasized patience and observation. The goal was not rapid change, but stability. Progress comes with consistency, and improvements have been shown to continue over time with long-term use.

For practical guidance, be sure to connect with one of our Wellness Advisors and review How to Successfully Transition to Daily Essential Nutrients. 

David Hardy’s Legacy, Continuing Forward

Since his lifetime, the foundation David Hardy built at Hardy Nutritionals has continued to grow. Daily Essential Nutrients remains the world’s most research-backed supplement for mood and mental health.

Today, it is backed by more than 60 independent medical journal publications, specifically evaluating the safety and efficacy of Daily Essential Nutrients’ proprietary formulation for mental health. This continued body of research reflects both the strength of the original work and the commitment to preserving its scientific integrity over time.

The mission David began continues through the clinicians, researchers, families, and individuals who rely on nutritional approaches to support mental health. Each year, thousands of people turn to Daily Essential Nutrients to help support mood stability and mental wellness, naturally. 

Given David’s respect for evidence, biology, and careful progress, we believe he would be proud of the work being carried forward today—and of the growing number of lives being positively impacted as his original question continues to be explored—and answered—with a resounding yes.

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.