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In today's Thought piece, I'm privileged to feature an insightful article by Dr. Olivia Lesslar, an innovative physician who combines clinical nutrition, preventative medicine, and cutting-edge neuroscience in her practice. Working with leading clinics worldwide and specializing in mind-body connections, she reveals how nutrition shapes workplace performance - and why those afternoon slumps might be more than just a need for coffee.

— Matt

Nourish minds and watch performance thrive

In the modern workplace, leaders focus on driving innovation, meeting targets, and building cohesive teams. Shows like Billions have popularized the concept of performance coaching, and many organizations now retain psychologists and advisors to keep their teams performing at peak levels. Yet, one critical aspect of employee well-being often goes unnoticed: nutrition. Nutrition is not just about personal health - it’s a cornerstone of workplace dynamics, influencing relationships, collaboration, and decision-making. Emerging research into the behavioral immune system, a subconscious mechanism evolved to guard against pathogens, reveals how nutritional deficiencies can amplify stress, anxiety, and social withdrawal, with significant implications for workplace productivity and morale.

The behavioral immune system and the workplace

The behavioral immune system, an evolutionary mechanism designed to protect against infection, operates subconsciously to guide behaviors like avoiding perceived contaminants or exercising caution in unfamiliar environments. While effective in mitigating disease risks, this system is highly sensitive to both internal and external factors. Nutritional deficiencies, which weaken the biological immune system, can overactivate the behavioral immune system, amplifying feelings of disgust, anxiety, and social withdrawal. In the workplace, this heightened sensitivity can lead to avoidance of shared spaces, distrust among coworkers, and increased stress about health concerns, ultimately creating barriers to collaboration and reducing productivity, teamwork, and morale.

The impact of key nutritional deficiencies

Iron deficiency and cognitive fog

Iron deficiency offers a clear example. Without enough iron, people often feel fatigued, experience cognitive fog, and struggle to stay focused. This not only reduces individual productivity but can also activate the behavioral immune system. Fatigue and mental fog can amplify perceptions of risk, making employees more cautious and less willing to collaborate or try new approaches. Note that this is not a rare occurrence, according to a recently published 2024 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, functional iron deficiency affects 15% of adults in the U.S..

Magnesium deficiency and emotional stability

Magnesium deficiency is an alarming issue for modern human health, exacerbated by declining magnesium levels in soils due to intensive farming practices, the Green Revolution, and environmental factors like global warming. Low magnesium levels and intakes have been linked to a range of health issues, including type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, elevated C-reactive protein, hypertension, atherosclerosis, sudden cardiac death, osteoporosis, migraines, asthma, and colon cancer. In 2005–2006, nearly half (48%) of the U.S. population consumed insufficient magnesium from food, a slight improvement from 56% in 2001–2002. Magnesium also supports stress regulation and emotional stability. When levels are low, individuals are more likely to experience irritability, anxiety, and difficulty managing pressure. This can over-activate the behavioral immune system, leading to behaviors that prioritize self-preservation over group cohesion. In a workplace, this might manifest as increased conflict, avoidance of shared responsibilities, or resistance to collaborative efforts.

Vitamin D deficiency and decision-making

Vitamin D is a neuroactive steroid crucial for brain development and function, with evidence supporting its protective role against neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, depression, and Alzheimer's. It influences neurotransmitter pathways, regulates calcium homeostasis, reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, and clears amyloid peptides, highlighting the importance of maintaining optimal vitamin D levels to prevent or mitigate neurocognitive decline and associated symptoms. According to the Ceveland Clinic,  approximately 35% of adults in the United States have vitamin D deficiency. In a workplace context, vitamin D deficiency can make employees more prone to indecision, pessimism, and difficulty focusing.

Omega-3 deficiency and team dynamics

Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for maintaining emotional balance and empathy - qualities that are foundational to effective teamwork, and deficiencies can lead to increased irritability and reduced social tolerance. Research from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) demonstrates that >90% of Americans are not meeting recommendations for omega-3 intake. The behavioral immune system, sensing heightened emotional instability, may prompt stronger in-group biases, fostering a workplace culture that is less inclusive, driving silos.

The gut-brain axis and stress resilience

Beyond the direct effects of these deficiencies, poor nutrition disrupts the gut microbiome —a key player in the gut-brain axis that regulates emotional and cognitive functions. When the microbiome is unbalanced, it can signal to the behavioral immune system that the body is in a vulnerable state, further heightening avoidance behaviors and reducing willingness to take interpersonal risks. A study published in 2024, demonstrated the brain and gut are in constant communication and that changes in the microbiome are linked to mood and mental health, and stress resilience.

This combination of factors highlights the far-reaching impact of nutrition on workplace behavior. But it also points to solutions. Organizations can take proactive steps to address gaps in education, nutritional deficiencies and support healthier behaviors among employees.

Conclusion

Organizations that go beyond basic wellness education and provide initiatives like stipends for health services can address gaps in employees' access to essential nutrients and health information. Improved nutrition leads to better physical and mental well-being, enabling employees to collaborate effectively, maintain positive relationships, and tackle challenges with confidence. By prioritizing nutritional health, companies can foster a workplace environment that supports both individual and collective success.

Addressing nutrition in the workplace is more than a productivity booster—it’s a strategic investment in building healthier, more resilient teams. Nutritional deficiencies disrupt the behavioral immune system, increasing stress and reducing collaboration. By integrating education, access to healthy food, and supportive policies, organizations can improve team dynamics, morale, and performance. Companies that prioritize employee nutrition today will unlock a more engaged and effective workforce for the future.

Sources:

1. Tawfik YMK, Billingsley H, Bhatt AS, et al. Absolute and Functional Iron Deficiency in the US, 2017-2020. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(9):e2433126. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.33126

2. Cazzola R, Della Porta M, Manoni M, Iotti S, Pinotti L, Maier JA. Going to the roots of reduced magnesium dietary intake: A tradeoff between climate changes and sources. Heliyon. 2020 Nov 3;6(11):e05390. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05390. PMID: 33204877; PMCID: PMC7649274.

3. Rosanoff, A., Weaver, C. M., & Rude, R. K. (2012). Suboptimal magnesium status in the United States: are the health consequences underestimated?. Nutrition reviews, 70(3), 153–164. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00465.x

4. Wassif, G. A., Alrehely, M. S., Alharbi, D. M., & Aljohani, A. A. (2023). The Impact of Vitamin D on Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Cureus, 15(10), e47716. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.47716

5. Vitamin D deficiency: Causes, symptoms & treatment (2024) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15050-vitamin-d-vitamin-d-deficiency (Accessed: 27 November 2024).

6. Richter CK, Bowen KJ. Total long-chain n-3 fatty acid intake and food sources in the United States compared to recommended intakes: NHANES 2003-2008. Lipids. 2017;52(11):917-927.

7. An, E., Delgadillo, D.R., Yang, J. et al. Stress-resilience impacts psychological wellbeing as evidenced by brain–gut microbiome interactions. Nat. Mental Health 2, 935–950 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-024-00266-6

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