Mental health professionals are now starting to look at the foods a patient is eating, to determine if a change could help improve their mental and emotional health.
INDIANAPOLIS — With the state of the world, mental health and discussion on self-care are a trending topic.
Many experts mention therapy and exercise—but experts also say say there should be more discussion on how the food we put in our bodies truly effects our minds.
Nutritional psychiatry is a term that you may or may not have heard before. Mental health professionals are now starting to look at the foods a patient is eating, to determine if a change could help improve their mental and emotional health.
“Nutritional psychiatry—more psychiatrists are really considering what people are eating—so its not just about addressing how we handle situations or our social systems, or what medication is needed—it’s also about knowing what someone is eating day to day to see how that could be impacting their mental health,” said registered dietitian Karman Meyer.
Eating healthy foods is not a new recommendation from doctors, but truly understanding how good and bad foods can effect your mind and your moods is a newer discussion.
“The way in which we eat those foods are important. Eating a well-balanced diet, including foods from all different food groups, focusing on more whole, unprocessed, less refined foods—and eating routinely,” according to registered dietitian Garrett Swisher with Community Health Network.
If you’re looking to improve your diet and mental health, dietitians say you have to approach the diet as a whole. Don’t go too long without eating. Consume whole fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy, and lean protein.
“The brain and the gut are obviously interconnected. Foods that make us feel bad are going to make us miserable and not fun to be around,” explained Swisher.
Being aware of your alcohol intake is also recommended. Though some red wine in the diet has benefits, alcohol can have a negative chemical reaction in the body. That could essentially impact your hormones, which we know are directly connected to your mood and energy levels.
Dietitians and mental health experts also focus on your sleep patterns, as well.
“Sleep can be foundational when it comes to mental health. So yes it does come up quite frequently,” Meyer said. “As we go through discussions about those chronic diseases—the sleep and stress management is a part of the conversation because they’re so foundational. So if we can address some of the sleep problems some of the even mental health and mood—that can lead to better eating patterns.”
