Can Nutritional Psychiatry Improve Your Health?

It’s no secret that nutrition is important to our wellbeing. Nor is it a secret that mental health can affect physical health. So, what about blending these two aspects of health together? That’s where nutritional psychiatry comes in, and it just may be our ticket to a higher level of wellness.

The Role of Nutrition in Good Health

Researchers have long said that proper nutrition matters when it comes to physical and mental health—that what we eat can impact how we feel. But they also are quick to point out that a typical Western diet doesn’t always provide a high enough level of nutrition, because it often contains a lot of fat and sugar and other additives. Processed meats, refined grains, and plenty of dairy may also contribute to an inflammatory response in the body that may leave people feeling lethargic and irritable. So we know that most of us need a diet tune-up in some way.

Depression levels are also higher in people who eat typical Western fare.

 And for the most part we know that getting proper nutrition is one of the ways that people who are struggling with mental health can feel better and reduce the effects of their mental health conditions. Unfortunately, a lot of people who have mental health concerns don’t realize the valuable role nutrition can play in helping them control their condition and reduce symptoms. We've also covered how psychiatry can impact physical health.

Psychiatrists are Adding Nutrition to Their Treatment Recommendations

Nutritional psychiatry helps patients adjust their diet to get enough of the healthy foods they need, while also using other therapy techniques to work on their mental health needs. For example, people who have depression are often low in magnesium, zinc, folate, and vitamins like B6, B12, and D. By taking specific dietary advice for depression into account, the development or increase of symptoms may be significantly reduced.

While many people who have mental health conditions will still need counseling and medications, they may be able to improve their symptoms by making sure they’re eating properly and getting the right level and type of nutrition alongside their regimen's, increasing their effectiveness. In some cases, improved nutrition may be all they need to make symptoms manageable, reducing the need for further intervention such as medications or weekly counseling sessions. 

The Nutrition and Psychology Link

There is a link between the brain and the gut called the gut-brain axis. This is where communication between the two areas of the body occurs. When there’s a better balance between the right types of gut microbes, inflammation is reduced throughout the body and immune function is improved. Mood is also boosted, which is how proper nutrition can improve conditions like depression. 

So, what’s the bottom line for better health? Eating right can play a significant role in both physical and mental health improvement, so it’s worth making sure we’re getting our vitamins, minerals, and other important substances each day. But it may be worth seeking out care via nutritional psychiatry to compliment existing work. It isn’t brand new, but there aren’t that many psychiatrists that are incorporating nutrition into their therapy suggestions just yet—though it's definitely increasing. By finding a mental health professional who sees the value of good nutrition, though, we have the potential to treat mental health conditions more fully, for better overall health and a stronger sense of wellbeing.  Maybe someday all of our specialists will meet and merge and we can find a more complete approach to this health thing. In the meantime, nutrition and psychology finding a peaceful relationship is a great start.

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