Brain and Mental Health Nutritionists & Dietitians

Dietitians & Mental Health: Nourishing the Mind and Body

Nutrition is just as important to mental health as it is physical health, similar to its role in other areas like physical health, digestive, and heart health. Diet significantly influences the onset and management of mental disorders. Dietitians are essential in providing dietary guidance that can lessen side effects of mental health medications, improve mental health, decrease the likelihood of depression, and aid in better managing health issues (1).​

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Nutrition & Mood Disorders

A healthy diet reduces the risk of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders (2, 3). Changing one's diet is increasingly recognized as a helpful approach for managing symptoms of depression, anxiety and ADHD. The brain, highly sensitive to a type of internal damage caused by free radicals, benefits significantly from antioxidants found in certain foods. These antioxidants help protect the brain from this damage, often referred to as oxidative stress. This protective role underscores the importance of a diet rich in antioxidants for mental health and well-being.

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The Gut-Brain-Axis 

The gut microbiome, also known as your second brain, is part of an interconnected system. It influences not just the digestive processes but also behaviour, mood, and cognition. Hormones, neurochemicals, neurotransmitters and immunological factors released from the gut are known to send signals to the brain via the vagus nerve (4). Mental disorders, including depression and anxiety, often coexist with gut health issues. The food we consume significantly shapes our gut microbiome, underlining the importance of diet in mental health.

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How Our Dietitians Can Help with Brain & Mental Health:

• Assess and enhance your diet for optimal brain and body health, emphasizing high-quality, minimally processed foods. A personalized your supplement regime, as needed.

• Identify and integrate foods rich in nutrients such as omega-3, anti-oxidants, flavonoids, protein and healthy fats that support brain health.

• Simple strategies to incorporate brain-boosting foods into your daily diet.

• Guidance on managing stress , attention and anxiety through dietary choices.

• Enhance your diet to better manage ADHD, focusing on nutritional choices that can positively impact ADHD symptoms.

• Learn to stabilize blood sugar levels to manage mood swings, brain fog, and anxiety.

• Promote a healthy gut and digestion through a diet high in fibre, complex carbohydrates and more.

• Understand how diet affects hormone production affecting emotional balance.

• Implement lifestyle changes to improve sleep quality.

• Stay on track with consistent accountability during your diet and lifestyle shifts.