The Importance of Food for Mental Health

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Anxiety issues are certainly pervasive, and becoming much more common in our very stressful world. Generally, to go to therapy for dealing with anxiety seems to be pharmacotherapy, in other words, drugs. And while drugs may take the edge off and prove to be effective, it's good to know there are other ideas that are being considered. One important inroad into treating anxiety focuses on dietary change. We know that the consumption of the typical standard American diet is fraught with issues including posing a threat to metabolism by virtue of our consumption of large amount of ultra process foods which actually make up between 52 to 54% of of the calories consumed every day in American adults. This is a diet that has been associated with a dramatic increase risk for metabolic issues, cardiovascular disease, and even threatens the brain. As we will learn today, our consumption of these highly refined foods plays a role in creating anxiety as well.

Our guest today is Dr. Uma Naidoo, and we will be discussing her new book, Calm Your Mind with Food - A Revolutionary Guide to Controlling Your Anxiety.

Please enjoy the podcast.

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0:00 Intro

3:42 The Rising Problem of Anxiety

6:37 Nutritional Psychiatry: Eating for Mental Health

9:51 Foods that Cause Anxiety

13:20 The Process of Healing Through Food

16:50 How We Can Gauge Progress

19:40 Helpful Lab Studies & Food Allergies

23:22 The Benefits of Supplements & Which to Take

28:04 Metabolic Issues & Anxiety

30:23 Bringing Medical Specialities Together

34:16 Starting Small and Regaining Control

37:35 Commonly Used Drugs that Impact Mood Disorders

39:33 Leptin Levels and Anxiety

42:13 The Future of Nutritional Psychiatry

45:20 Conclusion

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Michelin-starred chef David Bouley described Dr. Uma Naidoo as the world’s first “triple threat” in the food and medicine space: a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, professional chef graduating with her culinary schools’ most coveted award, and a trained Nutrition Specialist. Her nexus of interests have found their niche in Nutritional Psychiatry.

Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based Nutritional Psychiatry Service in the United States. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at MGH Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School.

She is considered Harvard’s Mood Food Expert and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Goop, Live with Kelly & Ryan, and more. Dr. Naidoo is also the national bestselling author of This Is Your Brain on Food: https://umanaidoomd.com/collections/this-is-your-brain-on-food, and the upcoming title that we will discuss today, Calm Your Mind With Food https://umanaidoomd.com/collections/calm-your-mind-with-food

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