Professor Felice Jacka - Food For Thought

Jun 30, 2024

Professor Felice Jacka, a leading expert, discusses the impact of diet on mental health and cognition. Topics include gut microbiome, effects of junk food, benefits of plant-rich diets, and the role of fermented foods. Emphasizes the link between nutrition, brain health, and overall well-being.

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ANECDOTE

Felice Jacka's Mental Health Journey

Felice Jacka shared how severe anxiety and depression affected her from the age of 12.
Running daily when she was 19 helped her recover from a months-long severe episode.

INSIGHT

Food Complexity Over Supplements

Nutrition research initially focused on isolated nutrients; whole diet and food complexity are crucial.
Foods contain thousands of phytochemicals that interact synergistically, which supplements cannot replicate.

ADVICE

Eat Whole, Unprocessed Foods

Choose unprocessed, plant-based foods like vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and healthy fats.
Limit red meat to sustainable sources and avoid ultra-processed foods to support mental health.

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How does food affect our mood? Does diet actually impact our mental health? What is a gut micro-biome, and can we still eat a few chips without ruining it?

In this Academy of Imperfection episode, we are joined one of the worlds leading experts on the relationship between what we eat, and how it effects our mental health, Professor Felice Jacka.

And if can we trust anyone to get to the bottom of the vagus nerve ‘highway’; our hippocampus shrinking; our mitochondrial reaction to ultra-processed foods (don’t worry we didn’t know these words before either) - it’s her.

There was a lot to 'digest' in this chat (so to speak), but thankfully, there is so much we can do, by making informed choices about what we put in our bodies, to improve our mental health.

See below for links & research mentioned in this episode, information on Felice and her work and extra resources:

📖 Things to read

The Food and Mood centre - https://bit.ly/3xdmkjw.
Felice’s published research - https://deakin.au/3VWggpb,
Felice’s shorter articles - https://bit.ly/3RvfeO2.
Felice’s recent research in Molecular Psychiatry Review -https://go.nature.com/3xozlqq.
SMILEs trial - https://bit.ly/3KLjGEL.
Kevin Hall’s study on Ultra-Processed food - https://bit.ly/3z7akjY.
Brain Changer, Felice Jacka, https://bit.ly/3xpYGjJ,
There’s a Zoo in my Poo, Felice Jack & Rob Craw https://bit.ly/3RrHxNd.

🎧 previous Imperfects Episodes mentioned in this episode:

Tim Spector - https://apple.co/3OjRlXR

This episode with Professor Felice Jacka includes a discussion about disordered eating. If this feels like too much for you right now, please come back to this episode when you're feeling ready.

If you or someone you love is experiencing disordered eating, we recommend the following organisations:

The Butterfly Foundation https://bit.ly/48YCSZe
Eating Disorders Families Australia https://bit.ly/3TLU7J5
Uncovery https://bit.ly/3x4IOCO

The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.