#321- The Science Behind Food and Mood: Nutritional Psychiatry for Depression | Uma Naidoo

Dec 27, 2023

Uma Naidoo, a triple threat in the food and medicine space, discusses topics like nutritional psychiatry, the connection between depression and nutrition, the importance of diet, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and her book 'Calm your mind with food'. The podcast also covers the relationship between serotonin and depression, Uma's research on nutrition and hormones, and the impact of individual preference and food equity in choosing a diet.

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Introduction

00:00 • 5min

Introduction to Nutritional Psychiatry and its Role in Mental Well-being

04:59 • 2min

Nutrition, Depression, and the Link to Inflammation

07:22 • 4min

The Gut-Brain Connection and its Impact on Mood

11:19 • 25min

The Importance of Individual Preference and Food Equity in Choosing a Diet

36:38 • 10min

Men's Hormone Levels and Book Release with Tips for Anxiety

46:15 • 2min

This episode's guest is Uma Naidoo. 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 was considered Harvard’s Mood Food expert and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal.

In this episode, Uma and I discuss:

Nutritional psychiatry
How depression is related to nutrition
Importance of diet
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Calm your mind with food - book by Uma naidoo
How serotonin is related to depression
Nutrition and Hormones

1:02 Introduction
3:37 What is Nutritional psychiatry?
4:21 How depression is related to nutrition
8:20 90% of our serotonin resides in the gut?
10:01 Can we Improve patients just through diet alone?
15:00 Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
21:44 Calm your mind with food - book by Uma naidoo
26:45 Executive functions
28:53 You're not getting enough serotonin?
38:00 Uma’s research on Nutrition and Hormones
43:51 Ending

Links and Resources:

Uma’s website: https://umanaidoomd.com
Follow Uma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drumanaidoo
Unlock the knowledge of trusted creators at: https://dexa.ai/
Research report - Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) protects hippocampal cells from oxidative stress-induced damage

The Neuro Athletics Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

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The Neuro Experience Podcast is proud to have hosted: Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr Gabrielle Lyon, Dr Layne Norton, Thomas DeLauer, Shawn Stevenson, Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, Saad Alam, Uma Naidoo, Dr. Lanna Cheuck, Angela Lee Pucci, Jillian Turecki, Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum, Dr. Darren Candow, Dr. Sue Varma, Evy Poumpouras, Dr Casey Means, Renee Deehan, Dr Chris Palmer, Dr Charles Brenner, Dr Joe Zundell, Dr Ray Dorsy, Dr Dale Bredeson, Dr. Ben Bikman