A Dietitian Who Wants to Hear from YOU (Food and Mental Health)

Is there anything universal that can be said about nutrition and mental health? While I feel better when I eat a certain way (and get good sleep and lots of exercise), many others here have remarked on how their ways of eating, which are different from mine, have helped their mental health.

I'll pass on the IG (and tiktok, which you didn't mention, but I know is a thing.) I see that as having the potential to provide far more benefit to the provider as a marketing tool than to the recipient.

wilson10102018 wrote: »

Could you post some peer reviewed studies that prove a causal link between diet and mental health, other than those related to malnutrition and allergy?

I realize your comment was intended for OP, but I’m adding it just cuz I think it’s interesting
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6005194/
It doesn’t address causal links between mental health and neurotransmitters, nor causal links between diet and microbiota, but it does address modulation of neurotransmitters by gut bacteria. Many studies conclude “needs more study” (how investigators stay in business), so not definitive but interesting nonetheless.

My suggestion would be post a link to a study or reputable article - for people's information and discussion.

I would do so in a separate thread titled "effect of diet on mental health " or whatever the study/article is about.

Something specific rather than a vague 'any questions' starting point.

Depending where you work you may not have a lot of options on your recommendations. I saw an RD for type 2 diabetes and she could not recommend any particular diet, just the ADA my plate. My friend with depression swears by keto. I have a type of schizophrenia. I am in a ketogenic diet and my diabetes meds have reduced, but psych are the same. Have you talked with any psychiatrists about diet and mental health? I would like some research information on how diet helps mental health and what kind of diet.

I am very interested in the gut-brain connection. Working with kids with diagnoses like autism, I have long heard about the theory that certain foods (like gluten and casein) can trigger an increase in symptoms. For a long time it seems most in the mainstream thought it was woo, but there is now a lot of evidence of the whole gut brain connection. It may not necessarily be gluten and casein, but may be more individual.

"I know that for me, losing weight was mostly a mental exercise (which was a surprise for me)."
YES!
I have no mental health issues but working from home during COVID, I gained 50 pounds. I became depressed and didn't want to do anything. It took gaining another 20 pounds before I saw the terrible loop I was in and decided to change my eating habits and join a gym. Everyday, I have to talk myself into eating properly and go to the gym (no matter the weather or how tired I am). Once I set my mind on it, I'm fine and don't really struggle with wanting to snack or whatever. But everyday... it's mental. Or maybe I am LOL

From my anecdotal experience I would suggest that weight gain is more likely a symptom of mental illness than the other way around.

When I went through a serious bought of anxiety my weight went up. I had very low self esteem and I punished myself by not looking after myself and eating crap food that didn't even bring me joy. I stress ate. I stopped exercising.

When I got help for my mental health, these behaviours went. When my head space was better I was able to stop my weight gain and now I'm starting to lose again.

That's just me, but I know others who have experienced similar things. I am a strong believer in treating the mental health first, then dealing with physical issues afterwards

Deviette wrote: »

From my anecdotal experience I would suggest that weight gain is more likely a symptom of mental illness than the other way around.

When I went through a serious bought of anxiety my weight went up. I had very low self esteem and I punished myself by not looking after myself and eating crap food that didn't even bring me joy. I stress ate. I stopped exercising.

When I got help for my mental health, these behaviours went. When my head space was better I was able to stop my weight gain and now I'm starting to lose again.

That's just me, but I know others who have experienced similar things. I am a strong believer in treating the mental health first, then dealing with physical issues afterwards

I agree with this in the sense that yes, mental health issues are sometimes the root cause of weight issues, but I also believe that there are many reasons not related to mental health that cause people to over-eat. I see a lot of comments that imply or state that obesity is always a mental health issue (this isn't how I read your comment, you were speaking to your own experience), and once that root cause is resolved weight loss will follow. I see social and financial issues as equally responsible for obesity, and in those cases social and financial solutions need to be applied in order to alleviate the problem.