We are so grateful to present a special blog post written by Tucson local Sarah Bodey, FNTP.
Food for Thought: How Nutrition Shapes Mental Health
More and more research is showing what we eat and digest affects all aspects of our life including mental health. We have known this since at least the 1960s when the ketogenic diet was used with schizophrenic patients and they experienced fewer symptoms.
But it doesn’t take a scientist to realize this — spend any time with a child that has eaten a ton of candy and you will quickly see a decrease in their ability to control their emotions. Not that mental illness is in any way comparable to a child that has had too much candy.
Now can diet heal your mental illness?
No, but it can be a valuable modality to add to any treatment plan.
Junk Food and Inflammation
We all know that eating chips and cookies or Ultra Processed Foods is not good for our health. I mean there is a reason they are called junk food.
These foods cause inflammation not only in our digestive system, but also in our brain.
- In the digestive system, inflammation can present itself as intestinal pain, constipation, bloating, or diarrhea.
- In the brain, inflammation can look like brain fog, anxiety or depression.
How Gut Inflammation Affects the Brain
So how does gut inflammation lead to issues in the brain?
Our intestines are a long tube, a single cell layer in thickness. These cells are held tightly together and only allow selected things to pass through into the body.
When the gut becomes inflamed, these tight junctions open and allow anything to enter our body. This could be:
- Microbes
- Large food particles
- Toxins
More and more research is coming out that chronic inflammation is linked to different neurological disorders such as:
- Autism
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
Repairing the tight junctions reduces inflammation which in turn can help to lessen symptoms.
The Role of the Microbiome
Chronic inflammation changes the composition of the gut microbiome where over 60% of our serotonin is made. Serotonin is one of our “happy” hormones.
The gut microbiome produces many of our neurotransmitters, and by changing the make-up of this microbiome, we see an increase in our neurotransmitters and therefore mood.
Finding Support
The good news is you do not need to figure out your best diet, repair the tight junctions in your intestines or improve the microbiome on your own.
As an FNTP, I:
- Evaluate not only your diet, but also how well you are digesting and absorbing those nutrients
- Look at the quality of your sleep and stress
- Use an extensive questionnaire and initial interview to determine which systems of your body need support
- Identify which nutrients may be lacking in your diet
- Consider your lifestyle and ability to prepare meals when building a plan
Together, we come up with a plan, help guide and support our clients towards better health, giving the body the nutrients and space it needs to repair.
Important note: An FNTP cannot cure or heal, but we can support the body in coming into balance and help relieve symptoms.
Final Thought
If you are on medication and in therapy but still experiencing symptoms, diet and lifestyle could be the missing piece in your treatment plan.
📩 If you would like to learn more, feel free to contact me at sb**********************@***il.com
What is an NTP?
As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I look at the whole person and together we develop a plan to help support your health goals. We consider sleep, stress level, and other factors, in addition to your diet.
Sarah Bodey is a wife and mother of 3 mostly grown children. Her practice, Nutritional Foundations, focuses on blood sugar regulation and digestion. She, and her family, have been Bless This Brain supporters from the very beginning! Thank you Sarah for the work you do and for allowing us to feature your work.
