Food + Mood= Nutritional Psychology
Can the food we eat really impact the way we feel?
Nutritional Psychology is the science of how nutrients affect mood and behavior. Nutritional psychologists try to bridge the gap between physical health and mental health.
We all agree that our food choices affect our digestion, weight, and other aspects of physical health. Why do we have such a hard time tying our physical health to our mental health? If food nourishes the body, and the brain is part of our body, and our thoughts/moods are based on our brain health, shouldn’t food nourish our thoughts/moods?
The answer is YES! The nutrients we consume have a huge impact on how we feel! Nutritional psychologists implement strategies to improve clients’ diet. With improved diet, often comes improved decision making and metabolic processes, which in turn will have an overall positive impact on mental health.
You might be thinking, “But I don’t have depression, anxiety, or any other diagnosed psychologist disorder…” You do not have to be suffering from a diagnosed psychological disorder to benefit from the positive impact of nutritional psychology. Fatigue, lack of focus, poor sleep, brain fog, and stress can be alleviated in the kitchen!
Making sustainable lifestyle improvements, including diet and exercise, is the basis for promoting mental health!
If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, or simply need an objective person to talk to, please reach out to me for a complimentary phone consultation. I would love to help and if I feel that another mental health professional would be a better fit, I will be glad to make recommendations.
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