Traditionally, mental health has been approached through therapeutic interventions or pharmaceutical treatments. But contemporary research illuminates an altogether more straightforward and accessible path to improving your mood — nutritional psychiatry.
In this promising field, a captivating premise unfolds that shows the foods we consume possess a remarkable ability to relieve stress, elevate mood and even mitigate depression. Nutritional psychiatry explores the role of the gut microbiome and the effects of specific nutrients and dietary patterns on our mental health. What’s more, researchers have found that diet not only alleviates existing mental health issues, but can, in some cases, prevent their onset.
The gut-brain connection
One of the most intriguing aspects of nutritional psychiatry is the gut-brain connection. Just like the brain residing in your head, your gut boasts an intricate network of neurons and neurotransmitters, functioning with a surprising level of autonomy. Spanning the journey from your mouth to your colon, the gut is a bustling hub for trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, collectively known as the gut microbiome. These tiny microbial inhabitants play a significant role in metabolising tryptophan, the precursor of serotonin, which profoundly affects serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a key player in the orchestra of mood regulation and emotional wellbeing.
An unbalanced gut microbiome, referred to as dysbiosis, characterised by diminished diversity and an overabundance of troublesome bacteria, has been linked to conditions including anxiety, depression and even schizophrenia. A breakthrough animal
