Nutrition in Lifestyle Psychiatry

An expanding body of research indicates that poor nutrition can change the function of the brain and alter individual behavior and mental health status. The brain is the most energy-consuming organ in the human body. Therefore, maintaining and optimizing brain health, mental health, and psychological functioning depend on a constant supply of nutrients. Data demonstrate that inadequate quality or quantity of nutrition is associated with an increased risk of mental health problems. Lifestyle psychiatry is an approach that aims to address underlying causes or contributing factors to poor mental health and/or mental health conditions, including nutrition. This chapter will discuss nutrition as an integral component of lifestyle psychiatry, as well as a key determinant and factor in mental health outcomes and outcomes for those with mental health disorders. A lifestyle psychiatry approach can help to improve patient outcomes, prevent the onset of mental health and brain health conditions, and enhance the management and treatment of mental health problems by promoting healthy dietary patterns, addressing nutritional deficiencies, and incorporation nutrition-related interventions into clinical practice.