Kristen Woods

Supporting Mental Health Challenges and Disabilities

Nutrition and the Brain


The Brain-Gut Connection: Healthy eating helps the brain.


To make serotonin, the feel good hormone, we need to consume four vitamins and seven minerals.
  • We need the right food to fight inflammation and the toxins in the environment.
  • Eating the right foods may reverse anxiety and depression: Bacteria in our gut microbiome affect our emotions.
Psychological implications in gut health: Animal Studies.

Replacing a Damaged Gut Improves a Damaged Brain

• Patients with mental health conditions often report symptoms relating to stomach problems.

• In an experiment, rats exhibiting anxiety had their microbiomes transferred with rats who did not show signs of anxiety.

• Once the transplant was completed, the two groups of rats switched roles, indicating the strong communication between the gut and the brain.
Animal models for gut and brain health.

What foods promote brain health?

  • People who do not eat much seafood have a 65% chance of experiencing depression.
  • Eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, and seafood found a 50% decreased risk of suicide.
  •  Women who ate more fruit when pregnant had children who exhibited more cognitive development at age one.
Food groups for psychological health: Nutritional Psychiatry.

Can Multi-Vitamins and Nutrients Make a Difference?

  • Multi-nutrients: Reduces irritability and self-harm in patients on the autism spectrum.
  • Can help people struggling with addiction, help rage and aggression, and improve sleep.
  • School-kids given multi-nutrients had a 28% decrease in school-related violations after only a few months.

Remember to Eat Real Food!

• You’re on the right track, if you’re eating food that our ancestors would recognize.

Omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, vegetables, fish, leafy greens, lean meat.

• Buy organic products whenever possible.
Foods that help the brain and mind.

Foods to Avoid!

What foods should you avoid?

Sugar and flour.

• Processed food: High in sugar, trans fats, and sodium, but they are lacking healthy nutrients.
Unhealthy foods for the brain and mind.

Where Do I Begin?

Small goals that you can share with others to hold us accountable.

• Example: Only drink soda on the weekends.

• If you slip up, be kind to yourself. It’s a struggle for everyone.
Easy clean eating steps! :)
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