• Neuroscience is advancing beyond the “chemical imbalance” narrative

• Foods can have negative and restorative impact on our mental health

• Nutrition to create clearer minds, as part of the mental health recovery process (not a replacement for medications — always consult with your doctor)

Treating mental health challenges through dietary means is nothing new, but in the last few years or so, it's become a new and exciting scientific approach called ...

"Metabolic Psychiatry" and "Nutritional Psychiatry." 

The brain is more than just a "chemical imbalance" needing medications; it's also a metabolic regulator - so what we eat matters (which gets into the gut-brain connection topic, too). 

This matters because ... obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are more common among those experiencing mental health challenges than others ... and metabolic dysfunction is often part of many diagnoses, such as bipolar, depression, schizophrenia, and eating disorders (1).

How Food Affects Mental Health.

You see, though tasty and very COMFORTING, those unhealthy foods cause high insulin, which means high inflammation in the brain (and body). There's more to it but in short ...

... these unhealthy foods lead to metabolic dysfunction, disrupting the brain's neurotransmitters and our nervous system, triggering cell danger response, and so much more. We just feel off but crave more indulging junk food. 

Research: Food can work faster and better than meds!

I've seen all kinds of studies that date back decades, and the results are phenomenal.

One study shows how a two-week ketogenic diet had up to a 70% improvement in symptom reduction; some had remission, and others who were treatment resistant (i.e., treatment-refractory-mental illness) saw overall beneficial improvements (2) ... this metabolic or nutritional psychiatric intervention performed better than the small and marginal effect of antidepressants (3).
 

NOTE: Healthy Nutrition with Medication. 
We believe in healthy nutrition alongside your medication, not as a replacement. Always chat with your doctor first about your diet and any needed changes to your medication.

Mental Health is a whole-health and whole-person approach, which is why we cover nutrition more in-depth in our FREE Thrive workbook. We simply approach it from eating to reduce inflammation and restoring the gut ... overall improving and restoring metabolic function in the brain. 

"My mind is clearer."

I've coached many through our FREE Thrive workbook, and I usually see them improve from their new nutrition plan. AGAIN, I DON'T advise them to get off their meds; rather stay on them. I tell them that healthy nutrition could make their medication work better, and their doctor can evaluate any changes needed.

For example, one week after helping someone develop a new nutrition plan while in crisis and mental distress, they said, "Overall, I feel better, my mind is clearer." 

Nutrition is part of God's design and practical grace to help ... and now becoming a growing and evidence-based approach!

Joe Padilla | Grace Alliance

(1) Stanford Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Metabolic Psychiatry Clinic. 

(2) Danan A, Westman EC, Saslow LR, Ede G. The Ketogenic Diet for Refractory Mental Illness: A Retrospective Analysis of 31 Inpatients. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Jul 6.

(3) Volkmann C, Volkmann A, Müller CA. On the treatment effect heterogeneity of antidepressants in major depression: A Bayesian meta-analysis and simulation study. PLoS One. 2020 Nov 11. and also noted on the website: https://www.psychiatryredefined.org/what-is-metabolic-psychiatry/