what is Nutrition counseling?
Nutrition counseling refers to the management of diet and body image issues as part of a holistic treatment plan for mental and physical health issues.
Nutrition counseling includes individualized nutritional advice and bespoke dietary planning based on a client’s mental and physical health needs. Nutritional counseling also involves exploring a client’s relationship to food, potential food sensitivities, and determining what a balanced diet might look like.
Connection Between Nutrition and Mental Health
A growing body of evidence suggests that a balanced diet can play a protective role in both mental and physical health and can contribute to markers of positive mental health in cases of depression, as well as other health problems. Individual factors include the potential for poor dietary choices and nutritional deficiencies to play a role in mental health problems, as well as the relationship between good food, feeling better, and mood/emotional health.
Furthermore, we are learning about the capacity for the gut microbiome to act as the “second brain” of the human body, to the point that our GI tract may play a significant role in mood management and emotional regulation.
A better, more balanced diet consisting of more sources of dietary fiber, fewer processed sugars, and higher levels of polyphenols and other beneficial micronutrients may improve gut health, and lead to a healthier, happier mind as well.
Not all balanced diets are created equal. A growing number of people are realizing that they have food sensitivity issues which may be causing chronic digestive problems and contributing to issues with mood and sleep. Aside from acute food allergies and conditions like Crohn’s or celiac disease, some people are more likely to struggle with complex carbohydrates known as FODMAPs or have trouble digesting gluten or lactose.
In addition to the gut and the relationship between physical and mental wellbeing, certain foods are linked to better brain function, which in turn might help improve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Benefits of Nutrition Counseling for Mental Health
Nutrition counseling can help improve:
- Mood: Certain foods are linked to better mood and brain function, while a deficiency in key vitamins – especially vitamin D – is linked to depression and other mood disorders.
- Energy Levels: A balanced and individualized diet can improve energy levels and address brain fog.
- Sleep: Sleep is an underrated factor for mental and physical wellbeing, and a better diet can contribute to longer, more qualitative sleep.
- Longevity: Diets rich in polyphenols and other antioxidants tend to be linked to populations with longer lifespans. While genes also play a great role in longevity, the food we eat and the risks that malnutrition or poor nutrition expose us to can greatly reduce our existing life spans, which can also contribute to a poorer quality of life, and poor mental health.
Nutrition Counseling at Resolutions
Nutrition counseling at Resolutions aims to leverage the power of a balanced diet to help improve a client’s mental and physical wellbeing, through nutrient-dense whole foods, and an individualized meal plan that clients can learn to incorporate into their everyday life outside of treatment.
Nutrition counselors at Resolutions are accredited and certified, and help clients learn to manage their dietary habits and relationship to food in the long-term.
CONTACT US
Call our admissions line below or fill out the following contact form to reach a Resolutions Therapeutic Services representative.
"*" indicates required fields