Nutrition and mental health

Julia Rucklidge provides an update on the relationship between nutrition and mental health. She explores the current state of mental health in the nation and delves into the role of diet. Additionally, she explores whether a 'good diet' alone is sufficient for optimal mental health, what micronutrients are, and when we should consider them for our patients.

Topics

Intro
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The rise in mental health disorders
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People may think that they are eating healthy, but...
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Optimal mental health diet
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Is the diet you've described sufficient for mental health?
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Specific micronutrients necessary for optimal mental health
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The current research
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Prescribing micronutrients
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Precautions or considerations when prescribing micronutrients
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Why are micronutrient doses a lot higher then RDI?
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additional resources
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Take-home messages
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Take home messages

While patients might think they eat a “healthy” diet, it may well incorporate a lot of ultra-processed foods.
Half of calories consumed in the Western world are coming from UPFs
Research has robustly shown, based on epidemiological studies and controlled trials that our choice of diet is influencing our mental health
Supplementation with additional micronutrients may be necessary for some people, even if they eat a good diet
There are RCTs that have demonstrated the efficacy of broad-spectrum micronutrient supplementation for the treatment of ADHD, aggression, and symptoms associated with autism, depression and stress

Presenter

Julia Rucklidge

Clinical Psychologist

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Julia is a Professor of Psychology and a Clinical Psychologist in the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing at the University of Canterbury, the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab, and co-author of "The Better Brain".

Originally from Toronto, Canada, she completed her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Calgary, and in 2000, she immigrated to New Zealand. Her interests in nutrition and mental illness grew out of research showing poor outcomes for individuals with significant psychiatric illness despite receiving standard conventional treatments.

For over a decade, her lab has been running clinical trials investigating the role of broad-spectrum micronutrients in the treatment of mental illness, including ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety and stress. Julia has over 150 peer-reviewed publications, including in the Lancet Psychiatry, JAMA and the British Journal of Psychiatry and is currently on the Executive Committee for the International Society of Nutritional Psychiatry Research.

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