We Are What We Eat

Growing evidence suggests that what we eat influences not just our physical health but also our mood, emotions, and overall well-being. Dietary changes such as reducing ultra-processed food intake and eating more fruits and vegetables, as well as taking certain nutritional supplements, have been associated with improvements in depression and other mental health problems in adults and with a healthier start to life for children. These benefits are increasingly tied to specific brain regions involved in eating behavior, social influences on what and how people eat, and the impact of the gut microbiome on immune, metabolic, and neural pathways.

“There is growing knowledge of the connection between nutrition, dietary patterns, and many aspects of psychological, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. We now understand from a robust evidence base that nutrition and dietary intake patterns can influence what we think, feel, and experience, including our mental health outcomes,” said Ephi Morphew-Lu, a clinical nutritionist who cofounded and directs the Center for Nutritional Psychologyopens in new window, a nonprofit dedicated to developing the scientific discipline focused on the link between diet and psychological well-being.