This Is Your Brain on Food: An Indispensable Guide to the Surprising Foods That Fight Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and More

by Uma Naidoo MD

Overview

Eat for your mental health and learn the fascinating science behind nutrition with this "must-read" guide from an expert psychiatrist (Amy Myers, MD).

Did you know that blueberries can help you cope with the aftereffects of trauma? That salami can cause depression, or that boosting Vitamin D intake can help treat anxiety?
 
When it comes to diet, most people's concerns involve weight loss, fitness, cardiac health, and longevity. But what we eat affects more than our bodies; it also affects our brains. And recent studies have shown that diet can have a profound impact on mental health conditions ranging from ADHD to depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, OCD, dementia and beyond.
 
A triple threat in the food space, Dr. Uma Naidoo is a board-certified psychiatrist, nutrition specialist, and professionally trained chef. In This Is Your Brain on Food, she draws on cutting-edge research to explain the many ways in which food contributes to our mental health, and shows how a sound diet can help treat and prevent a wide range of psychological and cognitive health issues.
 
Packed with fascinating science, actionable nutritional recommendations, and 40 delicious, brain-healthy recipes, This Is Your Brain on Food is the go-to guide to optimizing your mental health with food.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316536820
Publisher:	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date:	08/04/2020
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	6,974
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Uma Naidoo, MD is board-certified psychiatrist (Harvard Medical School), professional chef (Cambridge School of Culinary Arts), and nutrition specialist (Cornell University). She is currently the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where she consults on nutritional interventions for the psychiatrically and medically ill; Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital Academy; and has a private practice in Newton, MA. She also teaches at The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.


Dr. Naidoo speaks frequently at conferences at Harvard, for Goop audiences, the New York City Jewish Community Center (JCC), and Ivy Boston. She blogs for Harvard Health and Psychology Today and completed a unique video cooking series for the MGH Academy which teaches Nutritional Psychiatry using culinary techniques in the kitchen.

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Chapter 1 The Gut-Brain Romance 11

Chapter 2 Depression: Probiotics, Omega-3s, and the Mediterranean Eating Pattern 29

Chapter 3 Anxiety: Fermented Foods, Dietary Fiber, and the Tryptophan Myth 57

Chapter 4 PTSD: Glutamates, Blueberries, and "Old Friends" Bacteria 81

Chapter 5 ADHD: Gluten, Milk Caseins, and Polyphenols 99

Chapter 6 Dementia and Brain Fog: Microgreens, Rosemary, and the MIND Diet 115

Chapter 7 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: NAC, Glycine, and the Dangers of Orthorexia Nervosa 139

Chapter 8 Insomnia and Fatigue: Capsaicin, Chamomile, and Anti-Inflammatory Diets 159

Chapter 9 Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia: L-Theanine, Healthy Fats, and the Ketogenic Diet 181

Chapter 10 Libido: Oxytocin, Fenugreek, and the Science of Aphrodisiacs 209

Chapter 11 Cooking and Eating for Your Brain 231

Appendix A Glycemic Load of Carbohydrates 293

Appendix B Common Sources of Vitamins and Select Minerals 295

Appendix C Antioxidants and ORAC 301

Acknowledgments 303

Notes 305

Index 361

Editorial Reviews

"It's no surprise that what we eat affects the way we feel, however This Is Your Brain on Food offers valuable and much-needed information on the specific ways that food helps and harms our mental health. This is a must-read for anyone interested in natural ways to improve cognitive function."
—Amy Myers, MD, author of The Autoimmune Solution and The Thyroid Connection

"In a very real sense, we are our brain's architect in terms of both structure and function. And without question, food may be the most powerful influence on our brain's destiny. Building on leading research, This Is Your Brain on Food provides everything you need to craft a nutritional program focused on optimizing brain health and performance."—David Perlmutter, MD, author of Grain Brain and Brain Wash

"In This Is Your Brain on Food, Dr. Uma Naidoo reveals the hidden connections among food, our mood, and the brain. She tells us how the deep suffering from depression, anxiety, dementia, PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, and other conditions can be relieved through dietary changes, all based on solid science. Each chapter takes us on a journey through mental well-being that surveys the market, menu, and spice cabinet. A unique leader in the food-as-medicine field, Dr. Naidoo is a rare combination of Harvard psychiatrist, nutrition specialist, and professional chef — so when it comes to cooking and eating to improve mental health, nobody does it better. Just reading This Is Your Brain whets your appetite for wellness and gets you in a better mood!"
—William W. Li, MD, author of Eat to Beat Disease

"Dr. Naidoo brings together her background as a professional chef, Harvard-trained psychiatrist, and nutrition expert to take readers to the cutting edge of what we know, and don't know, about the complex connections between our diets and mental health. This is one of the great frontiers in medicine, and having her as a guide will be invaluable for anyone wanting to know more about this critically important and rapidly unfolding topic."
—Walter Willett, MD, DrPH, Harvard University, author of Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy

"A Harvard psychiatrist, professional chef, and nutrition specialist, Dr. Uma Naidoo has synthesized the current research on food for mental health in the most reliable and digestible way that I've experienced. A must-read if you are looking for what you should or shouldn't do to boost your mood, energy, or concentration. I highly recommend this book."—Daniel G. Amen, MD, founder of Amen Clinics and author of The End of Mental Illness

"As a trained chef and psychiatrist, Uma Naidoo is uniquely qualified to dispense food as medicine for the mind/body interface. This Is Your Brain on Food is beautifully prepared, and perfectly served. It is an important book, and as satisfying as a great meal."—David L. Katz, MD, president of True Health Initiative and coauthor of How to Eat

"Dr. Uma Naidoo unveils a truth that I wholeheartedly endorse: What we eat affects our brains. Her incisive research and scrumptious recipes are an ode to enhancing mental acuity."
—Lisa Mosconi, PhD, director of the Women's Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell and author of The XX Brain

"In this charming, extraordinary, and riveting guide to nutritional psychiatry, Dr. Naidoo shares her deep personal insights, broad research findings, and profound wisdom. This Is Your Brain on Food is destined to be a must-read for anyone who wants to care for themselves and their body, to optimize their physical and mental health, and ultimately to live a long and healthy life."
—Dr. Lynda Gratton, professor at London Business School and coauthor of The 100-Year Life

"If you want to improve your cognitive function, mood, and mental health, read this book!"—Dr. Josh Axe, author of Keto Diet

From the Publisher