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American Psychological Association
The Center for Nutritional Psychology
Bridging the Gap Between Nutrition & Mental Health.
A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Educational Organization developing the discipline of Nutritional Psychology
NUTRITIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Research Library
Featured Research Article
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Higher ultra-processed food intake is associated with slightly higher dementia risk
We all know that some foods are healthy while others are less so or not at all. Foods like vegetables, fruits, fish, minimally processed lean meats, whole grains, and yogurt are generally considered healthy because they provide nutrients the body needs, such as healthy fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and fiber. On the other hand, foods...
Our vision
A nutritional component to mental healthcare by 2030
At CNP, we’re building a new foundation for mental healthcare — one that bridges the psychological and nutritional sciences. Through research synthesis, curriculum development, and a unified methodology for studying the diet–mental health relationship, we’re closing a critical gap in our understanding of how diet influences how we think, feel, and experience.
THE CENTER FOR NUTRITIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AT A GLANCE
Connecting the psychological and nutritional science since 2005.
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CNP-WRITTEN SUMMARIES503
ENCYCLOPEDIA TERMS121
RESEARCH CATEGORIES2030
A NUTRITIONAL COMPONENT TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE
Mission
Poor diet is already understood to be a major contributor to disease and mortality, and is now also being examined for its role in psychological health and well-being. Studies from around the globe demonstrate this diet–mental health relationship (DMHR), and while many individuals have some awareness of how the foods they eat affect the way they feel, some remain confused, and still others need proof that such a relationship exists.
CNP’s mission is to serve as an online resource that raises awareness of the DMHR, advocates for the development of the field and its integration into the mental health care system, and provides research, education, and tools for professionals and individuals alike. Together, we’re shaping a future where what we eat is recognized as inseparable from how we think, feel, and heal.
CNP's Approved University-Level Education For Professionals
Nutritional psychology curriculum in development provides professionals with psycho-nutritional tools to help their clients develop the cognitive, behavioral, and perceptual skills needed for understanding the effects their dietary intake patterns may be having on their mood, behavior and mental health. NP gives mental health professionals another important piece of the puzzle for supporting their clients’ mental health and well-being by helping them understand how and why they can use food as a tools to improve the way they feel.
CNP Articles
Tracking how your diet shapes your mental health.
Healthier Diets are Associated with Better Mental Health in Adolescents
Understanding Adolescence as a Critical Developmental Period; Adolescence is the period of development between childhood and adulthood, roughly...
Consuming lots of flavonoid-rich foods is linked with feeling happy and optimistic
What is psychological well-being? Psychological well-being is an overarching concept in psychological research that encompasses feelings of happiness,...
Frequent Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods is Associated with Worse Overall Well-Being
An analysis of Global Mind Project data spanning 60 countries, published in Frontiers in Nutrition, found that frequent...
Nutritional Psychology News
CNP keeps you informed with the latest diet-mental health news.
Prescribing GLP-1 receptor agonists for persons with mental disorders: Evidence-based and aspirational targets
Beyond weight management: What upcoming phase 3 trial readouts will reveal about the gut-brain axis and reward-center regulation.
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Food addiction debate: Symptoms, causes, and treatment
Evaluating how ultra-processed food formulations engage mesolimbic dopamine signaling to override normal satiety pathways.
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Undigested fructose linked to anxiety and brain inflammation
Analyzing how saturable intestinal transporters cause fructose spillover, altering gut microbiota to trigger mood changes.
Read MoreJoin Our Growing Community
Take steps to develop your understanding of the relationship between diet and psychological health and well-being. Together, we can build a new model of mental healthcare to include this important piece of the puzzle.
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