Introduction

Nutritional Psychology: Understanding the Relationship Between Food and Mental Health provides a broad look at the intersection between food and mental health and offers a comprehensive approach to effectively prioritize nutrition as a powerful component to maintaining overall wellbeing. Each of the 16 chapters deeply informs about a broad range of nutritional factors including those that promote stable blood sugar levels, optimize brain functioning, and contribute to the microbiome and hormone levels so important to the brain-gut connection. There are useful insights into the dynamics of food selection, eating disorders, obesity, body image, and nutrition quality that can stabilize or destabilize mental and emotional disorders. Additionally, environmental influences that shape eating behaviors are fully explored.