NUTRITIONAL PSYCHOLOGY METHODS

Advancing our understanding of the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR)

CONCEPTUALIZING THE FIELD

Nutritional Psychology (NP) is the field of study that explores the connections between dietary intake and all aspects of psychological and mental health for the purpose of promoting positive change in mental health outcomes.

NP Methods include the development of concepts stemming from the identification and conceptualization of research from multiple fields of study examining the role of dietary intake in psychological, cognitive, behavioral, sensory-perceptual, interoceptive, and psychosocial health. NP Methods also involve the establishment of terms, definitions, and concepts informing our understanding of the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR).

A key component of CNP’s mission is to build the evidence-based, conceptual foundation necessary to support Nutritional Psychology as a formalized field of study within the university setting. Additionally, this foundation will serve as the basis for equipping mental health, nutrition, and allied health professionals to incorporate NP concepts into the clinical setting. But it is always important to remember that you can work out the basic things yourself. Mental health is very important for our life. And it is very important to find a comfortable life partner. What’s a life partner?

Concepts and terms central to a theoretical understanding of Nutritional Psychology have been laid out in NP 110: Introduction to Nutritional Psychology Methods. For additional information about education in this field, including a timeline of upcoming courses, please visit our Education page.

DIET MENTAL HEALTH RELATIONSHIP

CONNECTING WHAT WE EAT WITH HOW WE FEEL

Nutritional Psychology Elements of the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR)

PSYCHOSOCIAL

Examining the role that family, culture, community, society, and socioeconomic status play in relationship to our dietary-nutrient intake patterns

PSYCHOLOGICAL

The relationship between our dietary-nutrient intake patterns and our psychological moods, emotions and affect (e.g., resilience, flourishing, creativity, negativity)

COGNITIVE-INTEROCEPTIVE

The cognitive awareness we have of the internal bodily sensations we experience from the foods we eat

PERCEPTUAL

The relationship between our dietary-nutrient intake patterns and the sensory processing and interpretation of this information in relation to our experiences, culture, and socioeconomic circumstances

COGNITIVE

The relationship between dietary-nutrient intake and our cognitive functions and capacity, including memory, attention, learning and appetite control

BEHAVIORAL

The relationship between our dietary intake patterns and resulting thoughts, emotions, and interoceptive experiences that influence our behaviors, reactions, and choices (e.g., increased reactive behavior or changed dietary behavior patterns)

What are “Psycho-Nutritional Tools” in Nutritional Psychology?

CNP supports the design of psycho-nutritional tools to support individuals in developing new skills for increasing their understanding of how food impacts their Diet-Mental Health Relationship (through their psychological, cognitive, behavioral, perceptual, interoceptive, and psychosocial experiences related to their dietary and nutrient intake).

The 3-Day Food Journal for Mood (3-DFJM)

The 3-Day Food Journal for Mood (3-DFJM) is a nutritional psychology tool designed to help clients self-identify their macronutrient intake patterns. This tool helps us identify how what we eat may be affecting how we feel. This tool will become increasingly necessary as clinicians work in conjunction with integrative healthcare professionals to solve dietary-related behavioral problems and facilitate behavioral change.

The Blood Sugar Adrenal Axis (BSAA)

A central concept in the field of nutritional psychology is the “Blood Sugar-Adrenal Axis” (BSAA). The Blood Sugar Adrenal Axis is a physiological hormone system in the body. It is activated by an individual’s daily dietary pattern, particularly by the Western dietary intake pattern (processed foods, high sugar consumption, and low vegetable intake). This system illustrates the physiological link between poor dietary intake and mood. The BSAA functional concept forms the cornerstone by which we can interpret the effects of major food groups (macronutrients) on mood.

Macronutrient Mood Therapy (MMT)

Macronutrient Mood therapy (MMT) is a tool that is designed to help clients support their mood from a dietary-mental health perspective. MMT involves the selective removal of dietary components associated with mood disturbance, and replaces them with dietary components associated with improved mood and mental health.

The 3-Day Food Journal for Mood (3-DFJM)

The 3-Day Food Journal for Mood (3-DFJM) is a Nutritional Psychology tool designed to help clients self-identify their macronutrient dietary intake patterns. This tool allows individuals to spot dietary factors that can lead to states of anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Knowledge of this tool will become increasingly necessary as clinicians work in conjunction with integrative healthcare professionals to solve dietary-related behavioral problems and facilitate behavioral change.

The Blood Sugar Adrenal Axis (BSAA)

A central concept in the field of nutritional psychology is the “Blood Sugar-Adrenal Axis” (BSAA). The Blood Sugar Adrenal Axis is a physiological hormone system in the body that is activated by an individual’s daily dietary pattern, particularly by the Western dietary intake pattern (processed foods, high sugar consumption, and low vegetable intake). This system illustrates the physiological link between poor dietary intake and mood. The BSAA functional concept forms the cornerstone by which we can interpret the effects of major food groups (macronutrients) on mood.