Nutrition Intervention for Depressive Symptoms
The link between diet and depression has come a long way. Research has shown that people who eat more ultra-processed are more likely to develop depression, and people with depressive symptoms tend to improve after dietary intervention.
The challenge is to understand who would most likely benefit from nutrition interventions. This presentation describes those most likely to respond to a nutrition intervention and the potential mechanisms through which nutrition can improve mental health. Diet for depression may be the next frontier in mental health.
Historically, depression has been viewed through the lens of serotonin function. Recently, other phenotypic presentations have emerged. The inflammatory phenotype of depression describes a condition responsive to nutrition intervention. This presentation describes the potential mechanisms, highlighting the characteristics of the Mediterranean Diet.
My most recent presentation was at the Patton State Hospital Annual Nutrition Seminar, hosted by dietetic interns and available to the hospital staff.
This talk below is rich with evidence and clinical experience. For more content related to Nutrition and Depression, check out another video and blog from the Wise Mind Nutrition website
Diet for Depression
David Wiss
David became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in 2013 and founded Nutrition in Recovery, a group practice of RDNs specializing in treating eating and substance use disorders. In 2017, David received the “Excellence in Practice” award at the National Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo. The California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics awarded him the “Emerging Dietetic Leader Award” in 2020. He earned his Ph.D. from UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health in the Community Health Sciences department (with a minor in Health Psychology) by investigating the links between adverse childhood experiences and various mental health outcomes among socially disadvantaged men. His treatment philosophy is based on a biopsychosocial model which incorporates an understanding of biological mechanisms, psychological underpinnings, and contextual factors that integrate the social determinants of health. Wise Mind Nutrition's website offers a fully online interactive treatment program in Spring 2023.