Nutrition, Mental Health, and
Behavior Change: Rethinking
the Current Model of Health
PRESENTATION BY: LUKE MEIER MA, PLMHP, C.S.N.
My Philosophy
“The doctor of the future will no
longer treat the human frame with
drugs, but rather will cure and
prevent disease with nutrition”
- Thomas Edison
Nutrition Defined

Nutrition refers to the process of providing or
obtaining the food necessary for health and
growth.

The branch of science that deals with nutrients
and nutrition, particularly in humans.

Overall, Nourishment
What’s nutrition got to do
with it?

All processes in the body run based on the nutrients we consume.

Nutrients found in whole food items are more bioavailable.

Essential Nutrients needed for the body to maintain homeostasis.

The brain is only as good as the food consumed.

Entire purpose of the human body is to sustain life, by making poor lifestyle
choices, then the homeostatic functioning cannot take place.

Addiction, malnutrition, and mental health symptoms can all correlate.
Where do we get this
nourishment?

Three main sources of calories aka energy for
the body
 Carbohydrates
 Fats
 Proteins
Carbohydrates
A food substance that is used as a primary energy source for the body
and mind. It is converted to glucose or stored in the muscle and liver
tissue as glycogen. The speed at which this occurs depends on
chemical structure.

Simple carbohydrates- One or two sugars


Converts to blood sugar easier
Complex carbohydrates- Three or more sugars

Takes longer to convert to blood sugar
Sugar

Refers here as sucrose or table sugar, increases insulin in blood stream to
release rapidly

Simple carbohydrate (easier to absorb)

Lacks basic nutrients needed for digestion

Causes insulin release=hormone dysregulation=mood disorder

Refined, processed, cheap, stimulating

Much like something else
Fats
A slow digesting energy source converted to free
fatty acids that the body and mind can use once
glycogen stores begin to run low.

Saturated

Unsaturated

Trans-fat
Saturated and Unsaturated

Mental and physical health

Slow digesting

Sustained source of energy

Helps maintain homeostasis

Satisfying

Why so important to Mental Health?

Hint: the body needs it

Hot Dog, Spinach leaves, Egg whites……Choose one!
Trans Fats, Flours, Sugars,
Various Chemicals

Packaged food items

Fast food items

Candy, soda, sugary teas, fruit juices, yes, even fruit snacks

Margarine

If it comes in a package, has a nutrition label, or will not go bad in a few
days, then rethink what the purpose of this food is

High Fructose Corn Syrup (worse than sugar)

Take place of nutrient dense food
Proteins

This food substance is used by the entire body
and mind at the cellular level.

Amino Acids

Sustain blood sugars
Neurotransmitters

Serotonin


Norepinephrine


Contentment, satisfaction, overall definition of happiness, engaged
interests
Stress hormone, attention and responding actions, fight-or-flight
response, directly increasing heart rate, reduce neuroinflammation
Dopamine

Helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers, helps regulate
movement and emotional responses, people with low dopamine
activity may be more prone to addiction
Eating for Success

More attentive

Improved retention

Increase positive outlook

Feel better

Look better

Increased Self esteem

Allow clients to have knowledge they can then teach others

See processed and sugary food as a reward, not as a necessity

Less medication
Just packing for a
day at the park!
Body in Balance

Homeostasis

All macro nutrients utilized in efficient system

All micro nutrients used in balance with each other

Even phytonutrients utilized to help break down and absorb nutrients in
most efficient form

The brain burns most of our daily caloric intake

The regulation of bodily functions such as metabolism and sustaining life
necessity consumes almost all energy consumed
Supplements, too much of a
good thing

Imbalances aren’t just a deficiency

Too much of one nutrient leaves the body imbalanced

Certain nutrients balance each other: When one goes up, other needs to
go up as well

Liver and kidneys struggle

Difficult to know contents

Difficult to absorb

Can be ineffective versus whole food sources
Easy Right?
Not without the proper
nutrients can this happen!
Out of Whack aka
Substance Abuse

What does happen when the body is out of whack?

Anything

Deficiencies occur

Body unable to perform functions

Illnesses arise

Body breaks down

Chronic fatigue/pain

Mental illness

Medication induced deficiency

CRAVINGS!!!
Mental Health Symptoms in
Treatment

Schizophrenia

Depression

Anxiety

Bipolar Disorder

Eating disorders

PTSD

Personality Disorders

Others?
Addiction

What causes someone to use in the first place?

Why continued use?

Once physiologically craving substance, best
method to help quit?

Make these substances legal?
Why the body craves?

Think of a pizza
Kind of like this!
Pizza vs Drug Use

Stimulation

Rewarding to my brain

Relaxing

Nostalgic

Maybe even hunger?
Triggered?
Pizza Vs. Drug Use

Rewarding

Stimulating

Pleasurable

Relaxing

Bringing back old memories

Emotional or feeling of agitation

Withdrawal
Mental Health and
Substance Use

Chicken or the egg

Self-medication

Maladaptive coping skill

Symptom management

Justifying

Drug use imbalance vs natural imbalance by brain with mental health
symptoms vs nutrient deficiencies

Difference?
How Nutrition Can Help

Fulfill deficiencies

Fulfill cravings

Sustain homeostasis

Specialize in and properly administer whole food sources rich in necessary
nutrients for the body to not only live, but recover physically

Improved cognitive ability

Increased self esteem

More control over life

Knowledge

Can assist in breakdown and absorption of medication
The Old DSM-IV

Axis I (Nutrients can assist in alleviating symptoms of major mental health)

Axis II (Nutrients have also been shown to help with regulating emotions)

Axis III (Physiologically the body can recover more efficiently with nutrient
needs met)

Axis IV (Many of these problems can be alleviated with preventative
health measures or while in treatment help the person better handle stress)

Axis V (GAF score increases significantly as mind and body feel better)
Side effects?
Give me a few reasons why
not?
MONEY!
Other Side of the Coin

Counselors

Staff

Directors

CFOs

Psychiatrist

Psychologist

MDs/GPs

Peers
Behavior Change Needed

Counseling techniques to enforce belief in nutritional therapy

Nutritional Therapist with own treatment plan

Utilize CBT/DBT skills

Positive reinforcement

Nutrition education

More accurate measurements

Less interference with treatment

More structure
From A to B
Reinforce the Facts

Body needs nutrients

Nutrients run the body as efficiently as possible

Proper nutrition accounts for any deficiencies in body and mind

Studies show correlation with mental health and nutrition

Alleviate symptoms, increase likelihood of staying sober

Assist with medication effectiveness

Increase self esteem increase chances of setting and maintaining boundaries

Education is empowering

DOES NO HARM!!
Conclusion

Further research is needed on effects of nutrition and mental health

Belief that this current model of treatment can change

Better budget analysis to determine higher cost of food vs detrimental
effects of poor eating/med management/low self esteem/medical issues

Remember Heart Disease still kills more people than anything and what we
choose to eat as either clinicians or clients has a direct effect on this

The brain is built on what we consume. No essential nutrients= No essential
functions= life interfering symptoms
“ When we are no longer able to
change a situation we are
challenged to change ourselves
VIKTOR E. FRANKL
Thank You
”