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  Contentment, satisfaction, overall definition of happiness, engaged interests  Norepinephrine  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 V IKTOR E. F RANKL Thank You