Dr. Uma Naidoo
Psychiatrist, Trained Chef, and Renowned Nutritionist.
“Until we solve nutritional problems, no amount of medication and psychotherapy is going to be able to stem the tide of mental issues in our society.”
-Dr. Uma Naidoo in her book “This is Your Brain on Food“
Michelin-starred chef David Bouley described Dr. Uma Naidoo as the world’s first “triple threat” in the food as medicine space: She is a Harvard trained psychiatrist, Professional Chef graduating with her culinary schools’ most coveted award, and she has trained in Nutrition.
Dr. Naidoo is regarded both nationally and internationally as a medical pioneer in Nutritional Psychiatry, an emerging field of nutritional science.
Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based clinical service in Nutritional Psychiatry in the USA. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School.
Food and Mental Health
“The best way to think of the connection is the old saying, “you are what you eat.” Nutritional Psychiatry studies the impact of food and nutrients on mental health. Scientifically, there is a physical connection between the gut and brain due to certain chemicals which move back and forth between these areas of the body, which further impacts mental health. For example, one area of research has shown that following a Mediterranean dietary pattern can protect against the development of depression.” -Dr. Uma Naidoo Link
This is Your Brain on Food
“Eat for your mental health and learn the fascinating science behind nutrition with this “must-read” guide from an expert psychiatrist (Amy Myers, MD).
Did you know that blueberries can help you cope with the aftereffects of trauma? That salami can cause depression, or that boosting Vitamin D intake can help treat anxiety?
When it comes to diet, most people’s concerns involve weight loss, fitness, cardiac health, and longevity. But what we eat affects more than our bodies; it also affects our brains. And recent studies have shown that diet can have a profound impact on mental health conditions ranging from ADHD to depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, OCD, dementia and beyond.
A triple threat in the food space, Dr. Uma Naidoo is a board-certified psychiatrist, nutrition specialist, and professionally trained chef. In This Is Your Brain on Food, she draws on cutting-edge research to explain the many ways in which food contributes to our mental health, and shows how a sound diet can help treat and prevent a wide range of psychological and cognitive health issues.
Packed with fascinating science, actionable nutritional recommendations, and delicious, brain-healthy recipes, This Is Your Brain on Food is the go-to guide to optimizing your mental health with food.”