WEBVTT
00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:16.239
Welcome to the Psychogastroenterologist, the show where we explore the fascinating intersection of the brain-cut connection through a multidisciplinary lens informed by psychology, neuroscience, and gastroenterology, better known as psychogastroenterology.
00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:23.600
Our mission is to delve into the gut brain access and uncover how this powerful connection influences mental, physical, and overall well-being.
00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:31.760
Whether you work in behavioral health, health care, the criminal justice system, or health and wellness coaching, this podcast offers insights to inform and inspire your work.
00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:39.679
Join us as we break down complex concepts, share evidence-based perspectives, and discuss emerging trends in this rapidly evolving field.
00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:46.640
The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice.
00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:50.960
The content discussion should not replace professional judgment, diagnosis, or treatment.
00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:56.000
Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical or psychological concerns.
00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:03.200
The views expressed by our hosts and our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organization.
00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:05.120
Well, good day, everyone.
00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:11.200
Welcome back to episode seven of the Psychogastroentinologist Podcast.
00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:17.040
In this episode, I'm going to talk about the topic of neuronutrition.
00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:18.799
Really interesting field of study.
00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:22.959
I've been uh doing some work in the past probably year and a half, two years now.
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:24.319
My name's Jared Brown.
00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:24.959
I'm your host.
00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.359
Here's my email address on the first slide.
00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:34.799
If you're listening to this audio only and you want to see these slides, please check out our YouTube channel.
00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:40.560
My professional biography is on this slide, but I wear a couple different hats.
00:01:40.719 --> 00:02:01.920
But I am a professor, trainer, researcher, consultant, and I have a great interest in the area of the gut brain access and psychogastroentinology and nutrition and lifestyle medicine and many other topics that we have and will be talking about at various times in our podcasts.
00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:05.840
And these are the areas that guide and inform the work I do.
00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:21.360
And if you're listening to this audio only, I do a lot of work in the area of neurocriminology, psychoneuroimmunology, metacognition, food insecurities, health disparities, attachment theory, and many other areas.
00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:27.360
And we're going to talk about all of these topics and many more at various times in future episodes.
00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:30.639
Our agenda today, very straightforward, three parts.
00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:37.439
Going to give you a good overview of what is neuronutrition and why you want to care about that when studying the gut brain access.
00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:43.680
Part two, how can you apply this to your intake, your interviewing and screening process?
00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:48.400
And part three, all about tips, strategies, solutions, and interventions.
00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:52.719
And we say this in every podcast, but this is just for educational purposes only.
00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:56.639
Please work with qualified professionals before implementing any of these things.
00:02:56.800 --> 00:03:00.879
So as we get in the topic of neuronutrition, what is this?
00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:04.800
Well, basically it's combining neuroscience with nutrition science.
00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:09.360
And it's a fascinating, broad area and it's an emerging area.
00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:13.840
Many, many articles, book chapters have been written on this topic.
00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:29.120
And I encourage you, even if you're not in the world of nutrition, whatever field you're in, if you can learn the basics of what this field is, I think it's going to be very helpful in the treatment of cognitive and mental health conditions, to name a few.
00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:30.879
Let's make it visual here, folks.
00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:32.400
So what is neuronutrition?
00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:41.039
Well, it's multidisciplinary in nature, which basically means this field of study draws from multiple other fields of study.
00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:42.639
It's a holistic approach.
00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:48.400
It takes into account mind-body approaches, neurobiopsycho-social factors.
00:03:48.479 --> 00:04:06.879
And if you break that down, this field of study cares a lot about biology, genetics, and epigenetics, physiology, environmental factors, social factors, client behavioral patterns, what the client eats, and are they consuming any other kinds of substances?
00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:14.639
And if you can really become neuronutrition informed, I think it will revolutionize the great work all of you are already doing.
00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:16.319
This is just my opinion.
00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:19.680
Going through this literature, studying this field for many years.
00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:23.680
One of my master's degrees is in applied clinical nutrition.
00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:31.759
And I believe that there are a number of other fields of study that really complement the field of neuronutrition.
00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:38.879
And some of these that you see on this slide here are definitely a no-brainer because we're talking about nutritional science.
00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:46.720
But I do believe neurocounseling, if you can learn that field, it pairs very nicely with the field of neural nutrition.
00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:59.680
If you can learn the basics of behavioral sleep medicine, positive psychology, the first thousand days of life research, adverse childhood experiences, attachment theory, blue zone research, and the list goes on.
00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:05.120
These fields of study, I think, really pair nicely and complement the field of neuronutrition.
00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:08.160
And it really then makes it even more holistic.
00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:18.720
If you were to go through the bulk of the neuronutrition literature, and there's a lot out there again, and it does take time to get through this literature base and it's ever evolving.
00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:20.639
New studies are coming out all the time.
00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:28.639
But this slide here visually shows some of the specific populations that have been discussed in the neuronutrition literature.
00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:43.600
Some of these are going to include various types of neurodegenerative disorders, a variety of mental health conditions, migraine, chronic pain issues, metabolic syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and the list goes on.
00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:55.279
If you were working with providers who have an expertise in this, the right training, the right credentials, things of that nature, and they're using neuronutrition approaches with their clients.
00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:03.839
The research says, what these would be some of the positive outcomes that may result from having that neuronutrition lens.
00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:09.759
And the research says it may play a role in prevention of future neurological conditions.
00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:15.360
It can play a role in supporting brain health or enhancing brain health.
00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:21.839
Obviously, it's going to be very good for helping clients eat a more balanced and nutritional kind of diet.
00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:28.000
Neuronutrition approaches play a role in the treatment and enhancement of mental health.
00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:31.839
It can play a huge role in strengthening the immune system.
00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:37.040
And it can also play a role in combating behavioral problems in some individuals.
00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:45.519
If we break it down a little bit further, what are the main molecular target areas of somebody that does this kind of work?
00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:47.040
Why would you want to do this?
00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:48.000
How does it work?
00:06:48.160 --> 00:07:08.079
Well, if it's a professional, again, that has the proper training and education credentials to do a neuronutrition approach with clients, they're really targeting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut brain access issues, and neurotransmitter imbalances.
00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:19.360
And if you can target these areas in any client, it likely leads to improved outcomes as it pertains to mental health, behavioral health, cognitive health, and the list goes on.
00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:22.720
So that was a very broad spectrum overview.
00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:27.680
So part two now we get into what about implementation strategies?
00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:31.920
What do you want to consider during your intake, during your screening process?
00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:40.959
Well, this slide here shows us look at all the factors involved in threats to your client's emotional health.
00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:42.800
Let's just break this down a little bit.
00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:45.680
Well, what can impact your client's emotional health?
00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:55.680
Attachment issues, trauma histories, what they eat, sleep patterns, hormonal dysfunction, HPA access dysregulation, and the list goes on.
00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:58.560
So maybe you're a mental health provider listening to this.
00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:04.319
You're going to be targeting a lot of these areas in the great work you do through that mental health, behavioral health lens.
00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:18.000
But then if you were to partner with somebody who does neuronutrition work, that's only going to complement and support the work you do from that behavioral health lens, which it can play a role in combating a lot of these variables here.
00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:26.240
I think it's important when working with any clients to really be aware of how your client lives their day-to-day life.
00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:28.160
What are their lifestyle habits?
00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:37.039
And if you look at the research literature, a lot of people in the United States and around the world seem to live this kind of lifestyle.
00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:46.960
I'm not saying this is consistent across the board, but if we believe the research, a high percentage of people in the United States don't eat that healthy foods.
00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:50.559
Sedentary behaviors is very common.
00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:55.679
And it's very common because of excessive screen time exposure and many other things.
00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:58.879
A lot of people don't eat at consistent times.
00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:01.360
A lot of people may eat late into the evening.
00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.799
Some people skip meals.
00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.039
A lot of people are dealing with more stress.
00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:12.000
These are all things that can be a threat to human health and very important to target these areas through a screening process.
00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:23.440
If you were to refer your client to a nutritionist, dietitian, which I think is very important if you're working with clients with mental health conditions because nutrition plays a huge role as well.
00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.480
Well, when would you want to refer a client to a dietitian?
00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:38.320
Well, if you're working with a mental health client who has a serious and persistent mental health issue or other kinds of related conditions, I think any one of those clients would do while working with a nutrition dietitian.
00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:49.279
But their research literature indicates if you're working with clients with eating disorders, if you work with clients who have a lot of unusual weight changes, they seem to have a lot of medical color morbidities.
00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.559
And the list goes on.
00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:55.600
That would be a very good time to consult with and work with dietitians and nutritionists.
00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:07.519
Some other factors to consider if we look at this through a holistic biopsychosocial lens, it's probably important to dig into the fact that maybe a high percentage of your clients are dealing with food insecurity.
00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:10.879
Could they be dealing with lower levels of health literacy?
00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:16.080
Maybe they're dealing with undiagnosed dyslexia or executive function impairments.
00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:17.919
What's their sleep health like?
00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:20.639
All of these things would be important to dig into.
00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:34.080
And the more you can look at all of these puzzle pieces, then you can develop a more holistic intervention plan and then work with appropriate providers and refer out to other providers too, where you can work from that team approach.
00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:44.240
The question comes up a lot when I give talks on these kind of topics is what are the factors that may influence dietary patterns and choices?
00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:47.679
Well, if you're seeing this visually here, you can see there's a lot.
00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:52.000
And maybe you're working with a client and they just never eat healthy foods.
00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:55.360
And you're asking yourself, well, what could be some drivers here?
00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:58.879
Well, are they dealing with underlying nutritional deficiencies?
00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:00.720
What is their stress level like?
00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:02.320
What about cost of food?
00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.360
That's a huge factor.
00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:11.440
If they're dealing with food insecurity, homelessness, poverty, access issues, could there be some cultural factors to take into account?
00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:15.200
Self-esteem dynamics, body image issues?
00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:17.440
Maybe there's a lack of cooking skills.
00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:21.039
All of these things should be considered through that holistic lens.
00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:27.039
What are the factors involved in clients who don't eat high-quality diets?
00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:29.759
Well, there's a lot, but here's four to be aware of.
00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:35.039
Could the client just have a lack of knowledge about nutrition and what's healthy and what's not?
00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:41.039
Could the client be dealing with some planning deficits which are really rooted in executive function impairments?
00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:47.120
Maybe the client lacks the skills when they go to the store to select healthy foods.
00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:54.000
And could that client be dealing with maybe some lower levels of skills in the area of cooking?
00:11:54.240 --> 00:12:04.879
If you know your clients are struggling with this, getting them the right supports and interventions that can target these areas could play a vital role in helping your clients improve their overall diet quality.
00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:14.159
If we look at this here visually, and this is not an all-encompassing list, but what are a few of the adverse eating styles that you can find in the literature?
00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:18.000
Well, the first one, are there any disordered eating habits?
00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:22.639
Could the client be dealing with something called fast eating syndrome?
00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:26.799
What is your client's level of intake around junk food consumption?
00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:30.960
Maybe they consume a ton of food under the umbrella of the Western diet.
00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:35.200
And number four, is there low food literacy?
00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:37.440
How does stress factor into this?
00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:41.679
Well, stress is a major player for problematic eating patterns.
00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:52.480
When we're under tons of stress, that impacts our hormones, our neurotransmitters, it throws off a lot of biochemical processes in the body, and we may crave more sugary or salty foods.
00:12:52.639 --> 00:13:06.480
We may skip meals more frequently, we may engage in binge eating behaviors, we may have a lot of underlying emotional problems, and maybe the person's consuming higher energy dense foods that are just loaded with preservative salts and sugars.
00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:17.360
Some literature supports the fact if you look at this topic through an emotional eating lens, what are some of the most common dietary patterns associated with this way of eating?
00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:30.000
Well, some research says higher intakes of fast food, salty snacks, energy dense foods, ice cream, French fries, potato chips, sugar sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages.
00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:36.399
If you have clients that eat this way day in and day out, it really is a threat to their brain and body, unfortunately.
00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:42.080
And when people eat that way, these are foods that fall under the umbrella of the Western diet.
00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.600
And I have no problem saying this.
00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:46.080
Please feel free to email me if you disagree.
00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:50.879
But the Western diet way of eating is a threat to human health.
00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:54.399
And this is how most people eat in the United States.
00:13:54.559 --> 00:14:07.120
This is fast food, junk food, highly processed foods, foods from a gas station, foods that you buy at the store, and they have so many preservatives and processed ingredients in there.
00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.639
And why do you want to care about if somebody eats this way?
00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:25.679
Well, the research supports the fact that if people eat foods that fall under the umbrella of the Western diet day in and day out, year after year, it's probably going to play a role in weight gain, inflammation, increases in allergies.
00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:33.519
It may increase the risk of diabetes, autoimmune issues, depression, metabolic syndrome, and the list goes on.
00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:39.200
Ultra processed foods, if you can see the slide here visually, is the Western diet.
00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:44.240
Ultra processed foods, junk food, fast food is the Western way of eating.
00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:53.919
And here's another article study that supports the fact that it's very important for us to really understand if our clients eat this way.
00:14:54.159 --> 00:15:00.480
Some research supports the fact that it could play a role in that client having more mental distress.
00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:03.919
It may contribute to the development of some mental health disorders.
00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:05.120
Look at number three here.
00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:15.600
Interestingly, some studies have found that eating this food day in and day out may contribute to that individual's diminished concern for future consequences.
00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.559
It could play a role in impulse control problems.
00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:22.159
And I do a lot of work in the area of neurocriminology.
00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:24.480
I talk about this in other talks I give.
00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:36.240
For some people, this way of eating, likely in conjunction with other factors, could play a role in engagement in problematic behavior and criminality in some cases.
00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:38.879
What about excessive sugar consumption?
00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:42.559
Well, that's a component of the Western diet way of eating.
00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:53.840
Excessive sugar consumption, as you can see here, and there's many, many studies to support this, it may contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease.
00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:57.120
It could alter brain and behavioral functioning.
00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.559
And the list goes on.
00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:07.440
So if a client is consuming high amounts of sugar on a daily basis, it may worsen their mental health, without a doubt.
00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:17.120
This here, if you see this visually, and I'm not advocating for any particular tool, but I just want to alert you, this is a tool found in the literature called the Beverage Intake Questionnaire.
00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:19.360
This is a really just interesting tool.
00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:25.120
And it has 15 different domains and it looks at 15 beverage categories.
00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:32.320
And you can see here a clinician who uses this in their work, it would have questions about how much water the client's drinking every day.
00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:39.519
Does the client drink a lot of 100% fruit juice, sweetened juice drinks, whole milk, reduced fat milk?
00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:40.720
And the list goes on.
00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:46.639
What your client drinks really can tell a lot about other areas of functioning.
00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:49.360
And why do we want to care about sugar-sweetened beverages?
00:16:49.519 --> 00:17:00.080
Well, these beverages, according to the research in the United States, are really the most common way that people get a ton of sugar into their system.
00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:06.480
I know these beverages are fun, they taste great, they are not good for us, without a doubt.
00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:19.119
And excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in some cases may co-occur with higher rates of other ultra-processed foods, poor lifestyle habits, smoking, and sedentary behaviors.
00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:21.200
What about energy drink consumption?
00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:26.079
Excessive consumption of energy drinks is also a threat to human health.
00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.920
And this is one study of many.
00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:36.880
It may be associated with higher rates of insomnia, obesity, mental health problems, sleep issues, sedentary behaviors.
00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:46.400
I'm actually giving a talk later this year in 2026 on the forensic and criminal justice aspects of energy drink consumption to a different group.
00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:52.079
And a lot of research supports the fact that it could play a role in problematic behaviors.
00:17:52.720 --> 00:18:05.440
Taking a look at this when we're looking at it through a problematic behavioral lens, and this is one study of many, but this study looked at excessive consumption of energy drinks among adolescents.
00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:22.480
And among some adolescents who consume a lot of energy drinks, it could contribute to higher rates of depression, stress, anxiety, self-destructive behaviors, maybe an increase in violent behavior in some cases, and risky behaviors.
00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:32.400
This way of eating, the ultra-processed food way of eating, junk food, the Western diet, will increase inflammation in the human body.
00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:43.359
High rates of inflammation over a long period of time because of the foods we eat and maybe high stress and sedentary behaviors and not getting good sleep is not good for human health.
00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:50.640
And this slide here, if you see this visually, these are some of the common dietary patterns that could promote higher levels of inflammation.
00:18:50.880 --> 00:19:01.039
So diets really rich in refined starch, excessive sugar consumption, overconsumption of saturated trans fatty acids, low intake of polyphenols.
00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:11.920
Polyphenols for you, low intake of fiber, low intake of omega-3 fatty acids, you're going to have typically higher rates of blood sugar imbalances.
00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:18.000
And this way of eating is also more commonly associated with the consumption of processed meats.
00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:21.759
What are some modifiable risk factors associated with inflammation?
00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:26.400
Well, if you know a client is eating this way, work with a nutritionist dietitian.
00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:30.240
If you know the client doesn't sleep well, focus on sleep hygiene.
00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:34.160
Help the client quit smoking if they are smoking, if they're open to it.
00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:36.799
Help the client reduce sedentary behaviors.
00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:48.319
Learn about maintaining appropriate body weight and even going to the dentist, taking care of dental health is a really good modifiable way to combat inflammation.
00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:51.359
So I mentioned food insecurity a few times today.
00:19:51.519 --> 00:20:00.640
If you're working in clinical or forensic settings, you are likely working with clients who are dealing with food insecurity on a semi-regular basis.
00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:02.720
Why do you want to care about food insecurity?
00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:05.039
Well, it is a threat to human health.
00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:10.720
And if you have a client that is food insecure, typically they're not going to be eating that healthy foods.
00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:18.559
They're going to be skipping meals more frequently, they're going to have unbalanced diets, and they're typically going to have a lack of food choice.
00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:20.880
This is something I've put together over the years.
00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.839
You can see this here.
00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:30.000
These are just some red flag indicators you'd want to be on the lookout for if you have a client that you suspect may be dealing with food insecurity.
00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:42.960
This is not a diagnostic tool or anything, but the more red flag indicators of these that you see in your client, that should at least alert you to the fact that maybe I need to dig a little bit deeper.
00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:46.079
Could my client be dealing with food insecurity?
00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.480
How does self-control factor into this?
00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:54.079
Well, if your client is dealing with self-control issues, that's an executive function appearment.
00:20:54.240 --> 00:21:09.839
And there's plenty of research that does show that low self-control is a definite variable that you want to take into account when considering what other factors could be at play when your client is eating unhealthy foods.
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:19.759
So I mentioned this briefly before about like health literacy, nutrition literacy, but there's also something in this literature that talks about poor mental health literacy.
00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:39.440
The more we can increase our clients' health, mental health, nutrition literacy, typically they're in a better position to read food labels more effectively, understand the kind of medications they're taking, they can advocate for themselves more effectively, and they can communicate more openly with their healthcare providers.
00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:41.119
What about food addiction?
00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.480
Well, I just want to point this out.
00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:45.039
Take a look at this, and this is one article of many.
00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:51.519
Food addiction shares many commonalities with tobacco addiction and other kinds of addiction.
00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:59.759
So if you study this on a neurobiopsychosocial level and you're working with somebody with food addiction, well, there might be something going on.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.920
On with their dopamine levels.
00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:07.039
They might be more likely to be dealing with attachment issues, gut microbiota issues.
00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:10.400
So again, the gut brain access need to understand that.
00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:15.440
Could there be a loss of control, which would probably indicate some self-control deficits?
00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:19.200
Could there be some earlier childhood trauma factors at play?
00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:24.799
So you really want to understand the adverse childhood experiences and many other variables.
00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:33.200
And I just wanted to show this here because I've done a lot of work in the area of smoking prevention over the years and had a lot of training in that topic.
00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:35.279
And this is one article and many too.
00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:39.839
But what are some dietary habits of people who smoke, according to literature?
00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:42.240
And this can vary, of course, from person to person.
00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:50.319
But some research supports the fact that people who smoke cigarettes may also consume higher intakes of energy-dense foods.
00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:57.119
They may contain, they may be consuming more foods with higher levels of fat, saturated fat, higher levels of cholesterol.
00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:06.240
They may be at greater risk of consuming higher levels of alcohol, having lower intakes of antioxidants, and a lower intake of fiber.
00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.559
What about alcohol use disorders?
00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.920
How does that factor into this?
00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:12.880
Well, it's a huge factor in an ideal world.
00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:19.759
If you're working with folks with drug and alcohol problems, you're in a drug and alcohol treatment setting, work with nutritionist dietitians.
00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:21.839
The research is very clear on this.
00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:25.039
You work with folks with chronic alcohol problems.
00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:29.519
More times than not, they're probably dealing with some nutritional deficiencies.
00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:34.960
And if you can see here, there's a long list of nutritional deficiencies you want to take into account.
00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:43.519
This is a good reminder why that client should probably go to their healthcare provider and get some lab work done as well, because thiamine levels could be low.
00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:53.839
Vitamin A, C, D, E, K, B5, folic acid, magnesium, the list goes on, may be deficient among people with substance use issues.
00:23:54.079 --> 00:24:06.160
Medical nutrition therapy would be a term you want to be aware of, and it is supported in the literature, and it is supported for use when you're working with clients with co-occurring eating and substance use problems.
00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:14.960
Very, very important to not just take into account the mental health side of things, but also the nutrition and the medical health side of things.
00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:19.440
And this here, just a reminder while we're on this topic, is visually here.
00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:26.640
If you see this slide, if you work with folks with drug problems, substance use disorders, what does the research say as well?
00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:36.880
Well, a lot of clients with drug problems may have higher rates of disordered eating patterns, altered body compensation, poor nutritional status, and the list goes on.
00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.240
What about depression?
00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:42.880
Well, depression, poor eating, oftentimes goes hand in hand.
00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:47.839
And depression is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder and issue.
00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:51.119
If you work with clients with chronic depression, what do we need to be aware of?
00:24:51.279 --> 00:25:05.440
HPA access dysfunction, neurotransmitter imbalances, gut brain access issues, be aware of what your client eats, be aware of their sleep patterns, be aware it could contribute to declines in neuroplasticity, to name a few.
00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:09.599
What are some of the nutritional factors associated with depression?
00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:30.640
Well, interestingly, you have plenty of research to lean on that if you work with folks that consume a ton of sugar sweetened beverages, a lot of processed pastries, donuts, muffins, croissants, commercial baked goods, lots of refined grains, lots of fried food, processed meat, high-fat kind of processed dairy products.
00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:40.160
Those are nutritional factors that could increase risk of depression among some people or exacerbate depression in people that already are dealing with depression.
00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:50.880
And this here is a good reminder, too, that when you study these topics, it's probably important to at least understand the basics of neurotransmitters and neurohormones.
00:25:51.039 --> 00:26:04.799
Most clients with mental health problems, drug and alcohol histories, lots of trauma in their histories, people with lots of medical issues, more times than not, they're probably going to have some imbalances in their hormones and neurotransmitters.
00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:09.359
And then this can trickle down into impacting your client's mood.
00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:18.400
It can contribute to fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and it may increase that client's cravings for unhealthy foods.
00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:20.640
Take a look at this here as well.
00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.079
And this is interesting.
00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:28.240
You have a lot of articles that talk about what are some of the most common brain unhealthy foods.
00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:39.920
And you're going to find some articles that differ on this, but this was a really good article published in 2020 that indicates that people eat these foods day in and day out, year after year.
00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:43.119
It may adversely impact their brain health.
00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:57.359
And you might be surprised by some of these things: butter, margarine, cheese, red meat, fast fried foods, pastries, sweets, animal fats, hamburgers, sausages, French fries, pizza biscuits, ice cream, cake, candy.
00:26:57.519 --> 00:27:00.640
Now, people that eat this way here and there, it's probably not going to do much.
00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:05.279
But again, if you're working with a client, this is all they eat every day, all day, year after year.
00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:08.720
Over time, that could really impact brain health.
00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:12.079
How does nutrition impact insomnia?
00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:21.359
Well, there's a ton of research out there that indicates that poor sleep patterns can play a role in problematic eating patterns and vice versa.
00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:26.720
Problematic eating patterns can increase insomnia and other sleep-related issues.
00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:33.519
So if you ever are trying to help clients get a better night's sleep, have you ever dug into their dietary patterns?
00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:38.559
That could be a factor that definitely could be driving the bus with insomnia.
00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:49.440
And when you study these topics, very, very important to understand the field of chrononutrition and chronobiology and understand what are chronodisruptors?
00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:52.880
Basically, these are things that can throw off our sleep wake cycle.
00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:57.759
Eating late at night, jet lag, shift work, artificial light exposure at night.
00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:03.759
So if somebody's working late into the evening and they're on their screen a lot, that throws off our circadian rhythms.
00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:13.200
Other things to be aware of, frequent snacking at night, particularly unhealthy foods, the bright light exposure, these are all chronodisruptors.
00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:15.519
And that is not a good thing for human health.
00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:21.839
And this slide here, just to remind us that excessive screen time exposure is a threat to human health.
00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:42.319
And if people are looking at their screen late into the evening, right up until bedtime, it's probably throwing off their circadian rhythms, which impacts their sleep health, which then impacts their gut health, which drives their inflammation and makes them more vulnerable to all kinds of things, including illnesses, colds, flus, depression, anxiety, and the list goes on.
00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:56.799
Other things you'd want to be aware of when we're talking about circadian rhythm misalignment is there are all kinds of disorders that you'll find in the research literature that are intimately connected to disruptions in circadian rhythm.
00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:59.680
This is a list here of some things to be aware of.
00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.240
Why?
00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:13.920
Whatever field you're in, learn as much as possible about circadian rhythms because it could play a role in alcohol addiction, pain-related problems, metabolic issues, skin problems, asthma.
00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.200
The list goes on.
00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:27.200
This here, again, our podcast is all about the gut brain access and related topics, but there are plenty of factors to consider about diet and gut brain access dysfunction.
00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:31.599
What are some things that can adversely impact our gut microbiota?
00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:39.519
Well, how we live our life, the food we eat, how crowded is our housing situation, our social network status.
00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:41.839
So a lot I just threw at you in part two.
00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:45.279
So part three, tips, strategies, solutions, interventions.
00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:56.480
So the more we can all move in the direction of living a healthy lifestyle that's balanced, eating good food, getting good sleep, taking breaks, all of these things are good for all of us.
00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:01.759
What can we do to support healthy and positive brain health?
00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:20.880
Well, the research says, be aware of the five key determinants: physical health factors, the environment in which we live in, physical safety, financial security, opportunities to be around other people, reduce social isolation, and having good access to health care and other social services.
00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:23.200
How do we support positive brain health?
00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:34.880
Well, anything we can do to support cognitive health, physical health, mental health, our interpersonal relationships, diet, and the engagement in other healthy lifestyle practices.
00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:41.440
In the neuronutrition literature, the topic of integrated neuronutrition does come up a little bit.
00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:48.640
And I do like this because if you look at it through an integrative neuronutrition lens, what are we taking into account?
00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:55.759
Well, it's the interconnection between nutrition, brain chemistry, brain function, and behavior.
00:30:55.920 --> 00:31:02.240
It gives us a better snapshot of kind of what's going on in the brain with clients' brain chemistry.
00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:08.880
What does our clients eat and how does that impact brain functioning and then how that manifests as behavioral patterns?
00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:14.799
Couple articles do directly talk about neuronutrition and the gut brain access.
00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:18.319
This is a really good article that was published in 2025.
00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:20.079
I pulled a quote from this article.
00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:22.400
Go to our YouTube channel again, check it out.
00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:24.079
You'll see what I'm talking about here.
00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:36.319
But very, very important, when you are really wanting to become gut brain access informed, I think it would be imperative to also learn at least some basics about neural nutrition.
00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:40.559
When you study nutrition science in general, that's kind of the broad umbrella.
00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.720
Neuronutrition is one aspect of it.
00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:47.200
Another area of nutrition is something called precision nutrition.
00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:56.640
And I really hope the field truly moves in this direction because precision nutrition really individualizes nutrition approaches with clients.
00:31:56.799 --> 00:32:02.079
So there's, I don't think there's a lot of providers in the United States that are truly doing precision nutrition.
00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:22.400
There are some, but this is would be a professional who has advanced training in a lot of areas, including getting mark genetic markers from the clients, really tailoring nutrition plans, nutritional supplementation to that client's unique biochemical kind of factors going on in their brain and body.
00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:29.599
And then if you do this, you're working with providers, you are targeting what are the factors that could impact brain health.
00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:37.519
So neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, gut brain access disturbances, and nutrient deficiencies.
00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:46.640
Precision nutrition, if you were working with a professional who did this, they would likely really dig into these topics and many more and really find out.
00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:56.960
Well, maybe the client would do well, obviously having an individualized dietary plan, but maybe for that client too, they need some supplementation in certain areas.
00:32:57.119 --> 00:33:04.640
So really looking at omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, vitamin D, CoQ10, and the list goes on.
00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:08.799
So a healthy diet, if you're asking yourself, well, what constitutes a healthy diet?
00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:15.200
It's a diet that's adequate, moderate, nutrient dense, balanced, and varied.
00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:19.359
And it's not going to include like fast food and junk food.
00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:21.839
So take that into account as well.
00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:24.720
The research is pretty clear on this.
00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:36.880
You'll have a few outliers in articles, but most of the literature typically leans in the direction that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest dietary pattern on the planet.
00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:39.759
And the Mediterranean diet is a fascinating area.
00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:41.680
Tons of research has been done on this.
00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:47.279
And depending on the regions of the world you look at, the Mediterranean diet can vary a little bit.
00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:50.799
But the Mediterranean diet, why is it so good for you?
00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:52.079
Why is it so healthy?
00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:55.519
Well, it plays a role in supporting tryptophan metabolism.
00:33:55.680 --> 00:34:00.160
It can help regulate our vagus nerve and vagal activity.
00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:05.279
It plays a role in brain-derived neurotropic factor, huge topic to be aware of.
00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:12.639
It plays a role in regulating cortisol levels and the HPA access and neuroinflammation and all kinds of other things.
00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:20.320
Breaking it down further, the Mediterranean diet can play a role in addressing insulin resistance.
00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:27.199
It can improve lipid profiles, reduce inflammation, and reduce oxidative stress markers.
00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:30.719
So basically, if you're asking yourself, well, what is the Mediterranean diet?
00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:35.519
Well, it's it's typically you're going to be eating more fruits and vegetables.
00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:44.400
You're going to be probably having less red meat and relying on more fish and chicken, and things are going to be more natural.
00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:47.679
They're not going to be processed, lots of nuts and things like that.
00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:54.159
But again, working with a dietitian, nutritionist, there's many variables to take into account with this way of eating.
00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:55.840
Providers would do well too.
00:34:55.920 --> 00:35:00.079
I think learning about the basics of therapeutic lifestyle changes.
00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:05.440
You can find this topic talked about quite a bit in the neurocounseling literature.
00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:16.559
But therapeutic lifestyle changes would be professionals that really have an appreciation about nutrition, weight management, sleep health, exercise, and reductions in screen time exposure.
00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:19.360
Lifestyle medicine, huge area of study.
00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:21.440
I have a certification lifestyle medicine.
00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:31.760
One of our good friends is going to be coming on the podcast in the coming months to be doing a multi-part series for us on lifestyle medicine.
00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:46.800
There are six core features of lifestyle medicine: getting regular exercise, eating healthy food, focusing on good sleep, managing stress, avoiding harmful chemicals, and really capitalizing on positive social connections.
00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:48.719
So we talked about self-control.
00:35:48.960 --> 00:36:00.079
The more we can help clients improve self-control, the research really leans in the direction that it can play a role in helping clients improve emotional regulation.
00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:02.000
It can help them eat better.
00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:07.599
It can play a role in improving physical health, interpersonal health, and the list goes on.
00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:11.119
So what are the main goals of neuronutrition?
00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:14.719
Well, developing client awareness, knowledge, and skills.
00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:17.519
So you're going to be using a lot of psychoeducation.
00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:21.840
You're going to try to identify and address maladapted dietary patterns.
00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:25.840
You're going to teach and reinforce healthy dietary habits.
00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:28.880
You're going to ensure a healthy food environment.
00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:31.519
You're going to do a menu assessment and planning with clients.
00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:36.880
And again, you'd want to work with a qualified dietitian, nutritionist, functional provider.
00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:39.119
And that's all I got for you folks today.
00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:40.719
I know I threw a lot out at you.
00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:44.239
We'll be going deeper into a lot of these topics in upcoming episodes.
00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:45.679
Here's my email address.
00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:52.000
Again, check out our YouTube channel if you want to see this visually and definitely look forward to having you back to our next episode.
00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:57.920
We hope today's episode provided you with valuable insights into the gut brain connection and its impact across diverse settings.
00:36:58.079 --> 00:37:00.320
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share.
00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:05.440
For more information on this topic, resources, and services, visit PathwaysCounseling Center.org.
00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:10.960
Thank you for joining us on the Psychogastroenterologist, where mental health and digestive science converge.
00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:16.239
Welcome to the Psychogastroenterologist, the show where we explore the fascinating intersection of the brain-cut connection through a multidisciplinary lens informed by psychology, neuroscience, and gastroenterology, better known as psychogastroenterology.
00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:23.600
Our mission is to delve into the gut brain access and uncover how this powerful connection influences mental, physical, and overall well-being.
00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:31.760
Whether you work in behavioral health, health care, the criminal justice system, or health and wellness coaching, this podcast offers insights to inform and inspire your work.
00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:39.679
Join us as we break down complex concepts, share evidence-based perspectives, and discuss emerging trends in this rapidly evolving field.
00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:46.640
The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice.
00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:50.960
The content discussion should not replace professional judgment, diagnosis, or treatment.
00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:56.000
Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical or psychological concerns.
00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:03.200
The views expressed by our hosts and our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organization.
00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:05.120
Well, good day, everyone.
00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:11.200
Welcome back to episode seven of the Psychogastroentinologist Podcast.
00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:17.040
In this episode, I'm going to talk about the topic of neuronutrition.
00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:18.799
Really interesting field of study.
00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:22.959
I've been uh doing some work in the past probably year and a half, two years now.
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:24.319
My name's Jared Brown.
00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:24.959
I'm your host.
00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.359
Here's my email address on the first slide.
00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:34.799
If you're listening to this audio only and you want to see these slides, please check out our YouTube channel.
00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:40.560
My professional biography is on this slide, but I wear a couple different hats.
00:01:40.719 --> 00:02:01.920
But I am a professor, trainer, researcher, consultant, and I have a great interest in the area of the gut brain access and psychogastroentinology and nutrition and lifestyle medicine and many other topics that we have and will be talking about at various times in our podcasts.
00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:05.840
And these are the areas that guide and inform the work I do.
00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:21.360
And if you're listening to this audio only, I do a lot of work in the area of neurocriminology, psychoneuroimmunology, metacognition, food insecurities, health disparities, attachment theory, and many other areas.
00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:27.360
And we're going to talk about all of these topics and many more at various times in future episodes.
00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:30.639
Our agenda today, very straightforward, three parts.
00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:37.439
Going to give you a good overview of what is neuronutrition and why you want to care about that when studying the gut brain access.
00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:43.680
Part two, how can you apply this to your intake, your interviewing and screening process?
00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:48.400
And part three, all about tips, strategies, solutions, and interventions.
00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:52.719
And we say this in every podcast, but this is just for educational purposes only.
00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:56.639
Please work with qualified professionals before implementing any of these things.
00:02:56.800 --> 00:03:00.879
So as we get in the topic of neuronutrition, what is this?
00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:04.800
Well, basically it's combining neuroscience with nutrition science.
00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:09.360
And it's a fascinating, broad area and it's an emerging area.
00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:13.840
Many, many articles, book chapters have been written on this topic.
00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:29.120
And I encourage you, even if you're not in the world of nutrition, whatever field you're in, if you can learn the basics of what this field is, I think it's going to be very helpful in the treatment of cognitive and mental health conditions, to name a few.
00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:30.879
Let's make it visual here, folks.
00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:32.400
So what is neuronutrition?
00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:41.039
Well, it's multidisciplinary in nature, which basically means this field of study draws from multiple other fields of study.
00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:42.639
It's a holistic approach.
00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:48.400
It takes into account mind-body approaches, neurobiopsycho-social factors.
00:03:48.479 --> 00:04:06.879
And if you break that down, this field of study cares a lot about biology, genetics, and epigenetics, physiology, environmental factors, social factors, client behavioral patterns, what the client eats, and are they consuming any other kinds of substances?
00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:14.639
And if you can really become neuronutrition informed, I think it will revolutionize the great work all of you are already doing.
00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:16.319
This is just my opinion.
00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:19.680
Going through this literature, studying this field for many years.
00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:23.680
One of my master's degrees is in applied clinical nutrition.
00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:31.759
And I believe that there are a number of other fields of study that really complement the field of neuronutrition.
00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:38.879
And some of these that you see on this slide here are definitely a no-brainer because we're talking about nutritional science.
00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:46.720
But I do believe neurocounseling, if you can learn that field, it pairs very nicely with the field of neural nutrition.
00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:59.680
If you can learn the basics of behavioral sleep medicine, positive psychology, the first thousand days of life research, adverse childhood experiences, attachment theory, blue zone research, and the list goes on.
00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:05.120
These fields of study, I think, really pair nicely and complement the field of neuronutrition.
00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:08.160
And it really then makes it even more holistic.
00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:18.720
If you were to go through the bulk of the neuronutrition literature, and there's a lot out there again, and it does take time to get through this literature base and it's ever evolving.
00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:20.639
New studies are coming out all the time.
00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:28.639
But this slide here visually shows some of the specific populations that have been discussed in the neuronutrition literature.
00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:43.600
Some of these are going to include various types of neurodegenerative disorders, a variety of mental health conditions, migraine, chronic pain issues, metabolic syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and the list goes on.
00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:55.279
If you were working with providers who have an expertise in this, the right training, the right credentials, things of that nature, and they're using neuronutrition approaches with their clients.
00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:03.839
The research says, what these would be some of the positive outcomes that may result from having that neuronutrition lens.
00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:09.759
And the research says it may play a role in prevention of future neurological conditions.
00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:15.360
It can play a role in supporting brain health or enhancing brain health.
00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:21.839
Obviously, it's going to be very good for helping clients eat a more balanced and nutritional kind of diet.
00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:28.000
Neuronutrition approaches play a role in the treatment and enhancement of mental health.
00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:31.839
It can play a huge role in strengthening the immune system.
00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:37.040
And it can also play a role in combating behavioral problems in some individuals.
00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:45.519
If we break it down a little bit further, what are the main molecular target areas of somebody that does this kind of work?
00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:47.040
Why would you want to do this?
00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:48.000
How does it work?
00:06:48.160 --> 00:07:08.079
Well, if it's a professional, again, that has the proper training and education credentials to do a neuronutrition approach with clients, they're really targeting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut brain access issues, and neurotransmitter imbalances.
00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:19.360
And if you can target these areas in any client, it likely leads to improved outcomes as it pertains to mental health, behavioral health, cognitive health, and the list goes on.
00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:22.720
So that was a very broad spectrum overview.
00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:27.680
So part two now we get into what about implementation strategies?
00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:31.920
What do you want to consider during your intake, during your screening process?
00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:40.959
Well, this slide here shows us look at all the factors involved in threats to your client's emotional health.
00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:42.800
Let's just break this down a little bit.
00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:45.680
Well, what can impact your client's emotional health?
00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:55.680
Attachment issues, trauma histories, what they eat, sleep patterns, hormonal dysfunction, HPA access dysregulation, and the list goes on.
00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:58.560
So maybe you're a mental health provider listening to this.
00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:04.319
You're going to be targeting a lot of these areas in the great work you do through that mental health, behavioral health lens.
00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:18.000
But then if you were to partner with somebody who does neuronutrition work, that's only going to complement and support the work you do from that behavioral health lens, which it can play a role in combating a lot of these variables here.
00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:26.240
I think it's important when working with any clients to really be aware of how your client lives their day-to-day life.
00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:28.160
What are their lifestyle habits?
00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:37.039
And if you look at the research literature, a lot of people in the United States and around the world seem to live this kind of lifestyle.
00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:46.960
I'm not saying this is consistent across the board, but if we believe the research, a high percentage of people in the United States don't eat that healthy foods.
00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:50.559
Sedentary behaviors is very common.
00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:55.679
And it's very common because of excessive screen time exposure and many other things.
00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:58.879
A lot of people don't eat at consistent times.
00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:01.360
A lot of people may eat late into the evening.
00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.799
Some people skip meals.
00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.039
A lot of people are dealing with more stress.
00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:12.000
These are all things that can be a threat to human health and very important to target these areas through a screening process.
00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:23.440
If you were to refer your client to a nutritionist, dietitian, which I think is very important if you're working with clients with mental health conditions because nutrition plays a huge role as well.
00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.480
Well, when would you want to refer a client to a dietitian?
00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:38.320
Well, if you're working with a mental health client who has a serious and persistent mental health issue or other kinds of related conditions, I think any one of those clients would do while working with a nutrition dietitian.
00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:49.279
But their research literature indicates if you're working with clients with eating disorders, if you work with clients who have a lot of unusual weight changes, they seem to have a lot of medical color morbidities.
00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.559
And the list goes on.
00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:55.600
That would be a very good time to consult with and work with dietitians and nutritionists.
00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:07.519
Some other factors to consider if we look at this through a holistic biopsychosocial lens, it's probably important to dig into the fact that maybe a high percentage of your clients are dealing with food insecurity.
00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:10.879
Could they be dealing with lower levels of health literacy?
00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:16.080
Maybe they're dealing with undiagnosed dyslexia or executive function impairments.
00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:17.919
What's their sleep health like?
00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:20.639
All of these things would be important to dig into.
00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:34.080
And the more you can look at all of these puzzle pieces, then you can develop a more holistic intervention plan and then work with appropriate providers and refer out to other providers too, where you can work from that team approach.
00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:44.240
The question comes up a lot when I give talks on these kind of topics is what are the factors that may influence dietary patterns and choices?
00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:47.679
Well, if you're seeing this visually here, you can see there's a lot.
00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:52.000
And maybe you're working with a client and they just never eat healthy foods.
00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:55.360
And you're asking yourself, well, what could be some drivers here?
00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:58.879
Well, are they dealing with underlying nutritional deficiencies?
00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:00.720
What is their stress level like?
00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:02.320
What about cost of food?
00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.360
That's a huge factor.
00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:11.440
If they're dealing with food insecurity, homelessness, poverty, access issues, could there be some cultural factors to take into account?
00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:15.200
Self-esteem dynamics, body image issues?
00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:17.440
Maybe there's a lack of cooking skills.
00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:21.039
All of these things should be considered through that holistic lens.
00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:27.039
What are the factors involved in clients who don't eat high-quality diets?
00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:29.759
Well, there's a lot, but here's four to be aware of.
00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:35.039
Could the client just have a lack of knowledge about nutrition and what's healthy and what's not?
00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:41.039
Could the client be dealing with some planning deficits which are really rooted in executive function impairments?
00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:47.120
Maybe the client lacks the skills when they go to the store to select healthy foods.
00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:54.000
And could that client be dealing with maybe some lower levels of skills in the area of cooking?
00:11:54.240 --> 00:12:04.879
If you know your clients are struggling with this, getting them the right supports and interventions that can target these areas could play a vital role in helping your clients improve their overall diet quality.
00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:14.159
If we look at this here visually, and this is not an all-encompassing list, but what are a few of the adverse eating styles that you can find in the literature?
00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:18.000
Well, the first one, are there any disordered eating habits?
00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:22.639
Could the client be dealing with something called fast eating syndrome?
00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:26.799
What is your client's level of intake around junk food consumption?
00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:30.960
Maybe they consume a ton of food under the umbrella of the Western diet.
00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:35.200
And number four, is there low food literacy?
00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:37.440
How does stress factor into this?
00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:41.679
Well, stress is a major player for problematic eating patterns.
00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:52.480
When we're under tons of stress, that impacts our hormones, our neurotransmitters, it throws off a lot of biochemical processes in the body, and we may crave more sugary or salty foods.
00:12:52.639 --> 00:13:06.480
We may skip meals more frequently, we may engage in binge eating behaviors, we may have a lot of underlying emotional problems, and maybe the person's consuming higher energy dense foods that are just loaded with preservative salts and sugars.
00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:17.360
Some literature supports the fact if you look at this topic through an emotional eating lens, what are some of the most common dietary patterns associated with this way of eating?
00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:30.000
Well, some research says higher intakes of fast food, salty snacks, energy dense foods, ice cream, French fries, potato chips, sugar sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages.
00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:36.399
If you have clients that eat this way day in and day out, it really is a threat to their brain and body, unfortunately.
00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:42.080
And when people eat that way, these are foods that fall under the umbrella of the Western diet.
00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.600
And I have no problem saying this.
00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:46.080
Please feel free to email me if you disagree.
00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:50.879
But the Western diet way of eating is a threat to human health.
00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:54.399
And this is how most people eat in the United States.
00:13:54.559 --> 00:14:07.120
This is fast food, junk food, highly processed foods, foods from a gas station, foods that you buy at the store, and they have so many preservatives and processed ingredients in there.
00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.639
And why do you want to care about if somebody eats this way?
00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:25.679
Well, the research supports the fact that if people eat foods that fall under the umbrella of the Western diet day in and day out, year after year, it's probably going to play a role in weight gain, inflammation, increases in allergies.
00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:33.519
It may increase the risk of diabetes, autoimmune issues, depression, metabolic syndrome, and the list goes on.
00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:39.200
Ultra processed foods, if you can see the slide here visually, is the Western diet.
00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:44.240
Ultra processed foods, junk food, fast food is the Western way of eating.
00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:53.919
And here's another article study that supports the fact that it's very important for us to really understand if our clients eat this way.
00:14:54.159 --> 00:15:00.480
Some research supports the fact that it could play a role in that client having more mental distress.
00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:03.919
It may contribute to the development of some mental health disorders.
00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:05.120
Look at number three here.
00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:15.600
Interestingly, some studies have found that eating this food day in and day out may contribute to that individual's diminished concern for future consequences.
00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.559
It could play a role in impulse control problems.
00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:22.159
And I do a lot of work in the area of neurocriminology.
00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:24.480
I talk about this in other talks I give.
00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:36.240
For some people, this way of eating, likely in conjunction with other factors, could play a role in engagement in problematic behavior and criminality in some cases.
00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:38.879
What about excessive sugar consumption?
00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:42.559
Well, that's a component of the Western diet way of eating.
00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:53.840
Excessive sugar consumption, as you can see here, and there's many, many studies to support this, it may contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease.
00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:57.120
It could alter brain and behavioral functioning.
00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.559
And the list goes on.
00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:07.440
So if a client is consuming high amounts of sugar on a daily basis, it may worsen their mental health, without a doubt.
00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:17.120
This here, if you see this visually, and I'm not advocating for any particular tool, but I just want to alert you, this is a tool found in the literature called the Beverage Intake Questionnaire.
00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:19.360
This is a really just interesting tool.
00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:25.120
And it has 15 different domains and it looks at 15 beverage categories.
00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:32.320
And you can see here a clinician who uses this in their work, it would have questions about how much water the client's drinking every day.
00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:39.519
Does the client drink a lot of 100% fruit juice, sweetened juice drinks, whole milk, reduced fat milk?
00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:40.720
And the list goes on.
00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:46.639
What your client drinks really can tell a lot about other areas of functioning.
00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:49.360
And why do we want to care about sugar-sweetened beverages?
00:16:49.519 --> 00:17:00.080
Well, these beverages, according to the research in the United States, are really the most common way that people get a ton of sugar into their system.
00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:06.480
I know these beverages are fun, they taste great, they are not good for us, without a doubt.
00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:19.119
And excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in some cases may co-occur with higher rates of other ultra-processed foods, poor lifestyle habits, smoking, and sedentary behaviors.
00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:21.200
What about energy drink consumption?
00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:26.079
Excessive consumption of energy drinks is also a threat to human health.
00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.920
And this is one study of many.
00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:36.880
It may be associated with higher rates of insomnia, obesity, mental health problems, sleep issues, sedentary behaviors.
00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:46.400
I'm actually giving a talk later this year in 2026 on the forensic and criminal justice aspects of energy drink consumption to a different group.
00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:52.079
And a lot of research supports the fact that it could play a role in problematic behaviors.
00:17:52.720 --> 00:18:05.440
Taking a look at this when we're looking at it through a problematic behavioral lens, and this is one study of many, but this study looked at excessive consumption of energy drinks among adolescents.
00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:22.480
And among some adolescents who consume a lot of energy drinks, it could contribute to higher rates of depression, stress, anxiety, self-destructive behaviors, maybe an increase in violent behavior in some cases, and risky behaviors.
00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:32.400
This way of eating, the ultra-processed food way of eating, junk food, the Western diet, will increase inflammation in the human body.
00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:43.359
High rates of inflammation over a long period of time because of the foods we eat and maybe high stress and sedentary behaviors and not getting good sleep is not good for human health.
00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:50.640
And this slide here, if you see this visually, these are some of the common dietary patterns that could promote higher levels of inflammation.
00:18:50.880 --> 00:19:01.039
So diets really rich in refined starch, excessive sugar consumption, overconsumption of saturated trans fatty acids, low intake of polyphenols.
00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:11.920
Polyphenols for you, low intake of fiber, low intake of omega-3 fatty acids, you're going to have typically higher rates of blood sugar imbalances.
00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:18.000
And this way of eating is also more commonly associated with the consumption of processed meats.
00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:21.759
What are some modifiable risk factors associated with inflammation?
00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:26.400
Well, if you know a client is eating this way, work with a nutritionist dietitian.
00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:30.240
If you know the client doesn't sleep well, focus on sleep hygiene.
00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:34.160
Help the client quit smoking if they are smoking, if they're open to it.
00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:36.799
Help the client reduce sedentary behaviors.
00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:48.319
Learn about maintaining appropriate body weight and even going to the dentist, taking care of dental health is a really good modifiable way to combat inflammation.
00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:51.359
So I mentioned food insecurity a few times today.
00:19:51.519 --> 00:20:00.640
If you're working in clinical or forensic settings, you are likely working with clients who are dealing with food insecurity on a semi-regular basis.
00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:02.720
Why do you want to care about food insecurity?
00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:05.039
Well, it is a threat to human health.
00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:10.720
And if you have a client that is food insecure, typically they're not going to be eating that healthy foods.
00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:18.559
They're going to be skipping meals more frequently, they're going to have unbalanced diets, and they're typically going to have a lack of food choice.
00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:20.880
This is something I've put together over the years.
00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.839
You can see this here.
00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:30.000
These are just some red flag indicators you'd want to be on the lookout for if you have a client that you suspect may be dealing with food insecurity.
00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:42.960
This is not a diagnostic tool or anything, but the more red flag indicators of these that you see in your client, that should at least alert you to the fact that maybe I need to dig a little bit deeper.
00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:46.079
Could my client be dealing with food insecurity?
00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.480
How does self-control factor into this?
00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:54.079
Well, if your client is dealing with self-control issues, that's an executive function appearment.
00:20:54.240 --> 00:21:09.839
And there's plenty of research that does show that low self-control is a definite variable that you want to take into account when considering what other factors could be at play when your client is eating unhealthy foods.
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:19.759
So I mentioned this briefly before about like health literacy, nutrition literacy, but there's also something in this literature that talks about poor mental health literacy.
00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:39.440
The more we can increase our clients' health, mental health, nutrition literacy, typically they're in a better position to read food labels more effectively, understand the kind of medications they're taking, they can advocate for themselves more effectively, and they can communicate more openly with their healthcare providers.
00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:41.119
What about food addiction?
00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.480
Well, I just want to point this out.
00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:45.039
Take a look at this, and this is one article of many.
00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:51.519
Food addiction shares many commonalities with tobacco addiction and other kinds of addiction.
00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:59.759
So if you study this on a neurobiopsychosocial level and you're working with somebody with food addiction, well, there might be something going on.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.920
On with their dopamine levels.
00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:07.039
They might be more likely to be dealing with attachment issues, gut microbiota issues.
00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:10.400
So again, the gut brain access need to understand that.
00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:15.440
Could there be a loss of control, which would probably indicate some self-control deficits?
00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:19.200
Could there be some earlier childhood trauma factors at play?
00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:24.799
So you really want to understand the adverse childhood experiences and many other variables.
00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:33.200
And I just wanted to show this here because I've done a lot of work in the area of smoking prevention over the years and had a lot of training in that topic.
00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:35.279
And this is one article and many too.
00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:39.839
But what are some dietary habits of people who smoke, according to literature?
00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:42.240
And this can vary, of course, from person to person.
00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:50.319
But some research supports the fact that people who smoke cigarettes may also consume higher intakes of energy-dense foods.
00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:57.119
They may contain, they may be consuming more foods with higher levels of fat, saturated fat, higher levels of cholesterol.
00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:06.240
They may be at greater risk of consuming higher levels of alcohol, having lower intakes of antioxidants, and a lower intake of fiber.
00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.559
What about alcohol use disorders?
00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.920
How does that factor into this?
00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:12.880
Well, it's a huge factor in an ideal world.
00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:19.759
If you're working with folks with drug and alcohol problems, you're in a drug and alcohol treatment setting, work with nutritionist dietitians.
00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:21.839
The research is very clear on this.
00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:25.039
You work with folks with chronic alcohol problems.
00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:29.519
More times than not, they're probably dealing with some nutritional deficiencies.
00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:34.960
And if you can see here, there's a long list of nutritional deficiencies you want to take into account.
00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:43.519
This is a good reminder why that client should probably go to their healthcare provider and get some lab work done as well, because thiamine levels could be low.
00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:53.839
Vitamin A, C, D, E, K, B5, folic acid, magnesium, the list goes on, may be deficient among people with substance use issues.
00:23:54.079 --> 00:24:06.160
Medical nutrition therapy would be a term you want to be aware of, and it is supported in the literature, and it is supported for use when you're working with clients with co-occurring eating and substance use problems.
00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:14.960
Very, very important to not just take into account the mental health side of things, but also the nutrition and the medical health side of things.
00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:19.440
And this here, just a reminder while we're on this topic, is visually here.
00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:26.640
If you see this slide, if you work with folks with drug problems, substance use disorders, what does the research say as well?
00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:36.880
Well, a lot of clients with drug problems may have higher rates of disordered eating patterns, altered body compensation, poor nutritional status, and the list goes on.
00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.240
What about depression?
00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:42.880
Well, depression, poor eating, oftentimes goes hand in hand.
00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:47.839
And depression is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder and issue.
00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:51.119
If you work with clients with chronic depression, what do we need to be aware of?
00:24:51.279 --> 00:25:05.440
HPA access dysfunction, neurotransmitter imbalances, gut brain access issues, be aware of what your client eats, be aware of their sleep patterns, be aware it could contribute to declines in neuroplasticity, to name a few.
00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:09.599
What are some of the nutritional factors associated with depression?
00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:30.640
Well, interestingly, you have plenty of research to lean on that if you work with folks that consume a ton of sugar sweetened beverages, a lot of processed pastries, donuts, muffins, croissants, commercial baked goods, lots of refined grains, lots of fried food, processed meat, high-fat kind of processed dairy products.
00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:40.160
Those are nutritional factors that could increase risk of depression among some people or exacerbate depression in people that already are dealing with depression.
00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:50.880
And this here is a good reminder, too, that when you study these topics, it's probably important to at least understand the basics of neurotransmitters and neurohormones.
00:25:51.039 --> 00:26:04.799
Most clients with mental health problems, drug and alcohol histories, lots of trauma in their histories, people with lots of medical issues, more times than not, they're probably going to have some imbalances in their hormones and neurotransmitters.
00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:09.359
And then this can trickle down into impacting your client's mood.
00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:18.400
It can contribute to fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and it may increase that client's cravings for unhealthy foods.
00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:20.640
Take a look at this here as well.
00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.079
And this is interesting.
00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:28.240
You have a lot of articles that talk about what are some of the most common brain unhealthy foods.
00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:39.920
And you're going to find some articles that differ on this, but this was a really good article published in 2020 that indicates that people eat these foods day in and day out, year after year.
00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:43.119
It may adversely impact their brain health.
00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:57.359
And you might be surprised by some of these things: butter, margarine, cheese, red meat, fast fried foods, pastries, sweets, animal fats, hamburgers, sausages, French fries, pizza biscuits, ice cream, cake, candy.
00:26:57.519 --> 00:27:00.640
Now, people that eat this way here and there, it's probably not going to do much.
00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:05.279
But again, if you're working with a client, this is all they eat every day, all day, year after year.
00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:08.720
Over time, that could really impact brain health.
00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:12.079
How does nutrition impact insomnia?
00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:21.359
Well, there's a ton of research out there that indicates that poor sleep patterns can play a role in problematic eating patterns and vice versa.
00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:26.720
Problematic eating patterns can increase insomnia and other sleep-related issues.
00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:33.519
So if you ever are trying to help clients get a better night's sleep, have you ever dug into their dietary patterns?
00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:38.559
That could be a factor that definitely could be driving the bus with insomnia.
00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:49.440
And when you study these topics, very, very important to understand the field of chrononutrition and chronobiology and understand what are chronodisruptors?
00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:52.880
Basically, these are things that can throw off our sleep wake cycle.
00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:57.759
Eating late at night, jet lag, shift work, artificial light exposure at night.
00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:03.759
So if somebody's working late into the evening and they're on their screen a lot, that throws off our circadian rhythms.
00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:13.200
Other things to be aware of, frequent snacking at night, particularly unhealthy foods, the bright light exposure, these are all chronodisruptors.
00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:15.519
And that is not a good thing for human health.
00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:21.839
And this slide here, just to remind us that excessive screen time exposure is a threat to human health.
00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:42.319
And if people are looking at their screen late into the evening, right up until bedtime, it's probably throwing off their circadian rhythms, which impacts their sleep health, which then impacts their gut health, which drives their inflammation and makes them more vulnerable to all kinds of things, including illnesses, colds, flus, depression, anxiety, and the list goes on.
00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:56.799
Other things you'd want to be aware of when we're talking about circadian rhythm misalignment is there are all kinds of disorders that you'll find in the research literature that are intimately connected to disruptions in circadian rhythm.
00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:59.680
This is a list here of some things to be aware of.
00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.240
Why?
00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:13.920
Whatever field you're in, learn as much as possible about circadian rhythms because it could play a role in alcohol addiction, pain-related problems, metabolic issues, skin problems, asthma.
00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.200
The list goes on.
00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:27.200
This here, again, our podcast is all about the gut brain access and related topics, but there are plenty of factors to consider about diet and gut brain access dysfunction.
00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:31.599
What are some things that can adversely impact our gut microbiota?
00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:39.519
Well, how we live our life, the food we eat, how crowded is our housing situation, our social network status.
00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:41.839
So a lot I just threw at you in part two.
00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:45.279
So part three, tips, strategies, solutions, interventions.
00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:56.480
So the more we can all move in the direction of living a healthy lifestyle that's balanced, eating good food, getting good sleep, taking breaks, all of these things are good for all of us.
00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:01.759
What can we do to support healthy and positive brain health?
00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:20.880
Well, the research says, be aware of the five key determinants: physical health factors, the environment in which we live in, physical safety, financial security, opportunities to be around other people, reduce social isolation, and having good access to health care and other social services.
00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:23.200
How do we support positive brain health?
00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:34.880
Well, anything we can do to support cognitive health, physical health, mental health, our interpersonal relationships, diet, and the engagement in other healthy lifestyle practices.
00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:41.440
In the neuronutrition literature, the topic of integrated neuronutrition does come up a little bit.
00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:48.640
And I do like this because if you look at it through an integrative neuronutrition lens, what are we taking into account?
00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:55.759
Well, it's the interconnection between nutrition, brain chemistry, brain function, and behavior.
00:30:55.920 --> 00:31:02.240
It gives us a better snapshot of kind of what's going on in the brain with clients' brain chemistry.
00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:08.880
What does our clients eat and how does that impact brain functioning and then how that manifests as behavioral patterns?
00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:14.799
Couple articles do directly talk about neuronutrition and the gut brain access.
00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:18.319
This is a really good article that was published in 2025.
00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:20.079
I pulled a quote from this article.
00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:22.400
Go to our YouTube channel again, check it out.
00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:24.079
You'll see what I'm talking about here.
00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:36.319
But very, very important, when you are really wanting to become gut brain access informed, I think it would be imperative to also learn at least some basics about neural nutrition.
00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:40.559
When you study nutrition science in general, that's kind of the broad umbrella.
00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.720
Neuronutrition is one aspect of it.
00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:47.200
Another area of nutrition is something called precision nutrition.
00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:56.640
And I really hope the field truly moves in this direction because precision nutrition really individualizes nutrition approaches with clients.
00:31:56.799 --> 00:32:02.079
So there's, I don't think there's a lot of providers in the United States that are truly doing precision nutrition.
00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:22.400
There are some, but this is would be a professional who has advanced training in a lot of areas, including getting mark genetic markers from the clients, really tailoring nutrition plans, nutritional supplementation to that client's unique biochemical kind of factors going on in their brain and body.
00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:29.599
And then if you do this, you're working with providers, you are targeting what are the factors that could impact brain health.
00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:37.519
So neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, gut brain access disturbances, and nutrient deficiencies.
00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:46.640
Precision nutrition, if you were working with a professional who did this, they would likely really dig into these topics and many more and really find out.
00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:56.960
Well, maybe the client would do well, obviously having an individualized dietary plan, but maybe for that client too, they need some supplementation in certain areas.
00:32:57.119 --> 00:33:04.640
So really looking at omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, vitamin D, CoQ10, and the list goes on.
00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:08.799
So a healthy diet, if you're asking yourself, well, what constitutes a healthy diet?
00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:15.200
It's a diet that's adequate, moderate, nutrient dense, balanced, and varied.
00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:19.359
And it's not going to include like fast food and junk food.
00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:21.839
So take that into account as well.
00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:24.720
The research is pretty clear on this.
00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:36.880
You'll have a few outliers in articles, but most of the literature typically leans in the direction that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest dietary pattern on the planet.
00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:39.759
And the Mediterranean diet is a fascinating area.
00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:41.680
Tons of research has been done on this.
00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:47.279
And depending on the regions of the world you look at, the Mediterranean diet can vary a little bit.
00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:50.799
But the Mediterranean diet, why is it so good for you?
00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:52.079
Why is it so healthy?
00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:55.519
Well, it plays a role in supporting tryptophan metabolism.
00:33:55.680 --> 00:34:00.160
It can help regulate our vagus nerve and vagal activity.
00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:05.279
It plays a role in brain-derived neurotropic factor, huge topic to be aware of.
00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:12.639
It plays a role in regulating cortisol levels and the HPA access and neuroinflammation and all kinds of other things.
00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:20.320
Breaking it down further, the Mediterranean diet can play a role in addressing insulin resistance.
00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:27.199
It can improve lipid profiles, reduce inflammation, and reduce oxidative stress markers.
00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:30.719
So basically, if you're asking yourself, well, what is the Mediterranean diet?
00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:35.519
Well, it's it's typically you're going to be eating more fruits and vegetables.
00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:44.400
You're going to be probably having less red meat and relying on more fish and chicken, and things are going to be more natural.
00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:47.679
They're not going to be processed, lots of nuts and things like that.
00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:54.159
But again, working with a dietitian, nutritionist, there's many variables to take into account with this way of eating.
00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:55.840
Providers would do well too.
00:34:55.920 --> 00:35:00.079
I think learning about the basics of therapeutic lifestyle changes.
00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:05.440
You can find this topic talked about quite a bit in the neurocounseling literature.
00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:16.559
But therapeutic lifestyle changes would be professionals that really have an appreciation about nutrition, weight management, sleep health, exercise, and reductions in screen time exposure.
00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:19.360
Lifestyle medicine, huge area of study.
00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:21.440
I have a certification lifestyle medicine.
00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:31.760
One of our good friends is going to be coming on the podcast in the coming months to be doing a multi-part series for us on lifestyle medicine.
00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:46.800
There are six core features of lifestyle medicine: getting regular exercise, eating healthy food, focusing on good sleep, managing stress, avoiding harmful chemicals, and really capitalizing on positive social connections.
00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:48.719
So we talked about self-control.
00:35:48.960 --> 00:36:00.079
The more we can help clients improve self-control, the research really leans in the direction that it can play a role in helping clients improve emotional regulation.
00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:02.000
It can help them eat better.
00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:07.599
It can play a role in improving physical health, interpersonal health, and the list goes on.
00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:11.119
So what are the main goals of neuronutrition?
00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:14.719
Well, developing client awareness, knowledge, and skills.
00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:17.519
So you're going to be using a lot of psychoeducation.
00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:21.840
You're going to try to identify and address maladapted dietary patterns.
00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:25.840
You're going to teach and reinforce healthy dietary habits.
00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:28.880
You're going to ensure a healthy food environment.
00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:31.519
You're going to do a menu assessment and planning with clients.
00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:36.880
And again, you'd want to work with a qualified dietitian, nutritionist, functional provider.
00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:39.119
And that's all I got for you folks today.
00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:40.719
I know I threw a lot out at you.
00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:44.239
We'll be going deeper into a lot of these topics in upcoming episodes.
00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:45.679
Here's my email address.
00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:52.000
Again, check out our YouTube channel if you want to see this visually and definitely look forward to having you back to our next episode.
00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:57.920
We hope today's episode provided you with valuable insights into the gut brain connection and its impact across diverse settings.
00:36:58.079 --> 00:37:00.320
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share.
00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:05.440
For more information on this topic, resources, and services, visit PathwaysCounseling Center.org.
00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:10.960
Thank you for joining us on the Psychogastroenterologist, where mental health and digestive science converge.
