57 min

Ep.52 Kimberley Wilson: The role of nutrition in mental health The Health Scientist Podcast

    • Nutrition

Kimberley is a chartered psychologist and a governor of the Tavistock & Portman NHS mental health trust as well as the former chair of the British Psychological Society's training committee in counselling psychology. She is also an award-winning food producer with a degree in nutrition, and her work looks at the role food and lifestyle plays in our mental health, including disordered eating, the gut-brain axis and our emotional relationship with food. Kimberley was even a finalist on the Great British Bake Off and on top of all that Kimberley is also author of "How to build a healthy brain", which was published in March, 2020.

Kimberley's instagram

Kimberley's website

Kimberley's book: How to build a healthy brain

Stronger Minds Podcast

In this episode we cover:


How Kimberley decided to combine her career in psychology with her interest in nutrition
A discussion about research into how improved nutrition can reduce violence in prison populations
The apparent disconnect between mental health and the physical body and where it comes from
The ways stress and other mental health issues can present themselves as physical health issues
The taboo around mental health that exists within different factions of society
The role that better nutrition can play in keeping children in school and away from crime.
Why is hunger a major issue for school aged children, even in the UK?
How can dealing with childhood hunger reduce the likelihood of bad behaviour in schools
How are charities like "Magic Breakfast" doing to improve the situation?
What are some of the key nutrients involved in mental health?
The important role of DHA in brain development and function
How a mother's diet can influence a child's brain health
What role can leafy green vegetables play in brain aging?
A discussion about the SMILES trial, a nutrition intervention in depression
The importance of understanding that each person's mental health issues is different and what works for one person may not work for others.
The importance of an inclusive diet for building brain health
The importance of plant foods as sources of fibre and polyphenols for brain health
The incredibly important role of sleep in mental health.
Kimberley's book "How to build a healthy brain"

Kimberley is a chartered psychologist and a governor of the Tavistock & Portman NHS mental health trust as well as the former chair of the British Psychological Society's training committee in counselling psychology. She is also an award-winning food producer with a degree in nutrition, and her work looks at the role food and lifestyle plays in our mental health, including disordered eating, the gut-brain axis and our emotional relationship with food. Kimberley was even a finalist on the Great British Bake Off and on top of all that Kimberley is also author of "How to build a healthy brain", which was published in March, 2020.

Kimberley's instagram

Kimberley's website

Kimberley's book: How to build a healthy brain

Stronger Minds Podcast

In this episode we cover:


How Kimberley decided to combine her career in psychology with her interest in nutrition
A discussion about research into how improved nutrition can reduce violence in prison populations
The apparent disconnect between mental health and the physical body and where it comes from
The ways stress and other mental health issues can present themselves as physical health issues
The taboo around mental health that exists within different factions of society
The role that better nutrition can play in keeping children in school and away from crime.
Why is hunger a major issue for school aged children, even in the UK?
How can dealing with childhood hunger reduce the likelihood of bad behaviour in schools
How are charities like "Magic Breakfast" doing to improve the situation?
What are some of the key nutrients involved in mental health?
The important role of DHA in brain development and function
How a mother's diet can influence a child's brain health
What role can leafy green vegetables play in brain aging?
A discussion about the SMILES trial, a nutrition intervention in depression
The importance of understanding that each person's mental health issues is different and what works for one person may not work for others.
The importance of an inclusive diet for building brain health
The importance of plant foods as sources of fibre and polyphenols for brain health
The incredibly important role of sleep in mental health.
Kimberley's book "How to build a healthy brain"

57 min