Sneaky foods giving you anxiety | Nutritional psychiatrist Uma Naidoo, M.D.

“You have the power at the end of your fork to help calm your mind,” says Uma Naidoo, M.D.

Uma, a Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, nutritional biologist, and professional chef, joins us to discuss shopping recs, expert-approved recipes, and meal plans to optimize your gut-brain connection, plus:

- Uma’s go-to breakfasts for brain health (~00:33)

- The best nutrients for your brain (~02:57)

- The best brain-healthy grains (~04:46)

- Uma’s CALMS grocery list (~06:45)

- Can nutrition help solve our mental health epidemic? (~10:42)

- The role of blood sugar in mental health (~15:50)

- Common vitamin deficiencies that impact mental health (~20:05)

- Are fortified foods actually bad for you? (~23:04)

- Seed oils & the gut-brain connection (~24:35)

- Uma’s take on coconut oil & coconut milk (~26:31)

- The most updated research on saturated fats (~28:09)

- Best foods to eat when anxiety hits (~30:20)

- The best fruits for anxiety (~32:41)

- The nutrition trend that makes Uma cringe (~38:07)

- The link between hydration & mental health (~40:18)

- The future of psychobiotics (~43:41)

- The best bacteria strains for anxiety (~45:00)

- How to amplify the flavor of healthy foods (~47:14) 

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Referenced in the episode:

- Uma's book, Calm Your Mind With Food. 

- mbg Podcast episode #246, with Uma.

- A study on metabolism & anxiety.

- A study reassessing saturated fats.

- A study on bacteria strains for mental health: Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Lactobacillus Reuteri & Lactobacillus Helveticus.

- Sign up for Uma's newsletter.

We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: podcast@mindbodygreen.com.

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