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Myths About Diet and Mental Health

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Nutrition and Psychiatric Disorders

Part of the book series: Nutritional Neurosciences ((NN))

Abstract

Recently, the relationship between nutrition and mental health has gained considerable scientific interest. In this chapter, we aim to highlight and disentangle myths about diet and various psychiatric conditions that have often clouded public understanding. We systematically examine a range of popular beliefs that pertain to diet and its relationship with psychiatric conditions, including eating disorders, mood disorders, and psychosis. We then review the literature on the role of particular food types and diets in mental health. While tackling each of the above, we carefully debunk misconceptions by focusing on evidence-based research and clinical data. In pointing out fallacies, we emphasize the critical interplay between diet and mental health, with the former operating as a constituent in a more complex matrix of factors. Our review concludes with clinical recommendations that guide how best to utilize dietary nutrients in promoting mental health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA

    Rawad El Hayek

  2. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium

    Michel Sfeir

  3. Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Michel Sfeir

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mona Saeed AlMutairi & Bayan Alqadheeb

  5. Medical Department, Erada Center for Treatment and Rehabilitation in Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Samer El Hayek

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  1. Rawad El Hayek
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  2. Michel Sfeir
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  3. Mona Saeed AlMutairi
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  4. Bayan Alqadheeb
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  5. Samer El Hayek
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of BMS, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Wael Mohamed

  2. Department of Neurobiology & Neuroscience Institute, Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers, Morehouse School of Medicine, Gainesville, GA, USA

    Firas Kobeissy

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El Hayek, R., Sfeir, M., AlMutairi, M.S., Alqadheeb, B., El Hayek, S. (2024). Myths About Diet and Mental Health. In: Mohamed, W., Kobeissy, F. (eds) Nutrition and Psychiatric Disorders. Nutritional Neurosciences. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-2681-3_16

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