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Nutritional Psychiatry Summit
I recently had the privilege of attending the Nutritional Psychiatry Summit in London, which focused on the role of food, nutrients and microbes in mental health.
https://theintegrativehealthsummit.com/nutritional-psychiatry-summit
The audience was a collection of nutritional therapists, researchers, psychiatrists and psychotherapist who are focused on integrative medicine and its role in mental health.
Research suggests that diet is a crucial and modifiable risk factor for mental health and clinical trials are now beginning to be published reflecting dietary interventions for mood, cognitive and behavioural disorders. Underlying mechanisms for the nutrition-related pathophysiology of mental illness (which includes the gut microbiome) are leading to functional medicine-based assessments and personalized nutrition and lifestyle interventions being implemented into clinical practice.
The speakers:
Dr James. M. Greenblatt: Integrative Nutritional Psychiatry & Eating Disorders and Nutrition and Suicide Prevention.
Dr Greenblatt is a true pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, specializing in the fields of ADHD, behavioural disorders, autism, mood and anxiety disorders and eating disorders.
His incredible work has contributed to the ‘personalized medicine’ that we know today which focuses on the understanding of genetics, metabolism and nutrition and how combining these in an integrative way can have profound effects on mental wellness.
In the United States, Anti depressants are the number one prescribed medications for Americans between the ages of 18-44. Integrative medicine describes how inflammation, genetics, hormone imbalances, gastrointestinal health, environmental stress and nutritional deficiencies directly and peripherally affect depression, reflecting the linking of the mind and body to the pathogenesis of mood disorders.
Dr Greenblatt presented the latest research with regard to numerous nutritional deficiencies and their role in mental health and suicide prevention, including vitamin D:
Dr Greenblatt’s multiple books can be found at:
https://www.jamesgreenblattmd.com/books/
Ray Griffiths: Mitochondrial Medicine and Neurological Disease
Ray Griffiths obtained his Masters in Personalised Nutrition focusing on the role of Mitochondria in Parkinson Disease and has been practicing Nutrition for over 20 years and lecturing for over 10 years.
Ray has published multiple books which focus on Mitochondria – which are likened to the batteries of each cell in the body.
Miguel Torbio-Mateas: Microbiome Assessment & Neuroprotective Nutrition
Miguel specialises in researching the impact of nutrition on the microbiome and its links to mental health. Current lead on the Bowels and Brains project at London South Bank University, Miguel also has a successful clinical practice, is the chair of BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) and is heavily involved in the continuing education of practitioners.
Dr Emma Whightman: Phytonutrients and Brain Function
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/our-staff/w/emma-wightman/
Dr Emma, lead researcher at the Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre at Northumbria University, presented on the trials her teams run in cognition and the psychophysiological effects of nutritional supplements in humans. Her recent work has focused on the role of the gut-brain-axis
Robyn Puglia: Applying a Systems Biology-Approach to Mental Health in Practice
Robyn is a nutritionist and Institute of Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner who specialises in complex cases, unexplained illness and autoimmune disease – a woman after my own heart!
Robyn is a well regarded speaker and educator and particularly focuses on educating practitioners to further enhance their clinical skills.
Further information on Nutritional Psychiatry:
Leading Functional Medicine Doctor Mark Hyman discusses all things diet and mental health with psychiatrist Dr Drew Ramsey:
https://drhyman.com/blog/2018/11/28/can-you-beat-depression-with-food/
Link to Dr Drew Ramsey’s Research, published in the World Journal of Psychiatry, on the role of foods for Depression:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6147775/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626
