Today’s Dietitian
Vol. 27 No. 5 P. 4
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As dietitians, we can seize this opportunity to advocate for the role of nutrition in supporting the many facets of mental health and well-being. Nutritional psychiatry (NP) is an exciting emerging field of nutrition examining the intersection of nutrition and mental health. As many individuals and providers may feel frustrated by the current limitations in standard psychiatric treatments, NP hopes to offer insights into complementary options for prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders through dietary intervention and nutrition therapy.
Some of the biological mechanisms connecting nutrition to mental health may already be clear to many RDs. We appreciate the impact of diet on inflammation, oxidative stress, and the gut-brain axis, for starters. We know nutrients are themselves critical players in neurotransmitter, hormone, and broader cellular metabolism, with nutrient imbalances and dietary patterns linked to many neurological, cognitive, behavioral, and mood-related symptoms and conditions. In May’s issue of Today’s Dietitian, we take a closer look at bipolar disorder, one of the major psychiatric disorders impacting millions of Americans, and ask what the latest research has to say about the role of nutrition—and dietitians—on the care team.
Also in this month’s issue, we call attention to the topic of protein in the second installment of this year’s Great Debates series. Protein recommendations, including daily intake for different groups, absorption thresholds at mealtime, and optimal support and timing for muscle protein synthesis, are a few of the questions explored in this article. You’ll also find feature articles on the important role dietitians play in early intervention and learn how the dreaded reemergence of seasonal allergies this time of year may be positively impacted by dietary choices.
May 4–7 also brings our highly anticipated 12th annual Spring Symposium, coming to you from sunny San Antonio, Texas, at The Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk. RDs will come together to enjoy continuing education sessions, special events, and a chance to engage with peers, presenters, and sponsors in a wealth of networking opportunities. We hope to see you there, and please enjoy this month’s issue!
— Heather Davis, MS, RDN, LDN, editor
TDeditor@gvpub.com