Nutrition and Gut Health
Food and Mood: The Connection
The food you eat has a profound impact on how you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally.
At the same time, anxiety, stress, depression, and poor sleep can disrupt your eating habits.
- Skipping meals, overeating, undereating, or craving carbs
- Relying on processed snacks for quick energy
- Lacking the motivation to cook or prepare healthy meals
All of these can worsen mood and sleep disturbances, creating a vicious cycle that makes it even harder to nourish your body.
Did you know that fluctuations in blood sugar can mimic symptoms of panic, anxiety, difficulty focusing, and sleep problems?
Breaking the Cycle
Mood and sleep struggles can make it difficult to fuel your body properly, and poor nutrition further exacerbates mental health symptoms.
At Kema Health Integrative Psychiatry, we take a whole-body approach to mental health—including comprehensive nutrition support to help break the cycle.
Fuel for Your Brain
Think of your body like a high-performance machine. Just like a race car needs premium fuel to function at its best, your brain and body thrive on high-quality nutrition.
Even small shifts in what, how, and when you eat can lead to noticeable improvements in:
- Mood and emotional resilience
- Mental clarity and focus
- Energy levels throughout the day
- Sleep quality and relaxation
The goal isn’t to deprive yourself of foods you love—it’s to optimize nutrition in a way that works for your unique needs and lifestyle.
Your “Second Brain”: The Gut-Brain Connection
Ever felt “butterflies in your stomach” before a big event? Or experienced nausea when you’re nervous? That’s because your gut and brain are constantly communicating.
Anxiety, depression, and sleep issues can be triggered by gut imbalances—and gut issues can also worsen mental health symptoms.
Did you know?
- The gut produces 95% of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation.
- 50% of dopamine is found in the gut, along with other mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters like GABA.
- The gut produces 400 times more melatonin than the brain—critical for restful sleep.
This explains why antidepressants (like SSRIs) often cause digestive side effects—they impact serotonin levels in the gut.
At Kema Health, we take gut health seriously when addressing mental health concerns.
Nutrition: A Key Component of Your Mental Health Plan
Despite overwhelming research on the food-mood connection, nutrition is often overlooked in traditional mental health treatment.
At Kema Health, we integrate nutrition into mental health care to ensure that your brain has the building blocks needed to:
- Support neurotransmitter function (serotonin, dopamine, GABA)
- Improve energy production and metabolism
- Reduce inflammation affecting mood and cognition
A Personalized Approach to Nutrition
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition.
We help determine whether specific dietary approaches (such as ketogenic, paleo, gluten-free, or anti-inflammatory diets) may support your mental and physical health. Many of these diets have been shown to improve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
During a nutrition consultation, we’ll provide:
- Customized meal planning and grocery shopping guidance
- Easy-to-follow recipe suggestions
- In-depth lab testing for micronutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, and gut health
- Personalized supplement recommendations to optimize nutrition
A Life-Changing Shift
Many of our patients have found nutrition therapy to be life-changing. Food is medicine, and with the right support, small changes can create a significant impact.
You can choose to work exclusively with our nutritionist, or for the most effective results, we recommend a collaborative team approach that includes a psychiatrist, nutritionist, and psychotherapist.
We’re Here for You
Telehealth services available throughout Maryland.
Out-of-state nutrition services may be available—contact us for details.
Schedule Your Free 20-Minute Consultation
Let Us Prioritize Your Mental Wellness
Your emotional health deserves attention, care, and consistent support. Discover how we can support your personal wellness journey. Schedule a consultation or contact us at Kema Health Services to begin.