Nutrition is very important during psychiatric medication. In this process, we should tell the psychiatrist about our experiences during medication use and act in line with the expert's recommendations.
Folates are vitamin B derivatives of great importance for cell metabolism. They are involved in cell division, growth and biosynthesis of amino acids and purine bases.
Their deficiency has been associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, bipolar and schizophrenic disorders.
Table 1. Some animal and plant sources of folate and their folate content
| Folate Ratios They Contain | Nutrients |
| ≤5.0 | Butter, plums, cream, peaches, herring, turkey, milk, apricots |
| 5.1-50.0 | Apples, cereal, chicken, mackerel, cod, turkey, strawberries, potatoes, bananas, fresh cheese, wheat rye bread, white rice, oranges, wheat, carrots, kiwi, tomatoes |
| 50.1-150.0 | Brown rice, wheat flour type 500, cauliflower, avocado, green peas, chicken eggs, walnuts, hazelnuts, lettuce, oats, broccoli, brussels sprouts, broad beans, asparagus |
| 150.1-250.0 | Dried peas, soybean sprouts, enriched corn flakes, parsley leaves, dried white beans, spinach |
| ≥ 250.1 | Wheat bran, dried soybeans, chicken liver, baker's yeast |
Nutrition Recommendations for Nutritional Problems in Bipolar Patients
| BMI (Body Mass Index) Classification: | |||
|
Underweight: less than 18.5 kg/m2 | |||
|
Nutrition Problems | Causes | Recommendations | |
| INCREASE IN BODY WEIGHT | -Obesity (carbohydrate-heavy diet, tendency to fast-food consumption) -Inactivity / Reluctance Medicines stimulate appetite - and reasons for not being able to control it -Lithium utilization |
-Regular walking at least 2-3 times a week | |
|
DECREASE IN BODY WEIGHT | -Decreased appetite during depressive episodes -Food refusal |
-Below your ideal weight you may be at risk of malnutrition. -Include more fresh foods such as yogurt, banana-strawberries, almonds, walnuts, oats, etc. that will meet daily requirements. | |
| NUTRITIONAL DIVERSITY AND DEFICIENCIES |
-Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with mental health problems, including major depressive disorder and suicide risk | -Include more green leafy vegetables, foods with oily seeds such as walnuts and almonds, milk, eggs, fish and meat in your daily diet. | |
| NUTRITION AND MOOD | -Cardiovascular disease Although its role in the prevention or treatment of diabetes, cancer, obesity, hyperlipidemia and related disorders is well established, the use of diet to improve mental functioning is a relatively new approach. "Nutritional Psychiatry" |
-They have been used to improve mood (quince, elderberry) or to calm a person (lettuce, purslane, chicory). | |
Many clinical studies have examined the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on major depressive disorder, postpartum depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, psychotic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder in adults and children, and have found that they are often, but not always, beneficial.
Nutrition under stress
It is true that in times of stress, individuals look for foods that will help them to relax quickly.
It is important to remember that foods high in carbohydrates can cause blood sugar spikes or dips accompanied by fluctuations in adrenaline or epinephrine, often referred to as the 'stress hormone'. Accordingly, high consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugar can worsen the stress response.
Serotonin Theory and the Cause of Weight Gains in Addiction Treatment
It clarifies how food affects our mood. Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators are the basic units of chemical communication within the nervous system.
Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter produced by the brain from tryptophan, which is found in foods such as oysters, snails, octopus, squid, bananas, pineapples, plums, nuts, milk, turkey, spinach and eggs. Serotonin functions to regulate sleep, appetite and impulse control, and increased serotonin levels are associated with good mood.
A protein-rich diet decreases serotonin synthesis in the brain, while a carbohydrate-rich/protein-poor diet increases serotonin synthesis. As a result, the level of tryptophan in the blood increases relatively compared to other amino acids. Thus, high amounts of tryptophan bind to transporters, enter the brain and trigger serotonin synthesis. Many individuals who consume high amounts of carbohydrate-rich foods - including people with depressive conditions such as seasonal affective disorder, premenstrual stress syndrome, or nicotine withdrawal - have been shown to experience a positive change in mood.
Consumption of high-carbohydrate foods can improve mood by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. In a study investigating carbohydrate consumption in young adults in New Zealand, participants who followed a diet high in fruits and vegetables reported feeling calmer, happier and more energized.
Antioxidants can be defined as agents or chemicals that can terminate radical chain reactions.
High concentrations of antioxidant compounds are also found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, as well as cereals and fruits without skin and flesh, such as cranberries or strawberries.
Considering fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, the list of foods containing antioxidants overlaps to some extent with the list of foods rich in tryptophan.
Antioxidant compounds help to improve blood circulation, enhance memory and lower cholesterol.
Since antioxidants reduce tryptophan breakdown, antioxidant-rich foods may better increase the flow of tryptophan to the brain than a protein-rich diet.
