Many people do not realize how closely intertwined their emotions are with their eating patterns. For decades, scientists have been studying the effects of psychological factors on eating behaviors. One thing they have undoubtedly discovered is that emotions play a huge role in how people approach food choices. Before a person can set or meet health goals, they need to be aware of how their mental state affects their diet. While hiring a coach to help meet goals is effective, if the coach is not trained in nutritional psychology, they will likely be unable to offer the integrative coaching assistance many people need.

What is Nutritional Psychology?

Psychologists have long known poor eating habits are often a direct result of mental health constraints. When individuals suffer from anxiety and depression, they are more likely to engage in emotional eating. When under stress, the body seeks to find pleasure to offer relief. Oftentimes, food activates the “feel good” hormones, such as serotonin. Once a person’s brain makes the connection between food and happiness, binge eating can often result.

Nutritional psychology is a branch of psychology that studies the correlation between a person’s food intake patterns and their mental health, behavior, and mood. Unfortunately, western medicine does not equate food intake patterns with rising mental health concerns. Nutritional psychology seeks to address diet as a contributing factor to declines in mental health. With Mind Body Nutrition, individuals can learn why their dietary intake could have a profound effect on the way they are feeling at any given moment.