It’s commonly said that we are what we eat. A great deal of research has been done to find a correlation between healthy diets and brain function, but misinformation persists. Figuring out how certain foods impact our physical, mental, and emotional health while also balancing our busy lives can become a frustrating exercise. So, how does food impact the brain exactly? To find out, we spoke to Uma Naidoo, MD, director of Nutritional and Metabolic Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & director of Nutritional & Lifestyle Psychiatry at MGH Academy, and author of the forthcoming book Calm Your Mind with Food. We explored the gut and brain connection, the benefits of spices and adaptogens, helpful food pairings to boost bioavailability and realistic solutions for supporting our mental and emotional health with food.

<p>It’s commonly said that we are what we eat. A great deal of research has been done to find a correlation between <a href="https://www.webmd.com/brain/what-to-know-about-foods-for-brain-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/brain/what-to-know-about-foods-for-brain-health&source=gmail&ust=1700148606538000&usg=AOvVaw1SxHF7slauS4EBxjys0i4d">healthy diets and brain function</a>, but misinformation persists. Figuring out how certain foods impact our physical, mental, and emotional health while also balancing our busy lives can become a frustrating exercise. So, how does food impact the brain exactly? To find out, we spoke to <a href="https://umanaidoomd.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://umanaidoomd.com/&source=gmail&ust=1700148606538000&usg=AOvVaw0Gjg_QqEEHzwIy-J6apQgm">Uma Naidoo, MD</a>, director of Nutritional and Metabolic Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & director of Nutritional & Lifestyle Psychiatry at MGH Academy, and author of the forthcoming book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Calm-Your-Mind-Food-Revolutionary/dp/031650209X" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Calm-Your-Mind-Food-Revolutionary/dp/031650209X&source=gmail&ust=1700148606538000&usg=AOvVaw37-up_tanO0X8uvhT1OYht"><em>Calm Your Mind with Food</em></a>. We explored the gut and brain connection, the benefits of spices and <a href="https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/ashwagandha" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/ashwagandha&source=gmail&ust=1700148606538000&usg=AOvVaw1dZEgbGaDqZn9vuTRQ7ffp">adaptogens</a>, helpful food pairings to boost bioavailability and realistic solutions for supporting our mental and emotional health with food.</p>

WebMD Chief Physician Editor Neha Pathak, MD, and Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, explore fascinating stories to find the unexpected things that help us understand our health.

Health Discovered

It’s commonly said that we are what we eat. A great deal of research has been done to find a correlation between , but misinformation persists. Figuring out how certain foods impact our physical, mental, and emotional health while...