Did you know that the best diet for Schizophrenia can cure the condition? Spectacular results have been seen after adjusting diet in some persons with Schizophrenia. In some cases where the improvement was dramatic, the patients were taken off medicine completely.
This is not to suggest that you stop taking medications altogether, even if you are going to follow the diet recommended in this article. The best approach to treating Schizophrenia is medication. Nutritional interventions here have been suggested as adjunctive treatments but are very beneficial to those who try them.
This article looks at what diet is best for a person who has Schizophrenia. The advice here is not meant to replace that of a doctor or other medical expert. The article is for informational purposes only. Here is what to eat more of and what to avoid if you have schizophrenia.
Avoid high glycemic foods and stimulants.
Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol affects your ability to control your blood sugar. Using cigarettes and stimulants worsens the situation. Antipsychotic medications also commonly affect the control of your blood sugar. This may explain why diabetes is more prevalent in those with Schizophrenia than in the general population.
Avoid high glycemic index foods such as refined carbohydrates and sugar to keep your blood sugar balanced. Eat instead low glycemic foods such as most fruits, green vegetables, raw carrots, lentils, and chickpeas. Medium glycemic index foods are also okay to consume occasionally. These include sweet corn, raw pineapples, bananas, raisins, oat breakfast cereals, cherries, whole grain, multigrain wheat, or rye bread. One quality in any meal plan considered the best diet for Schizophrenia is that it controls blood sugar by avoiding high glycemic index foods.
Take More Essential Fats
Some of the building blocks of the brain are essential fats. The best diet for Schizophrenia is incomplete without essential fats.
The brain is always building membranes, bringing them down and building others. The process of breaking down the membranes strips essential fats from the brain. Persons with Schizophrenia need essential oils more, as they are quickly lost in their brains.
Studies have shown persons with Schizophrenia who get ample essential fats have better outcomes with the disease. A World Health Organization survey done in eight countries around the world found that the incidence of the disease was the same in the nations. However, the outcomes were markedly different. In some countries, Schizophrenia was a relatively mild and self-limiting disease; in others, it was a severe lifelong illness. The factor that best explained these stark differences in outcomes was the fat content in the diet. Countries where essential fats were obtained from vegetables and fish, as opposed to meat, had better results.
Should I supplement with essential fats if you have Schizophrenia? It is better to get them from the diet by eating salmon and other fatty fish. However, in some instances, supplementation may be needed if enough cannot be obtained from the diet.
Dr. Iain Glen of Aberdeen University Mental health department found that 80% of persons with Schizophrenia had an essential fat deficiency. A dramatic response was seen after he gave 50 patients essential fat supplements. Another 10-month, larger, crossover, and placebo-controlled study looked at the effects of supplementing with EFA plus omega-6 fatty acids, Zinc, B6, B3, and vitamin C. The patients in the study saw improvements in schizophrenia symptoms when they were supplemented.
Two trials using omega-3 fish oil high in EPA showed notable improvement in schizophrenia symptoms. However, another trial using omega-3 fats saw no improvement in symptoms of Schizophrenia in participants but a reduction in aggressive behavior.
Omega 3 fish oil is even more beneficial in preventing the onset of Schizophrenia in young people who have a high risk of developing psychosis.
Eat More Antioxidants
Any good meal plan involves plenty of antioxidants, and the best diet for Schizophrenia is no exception. There is a link between antioxidants and levels of essential oils in the brain.
Essential fats are prone to destruction in the diet and brain by what is referred to as oxidants. The remedy for this is to take in more foods high in antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E and to reduce intake of burnt or fried foods. Avoid smoking as it is a source of oxidants that destroy vitamin C.
The essential vitamins are found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat more of these. Fruits are a good source of fiber, which many people diagnosed with Schizophrenia are deficient in. The excellent fiber found in fruits also lowers the body’s harmful cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. All of these diseases affect people with Schizophrenia more than the general population.
Vegetables are also packed with fiber and necessary nutrients, which many people with Schizophrenia are deficient in. Lima beans, kidney beans, and sweet potatoes are all vegetables packed with minerals such as potassium and others that are beneficial in many ways, including helping keep blood sugar under control.
Eat Chicken Marinara
Vitamin B3 or niacin is said to benefit Schizophrenia. Chicken and marinara sauce are rich in the vitamin.
Can I get niacin from supplements? Niacin has been shown to stop the worsening of Schizophrenia and ease symptoms so well that it would be worth trying to supplement with it.
But bear in mind that you would need to take about 1 gram of non-flush niacin each day. Taking such an amount is taking mega doses. Unless you are an expert, you should avoid prescribing yourself such a nutrient. Talk to a trained medical professional about it.
Mega doses of niacin, particularly in sustained-release tablets that deliver amounts higher than 1g to 6g, can be toxic to the liver. The late Dr. Abram Hoffer, professor of psychiatry, is the doctor who popularized improving symptoms of Schizophrenia using niacin.
If you take megadoses of the vitamin, please do it under the supervision of an expert. The best diet for Schizophrenia contains more chicken marinara and other sources of niacin.
Eat Crabs and Oysters
Experts say there is a link between low levels of Zinc and Schizophrenia. Oysters and crabs are high in Zinc.
The best diet for Schizophrenia is incomplete without adequate levels of Zinc.
Should you supplement with Zinc? It is best to get it from the diet. If you supplement with Zinc, you will need vitamin B6 as well.
B6 can be toxic when taken in mega doses. It is also not safe to take Zinc without medical supervision. As well, as earlier stated, only supplement with individual nutrients under the control of an expert.
Eat More Clams
Clams are rich in B12. Research has shown that B12 improves psychiatric symptoms. Any ideal diet for Schizophrenia involves ample B12. You also find it in trout, liver, and some bread.
You can supplement with B12, but do it under the supervision of a medical expert who dispenses nutrients in slightly higher than usual dosages.
Beware of imbalances if you prescribe yourself a single nutrient and use it alone for the long term.
Get Folate In Your Diet
Spinach is high in folate, which improves symptoms of Schizophrenia, according to many research studies. You also find it in beef liver, black-eyed peas, and asparagus.
Supplementing with folic acid is very beneficial for persons with Schizophrenia. Experts have used up to 15mg daily for persons with Schizophrenia and gotten good results. You can start with 1mg per day and build it from there. But only take the folic acid under the supervision of your healthcare professional, who is an expert at prescribing nutrients in mega doses.
Another dietary source of folate is lentils. Not only are lentils high in protein and folate, but they are also excellent mood stabilizers. This is because they are high in tryptophan, the amino acid that is the building block for serotonin. Serotonin regulates mood and behavior.
Lentils are part of the best diet for Schizophrenia because they are easy to prepare. Just a cupful of lentils also contains 50% of the daily requirements for tryptophan.
Get Vitamin D in Your Diet
It is not clear from studies how vitamin D affects Schizophrenia. However, there is agreement that sufficient vitamin D might help Schizophrenia. You get Vitamin D from exposure to the sun and occurs naturally in cod liver oil.
It is safe to supplement with good-quality cod liver oil. The best diet for Schizophrenia includes good-quality cod liver oil.
Get a healthy gut
Some research studies have linked a bad gut microbiome with Schizophrenia. Get good bacteria in the gut by eating non-dairy yogurt. Avoid dairy and whey products as they contain casein antibodies.
You get live cultures that promote good gut bacteria growth in sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt. You could look for a good quality probiotic and supplement with it. Get more prebiotics naturally from vegetables and fruits.
Try a Gluten-free Diet
Studies show that sensitivity to wheat is one of the problems in Schizophrenia. Some studies had shown that symptoms of Schizophrenia improved in some people when they dropped wheat products and other grains that contain gluten.
You can talk to your doctor about a gluten-free diet.
Eat More Berries
Berries are small, tasty, sweet but low in sugar and calories. They are high in antioxidants and fiber, making them heart-healthy and beneficial in reducing the risk of diabetes. At least three studies have linked increased consumption of blueberries with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes,
Research has shown that berries contain anthocyanins, chemicals that protect the brain. Include all manner of berries in your ideal diet for Schizophrenia.
Eat More Avocados
To feel full longer, a person with Schizophrenia should eat more avocados. This helps a person feel full longer, eat less and thus keep their weight down. Research has shown that avocados are perfect for people who want to adhere to the medicine regime. This fruit is a must-have for someone trying to eat the best diet for Schizophrenia.
Boost Your Brain Health
While the best diet for Schizophrenia is packed with greens, it cannot be complete without the King of vegetables, broccoli.
The vegetable is high in nutrients needed by a person with Schizophrenia. These are Zinc, folate, and potassium. It is loaded with fiber and has many more essential minerals and vitamins.
It is also high in sulforaphane, a chemical scientists suspect helps improve symptoms of Schizophrenia. However, this chemical is easily broken down by heat, but scientists suggest eating cooked broccoli still goes some way in alleviating schizophrenia symptoms.
Have you tried to improve your schizophrenia symptoms with diet? What diet did you try, and what, in your view, is the best diet for Schizophrenia?