Dr. Uma Naidoo Archives | Cynthia Thurlow

Ep. 378 Calm Your Mind with Food: Nutrition’s Role in Mental Health with Dr. Uma Naidoo

July 23, 2024July 13, 2024 by Cynthia Thurlow

Today, I am delighted to reconnect with Dr. Uma Naidoo, who joined me once before for episode 173.
Dr. Naidoo is an awarded and board-certified Harvard nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, and nutritional biologist. She is the Founder and Director of the first-ever hospital-based nutritional and metabolic psychiatry service in the United States at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at the MGH Academy.

In our enlightening conversation, Dr. Naidoo talks about her latest book, Calm Your Mind With Food, and we dive into the impact of anxiety during the pandemic. We explore how anxiety influences our susceptibility to metabolic diseases, autoimmunity, and Alzheimer’s, and the difference between processed foods and homemade meals. Dr. Naidoo emphasizes the pivotal role of nutrition in mental health, particularly the interplay between the enteric nervous system, the vagus nerve, and brain function.

Our discussion also covers the scientific underpinnings of the gut microbiome, the pitfalls of non-nutritive sweeteners and sugars, and the critical roles of neurotransmitters and neuroinflammation. She also elucidates the concept of leptin and its resistance, critiques nutritional trends like the low-fat craze, and clarifies the nuanced impacts of carbohydrates, fiber, and plant-based versus omnivorous diets.

I am sure you will find this conversation with Dr. Uma Naidoo as valuable and enjoyable as I did.

Ep. 173 – How The Food You Eat Boosts Your Mood & Mental Health (and the Connection Your Gut Health Plays) with Dr. Uma Naidoo

June 18, 2023October 9, 2021 by Cynthia Thurlow

I am delighted to have Dr. Uma Naidoo joining me on the podcast today! Dr. Naidoo is an awarded board-certified psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, professional chef, nutrition specialist, and author of the recently released This is Your Brain on Food: An Indispensable Guide to the Surprising Foods that Fight Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and More. She was featured in the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, Harvard Health Press, Goop, and many others. Dr. Naidoo has a special interest in the impact of food on mood and other mental health conditions.

There were several strong influences in Dr. Naidoo’s early life. She grew up in a loving, nurturing home with a large extended South Asian family. Rather than going to pre-school, she decided to stay at home with her maternal grandmother, who was a wonderful cook. Dr. Naidoo used to help her grandmother pick fresh vegetables from the garden and prepare meals, and her grandparents taught her meditation and yoga. Her mother was a medical student, and she had many aunts and uncles who were physicians, so there was a lot of talk about science and nutrition in their home.

In this episode, Dr. Naidoo talks about food and lifestyle choices that can boost your mood and improve mental and emotional health. Tune in today to hear our fascinating conversation!

cynthiaTHURLOW