The Neuro Experience

#321- The Science Behind Food and Mood: Nutritional Psychiatry for Depression | Uma Naidoo

December 27, 2023 Neuro Athletics Episode 321
#321- The Science Behind Food and Mood: Nutritional Psychiatry for Depression | Uma Naidoo
The Neuro Experience
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The Neuro Experience
#321- The Science Behind Food and Mood: Nutritional Psychiatry for Depression | Uma Naidoo
Dec 27, 2023 Episode 321
Neuro Athletics

This episode's guest is Uma Naidoo. Michelin-starred chef David Bouley described Dr. Uma Naidoo as the world’s first “triple threat” in the food and medicine space: a Harvard trained psychiatrist, professional chef graduating with her culinary schools’ most coveted award, and a trained Nutrition Specialist. 

Her nexus of interests have found their niche in Nutritional Psychiatry. Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based Nutritional Psychiatry Service in the United States. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at MGH Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. She was considered Harvard’s Mood Food expert and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal.


In this episode, Uma and I discuss:

  • Nutritional psychiatry
  • How depression is related to nutrition
  • Importance of diet
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
  • Calm your mind with food - book by Uma naidoo
  • How serotonin is related to depression
  • Nutrition and Hormones

1:02 Introduction
3:37 What is Nutritional psychiatry?
4:21 How depression is related to nutrition
8:20 90% of our serotonin resides in the gut?
10:01 Can we Improve patients just through diet alone?
15:00 Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
21:44 Calm your mind with food - book by Uma naidoo
26:45 Executive functions
28:53 You're not getting enough serotonin?
38:00 Uma’s research on Nutrition and Hormones
43:51 Ending 


Links and Resources:

Uma’s website: https://umanaidoomd.com
Follow Uma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drumanaidoo
Unlock the knowledge of trusted creators at: https://dexa.ai/
Research report - Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) protects hippocampal cells from oxidative stress-induced damage

The Neuro Athletics Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ 

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_


The Neuro Athletics Newsletter
Instagram: @louisanicola_
Twitter : @louisanicola_
YouTube: @Louisa Nicola

The Neuro Experience Podcast is proud to have hosted: Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr Gabrielle Lyon, Dr Layne Norton, Thomas DeLauer, Shawn Stevenson, Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, Saad Alam, Uma Naidoo, Dr. Lanna Cheuck, Angela Lee Pucci, Jillian Turecki, Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum, Dr. Darren Candow, Dr. Sue Varma, Evy Poumpouras, Dr Casey Means, Renee Deehan, Dr Chris Palmer, Dr Charles Brenner.

Show Notes

This episode's guest is Uma Naidoo. Michelin-starred chef David Bouley described Dr. Uma Naidoo as the world’s first “triple threat” in the food and medicine space: a Harvard trained psychiatrist, professional chef graduating with her culinary schools’ most coveted award, and a trained Nutrition Specialist. 

Her nexus of interests have found their niche in Nutritional Psychiatry. Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based Nutritional Psychiatry Service in the United States. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at MGH Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. She was considered Harvard’s Mood Food expert and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal.


In this episode, Uma and I discuss:

  • Nutritional psychiatry
  • How depression is related to nutrition
  • Importance of diet
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
  • Calm your mind with food - book by Uma naidoo
  • How serotonin is related to depression
  • Nutrition and Hormones

1:02 Introduction
3:37 What is Nutritional psychiatry?
4:21 How depression is related to nutrition
8:20 90% of our serotonin resides in the gut?
10:01 Can we Improve patients just through diet alone?
15:00 Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
21:44 Calm your mind with food - book by Uma naidoo
26:45 Executive functions
28:53 You're not getting enough serotonin?
38:00 Uma’s research on Nutrition and Hormones
43:51 Ending 


Links and Resources:

Uma’s website: https://umanaidoomd.com
Follow Uma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drumanaidoo
Unlock the knowledge of trusted creators at: https://dexa.ai/
Research report - Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) protects hippocampal cells from oxidative stress-induced damage

The Neuro Athletics Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ 

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_


The Neuro Athletics Newsletter
Instagram: @louisanicola_
Twitter : @louisanicola_
YouTube: @Louisa Nicola

The Neuro Experience Podcast is proud to have hosted: Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr Gabrielle Lyon, Dr Layne Norton, Thomas DeLauer, Shawn Stevenson, Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, Saad Alam, Uma Naidoo, Dr. Lanna Cheuck, Angela Lee Pucci, Jillian Turecki, Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum, Dr. Darren Candow, Dr. Sue Varma, Evy Poumpouras, Dr Casey Means, Renee Deehan, Dr Chris Palmer, Dr Charles Brenner.