Nutritional Science & Dietetics

Nutrition and Psychology

The field of psychology helps us to explore our inner workings as individuals, including our emotions, feelings, motivations, values, culture, and experience. The field of nutrition helps us explore the effects of diet and nutrients on our physical health. In relation to psychology, nutrition helps us to understand how what we eat influences how we feel – including our emotions, moods, sensations, motivations, and experiences.

Mental health professionals already address the psychological, cognitive, and behavioral components leading to positive mental health. Nutritionists already address the effects of diet leading to positive physical health. Nutritional Psychology is the field of study examining the interdependent relationship between dietary intake and psychological experiences and informs our understanding of the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR).