I have been a fan of registered dietitians, licensed experts in food and nutrition, since I worked at an eating disorder recovery clinic, where registered dietitians, or RD’s, were an important part of the treatment teams. Then through my own training as a therapist, I began to study topics such as the associations present between nutrition and mental health, and the mind-body connection. I’ve also found through my practice that RD’s are oftentimes under-used, many of my clients having never considered seeing an RD, despite the fact that RD’s are covered by major health insurance companies and offer invaluable information. In this article, we will be covering some of the main reasons why I believe seeing an RD, even if just for a few meetings, could have a positive impact on your mental health and be another helpful option in addition to traditional psychotherapy, to help meet mental health goals.

Why Should I Consider Seeing An RD?

Nutrition is connected to Mental Health:

There is a wealth of research suggesting that nutrition and mental health are largely connected. Getting proper macronutrients, what kinds of ingredients are being consumed and even water intake can all have an impact on symptoms related to mental health such as anxiety and depression, as well as fatigue, sleep issues, and stress hormone levels. Additionally, nutrition and physical health are intimately connected with one another. Food fuels our bodies, offers the building blocks for our bodies to create cells and perform essential bodily functions, and therefore, increased physical health often leads to improved mental health. By caring for your physical health through food and nutrition, you can better care for your mental health.

It decreases misinformation:

RD’s are highly trained professionals that have to go through rigorous education, training and testing in order to get the letters at the end of their name. In a social media-driven world so full of misinformation, absurd crash diets claims, “miracle supplements”, health claims that sound convincing but are lacking in evidence or rigorous clinical testing, RD’s offer evidence-based and clear guidelines that actually work. Misinformation, especially around health, can be confusing and overwhelming, leading to decision fatigue and frustration. This study examined how youths process and accept health information from online sources and a conclusion of this study was that youths had trouble detecting misinformation about health online, causing them to be more likely to be influenced by invalid nutrition claims. However, RD’s offer tailored, personalized suggestions that take the guesswork out of everything, ensuring you’re getting the proper care you need.

Sometimes thoughts/behaviors aren’t the only cause of mental health issues:

Psychotherapy is undoubtedly a valuable treatment option for mental health issues and our thoughts/behaviors have a huge impact on mental health. However, the complexity of our bodies cannot be overstated and oftentimes, problems such as unaddressed hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies or physical changes in your body (such as postpartum) play an enormous role in mental health and how you feel. RDs can be invaluable in helping to bridge this gap through nutrition and supplements that actually help.

RD’s can be invaluable for people with eating disorders:

Eating disorders thrive on fear, shame, false claims about food, and an unhealthy understanding of what food does in and for our bodies. By talking about food with someone knowledgeable, being challenged to try foods that scare you, learning about and debunking eating disorder myths, having someone setting and supporting you in your food goals and learning to talk about food in a way that is balanced and healthy can be invaluable for those who have struggles with eating disorders.

RD’s can help with weight fluctuations related to medications:

Sometimes medications prescribed for mental health can lead to fluctuations in weight. This can oftentimes feel confusing and uncomfortable for clients, unfortunately often leading to unhealthy diet changes due to, again, misinformation. RD’s can answer questions about weight changes, help with meal planning to ensure nutrient deficiencies do not happen in the midst of weight management and more.

Conclusion

I hope this explanation can help to empower you to consider if an RD would be a positive choice for you and to start taking into account those things that could be in your control, such as seeing a professional, to take a next great step in your mental health journey. If you are interested in diving into some of the topics touched on in this article further, below are some other posts from Optimum Joy to look into:

• Tips To Help You Navigate Eating Disorder Recovery During the Holiday Season
• Mindful Eating Exercise
• Tips for Supporting A Loved One with an Eating Disorder