What you eat might not directly cause schizophrenia, but research suggests diet can play a role in schizophrenia’s development, progression, and management.
Your diet — the foods and beverages you consume regularly — affects almost every function of your body. From foods you get nutrients, and those nutrients (or lack thereof) affect important processes related to both physical and mental function.
In schizophrenia, a mental health condition characterized by symptoms of psychosis like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, diet has an influential role. It won’t directly cause schizophrenia, but it might increase your chances of developing it if you’re predisposed, may make your symptoms worse, and could affect the success of your management strategies.
Can your diet affect your schizophrenia symptoms?
The exact connection between diet and schizophrenia remains speculative, but a growing body of research suggests that, yes, diet can affect schizophrenia symptoms.
According to a 2020 review , neuroinflammation, inflammation affecting nervous tissue and the central nervous system (CNS), is considered a risk factor for schizophrenia development in people predisposed to the condition.
What you eat can contribute to inflammation within your CNS through what’s known as your gut-brain axis . The gut-brain axis is a direct, bidirectional connection between your CNS and the nervous system in your digestive tract, called the enteric nervous system.
Inflammatory responses triggered by diet in your enteric nervous system send inflammatory signals to the brain. Over time, this state of chronic inflammation may promote the development of psychosis in people predisposed to schizophrenia.
And because diet affects the body’s inflammatory state through the gut-brain connection, experts believe a diet that promotes inflammation may also increase the severity of schizophrenia symptoms and hinder the success of certain treatments.
The role of weight management and diet
In addition to promoting neuroinflammation, diet may also influence schizophrenia through its connection to higher weight and obesity .
In a scientific editorial from 2022 , experts explain obesity is a risk factor for schizophrenia. Diet may promote weight gain through caloric excess and also by influencing the expression of certain genes that affect energy usage in your body.
The ability of nutrients to affect genetic expression, or how certain functions of your genes are activated or deactivated, is a part of “epigenetics.”
It’s worth noting that the effects of weight discrimination can also contribute to negative health effects.
Possible food triggers for schizophrenia
No singular food has been identified as a trigger for schizophrenia, but certain types of foods may exacerbate symptoms and contribute to schizophrenia risk.
A review from 2021 indicates schizophrenia has been associated with diets high in:
- saturated fats (tropical oils, full-fat dairy, fatty cuts of meat, fried foods)
- sodium (deli meats, chips, soups, pizza)
- refined carbohydrates (sugary beverages, sweets and desserts, prepackaged snacks)
- highly processed foods (fast food items, ready-to-eat meals, prepackaged snacks)
And diets low in:
- fiber (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds)
- omega-3 fatty acids (fish, seeds, nuts, leafy greens)
- micronutrients (vitamins and minerals, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean animal products)
Similar findings were reported in a scoping review from 2018 , which concluded that people living with psychotic disorders should lower their intake of refined carbohydrates and processed foods and increase consumption of plant-based foods, high-fiber foods, and nutrient-dense whole foods.
Based on existing research, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine put out a nutrition guide for clinicians in 2023 for schizophrenia that includes the following nutritional approaches:
Finding a dietitian specializing in mental health
If you’re living with schizophrenia and would like to incorporate diet into your management plan, working with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can help you get on track.
RDNs are credentialed practitioners. They’ve completed the necessary education and passed a licensure exam in order to legally practice. Although RDNs can be board certified in different specialties, there’s currently no specific credentialing for mental health.
To find an RDN that specializes in schizophrenia, you can look for those who specifically mention mental health in their biographies or use the terms “nutritional psychology” or “behavioral health nutrition.”
Often, a primary care doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist can recommend an RDN specializing in diet and mental health. You can also get recommendations from online schizophrenia support groups and forums, where other people living with schizophrenia can share their experiences with dietary experts.
To look through listings of all the RDNs in your area, you can use the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ “Find a Nutrition Expert” search engine .
It’s important to know that the term “nutritionist” isn’t limited to credentialed professionals. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, regardless of their background. Checking the credentials of the professional you choose helps ensure you’re getting quality nutritional advice.
Schizophrenia is a complex condition. It can be affected by multiple factors and, to varying degrees, based on each individual.
Substance use, smoking, physical inactivity, and isolation are examples of lifestyle factors that can affect schizophrenia symptoms and the success of your management strategies.
In addition to focusing on a nutrient-dense, balanced diet, other lifestyle changes that may help in schizophrenia include:
Takeaway
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder. Its development, progression, and response to treatment may be complicated by diets that promote inflammation and weight gain.
Focusing on nutrient-dense, whole foods and avoiding saturated fats and refined carbohydrates are just a few of the dietary steps you can take to support your overall schizophrenia management plan.
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