The Role of Diet and Exercise When Recovering From a Brain Disorder

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Research indicates that there is a link between how we eat and how we feel, as our diet affects our brains. In fact, if we are stressed, digestion in the gut can speed up or slow down. (1) There are also psychological benefits of eating meals regularly with others as it provides an opportunity to feel connected to other people.

As I celebrate a full recovery from schizophrenia since 2008, I attribute my success in part to my commitment to healthy eating, regular exercise, and avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and street drugs.

Healthy diet

People with schizophrenia often have a more difficult time maintaining a healthy diet, as antipsychotic medications may cause patients to crave unhealthy foods including carbohydrates and sugar (2). Antipsychotic-induced weight gain can be mitigated by a commitment to healthy eating and regular exercise. From the beginning of a patient’s journey to recovery, he or she should discuss diet options with a doctor, dietician, or other professional.

As with persons in the general population, it is important for those with brain disorders to eat green leafy vegetables every day, get enough protein, consume whole-grain foods, and drink milk (dairy or nut milk made of cashews or almonds) for a healthy intake of calcium (3).

There are many studies suggesting that schizophrenia symptoms can be lessened to some extent by certain supplements or diets. I believe that taking the supplements recommended by my doctor (and choosing healthy foods) over the years may have helped improve my ability to focus as well as my overall functioning. Various diets have been shown to help with some symptoms of schizophrenia in some patients. But today, there is still limited data on the effectiveness of these diets, and why they work better or worse in various patients.

Discontinuing medication in favor of a new diet and/or supplements is dangerous, and may lead to relapse. Sometimes when patients relapse and restart antipsychotic medication, their medications become less effective than they had been before discontinuing them, even at higher doses.

Exercise

In addition to eating a healthy diet, I swim at least twice a week and take long walks every other day. There is no substitute for exercise. Not only does it keep my weight in check, but it also boosts my cognition, refreshes me, and helps produce endorphins that actually make me feel happy (4). One of my goals this year was to exercise more frequently.

To achieve the highest level of recovery, it is advisable for patients, especially those on antipsychotics, to avoid alcohol. Alcohol may reduce the effectiveness of antipsychotic medications, and may even raise the risk of medication side effects (5). Smoking cigarettes doubles the chances that a young person will schizophrenia (6) and can reduce the effectiveness of antipsychotic medications (7).

When dealing with patients who have schizophrenia, the fundamental interventions are generally antipsychotic medication, the opportunity to speak with someone about how schizophrenia affects you personally, setting goals, and building a support system. But diet and exercise also play a key role in the recovery process. Eating a healthy diet should be a high priority for new patients, from the very first day they are diagnosed and into the future.