Episode 194: The Food-Mood Connection: Affordable and Practical Nutrition Tips for Mental Health with Alex D'Elia

Does this sound familiar? You're constantly searching for ways to improve your mental well-being but feel like you're hitting a dead end. Maybe you've been told to simply think positive or just relax, but those actions haven't brought you the relief you desperately crave. The pain of feeling stuck in a cycle of negative emotions and struggles with your mental health is overwhelming. But what if I told you there's a powerful connection between the food you eat and your mental state? It's time to explore a new path towards better mental health through the transformative potential of nutrition.

My special guest is Alex D'Elia

 

Alex D'Elia is a registered dietitian known for pioneering integrative and functional nutritional coaching in her company, Olox Nutrition. Alex's approach stems from her personal mental health journey, a profound experience that spurred her dedication to exploring the integral relationship between nutrition and mental health. Whether she’s aiding clients to improve their energy, heal their gut, or encourage brain nourishment, she’s undeniably effective in her mission to help others harness the power of food as a tool for wellbeing.

In this episode, we cover:

👉the fascinating ties between your daily menu and the state of your mind.
👉food's role as a potential remedy for both physical and mental issues
👉how taboos associated with certain mental health problems might stop people from seeking the help they need
👉some dietary techniques you can try right now to improve your wellbeing
👉some harmful tendencies found within popular dieting fads

📑More about Alex D'Elia

Alex is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with extensive experience nutritionally treating emotional eating, chronic illness, mental health, PMS, and weight management. Her practice focuses on reducing stress and restoring balance; Alex understands that health and wellness are best approached from a whole-person perspective.

Alex hopes to empower those who seek healthy change in their lives by providing evidenced-based counseling, empathy, and consistent feedback. In her spare time Alex loves irritating her boyfriend, hiking, panicking about her next instagram post and learning how to cook so she can help others.

🌎 Connect with Alex D'Elia
👉Instagram
👉Website
👉LinkedIN

🖋️ Some key points
(00:36) - introduction to Alex and Olux Nutrition,
(01:27) - controversy surrounding food as medicine,
(02:07) - foods and lifestyle habits for mental health,
(14:30) - overcoming stigma about bipolar disorder, 

(16:05) - the power of sharing personal stories, 

(17:07) - empowering ourselves to feel better, 

(19:04) - the role of nutrition in mental health, 

(28:08) - the practicality of health and wellness trends, 

(30:15) - elitism and controversies in health practices, 

(33:12) - stress management, 

(43:36) - being an early bird and future plans, 

(44:12) - getting used to living with animals, 

(45:45) - managing stress and pressure, 

 

📑 The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Check out Olox Nutrition, Alex D'Elia's virtual nutrition coaching company, for personalized support in mind-body health and using food as medicine.

• Alex’s food-mood guide: https://oloxnutrition.net/guide-1 d) 

• Article from Alex about navigating Bipolar II: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/invisible-illness-bipolar-ii

• Consider integrating some of the best foods and lifestyle habits for supporting mental health discussed in the episode into your own routine.

• Take action to improve your own mental well-being by implementing tools and strategies discussed in the episode, such as improving energy, healing your gut, and nourishing your brain.

• Stay informed about new episodes and topics covered on the podcast by subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform.

• Share this episode with friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit from the information and insights discussed.

• Consider reaching out to Alex directly by booking a session here

 

Connect with me on IG @jesscording  

Check out my WTF To Eat substack : https://jessicacording.substack.com/p/want-to-know-wtf-to-eat 

🎤 Podcast post-production EZPZ Podcasting