Dr. Monique Aucoin is a naturopathic doctor and senior research fellow at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, and one of the leading North American researchers in nutritional psychiatry — the study of how nutrition affects mental health and how diet can be used to prevent and treat mental illness.
Not familiar with naturopathy or unsure what it means? Dr. Aucoin explains that naturopathic medicine blends scientific evidence with traditional, natural approaches such as nutrition, herbal medicine, and lifestyle counselling. The goal is to address root causes of illness and promote long-term wellness, not just manage symptoms.
While conventional treatments like psychotherapy and medication help many people, they are not effective or tolerable for everyone. Nutrition and dietary counselling represent an important, often-overlooked option for supporting mental health. Current clinical practice rarely reflects how much diet influences mood, anxiety, cognitive function, inflammation, and recovery from mental illness. High-quality clinical trials are needed to clarify cause and effect — for example, whether poor diet contributes to depression, or whether depression drives poorer eating habits. Trials help determine whether changing the diet can produce meaningful improvements in mental health.
Dr. Aucoin collaborates with psychiatrist Dr. Laura LaChance to translate research into clear, practical tools for clinicians and patients. Together they developed a patient handout that summarizes nutritional factors important for mental health, informed by scientific evidence and the lived experience of people with mental illness. These resources are used to train healthcare providers in dietary counselling so they can offer actionable guidance that improves patient outcomes.
Emotional eating is more than a cultural trope — it has biological grounding. Animal studies show that palatable foods high in sugar and fat can reduce stress hormone levels in the short term, which helps explain why people reach for comfort foods when distressed. However, relying on sugary, highly processed foods may worsen mood and anxiety over time. A balanced approach to nutrition supports emotional resilience and long-term mental wellbeing.
Clinical research is beginning to demonstrate the power of dietary change. The SMILES study, for example, reported significant reductions in depression symptoms after 12 weeks of dietary intervention, with a notable portion of participants achieving remission. Building on this evidence, Dr. Aucoin and Dr. LaChance have secured funding to run a similar randomized trial focused on anxiety. These kinds of trials are critical to validate nutrition-based treatments and integrate them into mainstream care.
So what practical dietary steps can support brain and mental health right now? Dr. Aucoin highlights three key areas: adequate protein intake, an anti-inflammatory diet rich in whole foods, and choosing complex carbohydrates over simple sugars. The brain is sensitive to blood sugar fluctuations — symptoms of low blood sugar often overlap with mood and anxiety symptoms. Eating complex carbohydrates and fiber helps stabilize blood glucose, while simple sugars and refined carbs can trigger spikes and crashes that negatively affect mood.
Protein matters because it supplies amino acids, the building blocks for neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. Ensuring sufficient protein at meals can help the body maintain balanced neurotransmitter production. Increasing dietary fiber and whole-food carbohydrates slows digestion and supports steady energy, which translates into more stable mood and reduced irritability or “hanger.”
Inflammation is another important link between diet and mental health. People with depression and anxiety often show higher levels of inflammation in the brain and body. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish are rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids, which support brain health. For picky eaters or those who dislike certain flavors, incorporating nuts, seeds, or greens into smoothies can be an easy way to increase intake of beneficial fats and plant compounds.
Small, sustainable dietary adjustments can produce meaningful changes in mental wellbeing. Nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all cure; it often works best alongside psychotherapy, social supports, sleep hygiene, physical activity, and, when needed, medication. Still, improving overall diet quality — focusing on adequate protein, anti-inflammatory foods, and complex carbohydrates — is a practical, evidence-informed strategy to support recovery and resilience.
How to get involved
- Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook to continue the conversation and share experiences with others.
- Reach out to the show team to share where you are in life and business and to find out more about available resources via their contact page.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your podcast platform — feedback helps spread the word and supports continued production. 
Previous episodes you may enjoy
- Episode 218: Dr. Christopher Mohr
- Episode 217: Marshal Sewell
- Episode 216: Ali Berman, Bryan O’Donnell, and James Kaechele
- Episode 215: Melissa Martinelli
- Episode 214: Zach Elkin and Sazi Bugay