5 Foods to Avoid for Schizophrenia Patients
It is commonly found that people with schizophrenia, a chronic mental condition, do not have a healthy diet. Eating unhealthy foods can put schizophrenia patients at the risk of developing other health conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Thankfully, researchers have suggested that making dietary changes can prove to be beneficial. So, here are five foods to avoid for schizophrenia patients.
1. Wheat
Although wheat is considered to be a healthier alternative to foods that are loaded with gluten, some people might have celiac disease. This condition causes intolerance towards components that are found in foods with wheat. Therefore, when you expose your body to such foods frequently, it can have serious implications on mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. So, talk to your doctor and check if you are intolerant towards wheat before eliminating it from your diet.
2. Carbohydrates
Simply switching wheat with other gluten-free options might not be the answer. You must carefully pick the right grain for your diet and talk to your doctor first. Some people found a low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein, and high-fat content diet help relieve the symptoms of schizophrenia. While in some others, ‘carb flu’ was experienced due to low carbs in the diet, worsening symptoms. Therefore, make your choice wisely.
3. Desserts
Schizophrenics might find that not all carbohydrates need to be eliminated from the diet. However, one of the most important foods to avoid for schizophrenia patients is sugar. Eating sugar might not be the immediate cause of mental health. However, it can cause imbalances in mood, create memory problems, and aggravate existing symptoms. Moreover, sugar is not good for overall health, especially foods with added sugars.
4. Artificial sweeteners
No, replacing your desserts with artificial sweeteners is not the answer either. Although researchers still haven’t been able to understand the exact reason, consumption of artificial sweeteners is linked with mental health conditions. Artificial sweeteners do not contain any nutritional value and make you eat more sugar instead of reducing consumption. This can make you addicted to sugar. Therefore, controlling sugar cravings without the help of artificial sweeteners can prove to be more beneficial. You can satiate your sweet tooth with natural sugar found in fruits. However, that should also be taken in moderation.
5. Processed foods
To ensure good mental well-being and fight illnesses such as schizophrenia, it is important to eat a diet that is high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids have to be consumed in moderation to ensure maximum mental well-being. However, if there is an imbalance, it can lead to mental health problems. Therefore, make sure that you add more foods with omega-3 fatty acids and avoid omega-6 foods such as processed foods.