Let’s be clear. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition, which means it must be treated under close supervision of a medical professional and with mood therapies and mood-stabilizing medications to help control the transitioning mania (high) and depression (lows). However, several research studies on food and its effects on particular bipolar disorder symptoms have come forward, and have been shown to even reduce mania and other bipolar symptoms:
1. Probiotic rich foods
Kefir, miso, kombucha, sauerkraut, yogurt, and kimchi are all probiotic rich foods which have been shown to reduce inflammation within the digestive system and brain. In fact, psychiatry researchers from India’s All Institute of Medical Sciences, claim that these healthy bacteria also have a large impact on our emotional control, especially for patients with bipolar disorder and clinical depression. For instance, patients with both mental conditions show high levels of inflammatory response triggered by stress hormones (i.e., norepinephrine). While consuming a probiotic rich diet has been linked to lower inflammatory emotional response because these healthy bacteria trigger the release of naturally soothing brain chemicals (i.e., serotonin).
2. Dark chocolate
Good news for chocolate lovers! Not only is the dark version of this super comforting snack a natural stress reliever—a body of research published in the Journal of Proteome Research found that 30 human study participants who consumed just an ounce and a half serving of dark chocolate (sorry, not milk chocolate or white chocolate) showed less anxiety traits on a metabolic, hormonal, and gut microbial level after a duration of 2 weeks.
3. Turkey
There’s a good reason why you feel so calm and sleepy after eating Thanksgiving dinner. It’s the turkey, which contains a specific amino acid known as tryptophan, and triggers the release of plenty of the “feel good”mood stabilizing brain chemical, known as serotonin. In fact, scientists at the Bipolar Clinic and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston claim this response can be noted in bipolar patients with depression and mania symptoms when they consume foods high in tryptophan (i.e, turkey, cheese, eggs, and tofu).
4. Fatty Fish
If you’re a big fan of fatty filets of fish (i.e., trout, salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, halibut, and sardines), you probably already know that the soaring omega-3 fatty acids within are doing tons of good for your brain health. However, a 2016 researcher study published by the National Institutes of Health notes that mental health researchers believe there may be a deeper link between mood stabilizing omega-3s and their ability to reduce symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. Scientists are specifically looking at the way eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) impact the nerve cells within the brain that trigger signaling.
