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American Psychological Association
The Center for Nutritional Psychology
Bridging the Gap Between Nutrition & Mental Health.
A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Educational Organization developing the discipline of Nutritional Psychology
New to nutritional psychology? Start with NP 110 or learn how the research library works.
Featured Research Article
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How do health professionals support eating behaviors in individuals with mental health concerns?
We are all aware that our eating behavior can be heavily affected by our health. When we are ill, we often lose our appetite, sometimes completely. Some health issues are coupled with problems in the functioning of our digestive system, further decreasing our motivation to eat or limiting…
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Learn how CNP organizes diet and mental health research summaries before choosing a membership plan.
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Our vision
A nutritional component to mental healthcare by 2030
At CNP, we’re building a new foundation for mental healthcare — one that bridges the psychological and nutritional sciences. Through research synthesis, curriculum development, and a unified methodology for studying the diet–mental health relationship, we’re closing a critical gap in our understanding of how diet influences how we think, feel, and experience.
THE CENTER FOR NUTRITIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AT A GLANCE
Connecting the psychological and nutritional science since 2005.
Built to organize the science of diet and mental health
Explore CNP’s research library to move from general interest into deeper study.
Mission
Poor diet is already understood to be a major contributor to disease and mortality, and is now also being examined for its role in psychological health and well-being. Studies from around the globe demonstrate this diet–mental health relationship (DMHR), and while many individuals have some awareness of how the foods they eat affect the way they feel, some remain confused, and still others need proof that such a relationship exists.
CNP’s mission is to serve as an online resource that raises awareness of the DMHR, advocates for the development of the field and its integration into the mental health care system, and provides research, education, and tools for professionals and individuals alike. Together, we’re shaping a future where what we eat is recognized as inseparable from how we think, feel, and heal.
CNP's Approved University-Level Education For Professionals
Nutritional psychology curriculum in development provides professionals with psycho-nutritional tools to help their clients develop the cognitive, behavioral, and perceptual skills needed for understanding the effects their dietary intake patterns may be having on their mood, behavior and mental health. NP gives mental health professionals another important piece of the puzzle for supporting their clients’ mental health and well-being by helping them understand how and why they can use food as a tools to improve the way they feel.
CNP Articles
Tracking how your diet shapes your mental health.
Higher ultra-processed food intake is associated with slightly higher dementia risk
We all know that some foods are healthy while others are less so or not at all. Foods...
Healthier diets are associated with better mental health in adolescents
Understanding Adolescence as a Critical Developmental Period; Adolescence is the period of development between childhood and adulthood, roughly...
Consuming lots of flavonoid-rich foods is linked with feeling happy and optimistic
What is psychological well-being? Psychological well-being is an overarching concept in psychological research that encompasses feelings of happiness,...
Want to go deeper than articles?
Search CNP’s research summaries and topic areas in the full Research Library.
Nutritional Psychology News
CNP keeps you informed with the latest diet-mental health news.
Could a daily cup of coffee protect the brain against depressive symptoms?
Examining how caffeine metabolism, genetic variation, and tolerance patterns complicate the link between hot drinks and mood trends.
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Why ‘food noise’ can start in childhood—and 5 ways parents can help
Early environmental cues and neurodevelopmental pathways can condition a child's brain to hyperfocus on reward-based eating.
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European project explores how gut microbiome, dietary and lifestyle factors interact with mental health
The NUTRIMIND consortium will leverage AI and multi-omics data to isolate distinct microbiome signatures linked to mental health.
Read MoreJoin Our Growing Community
Take steps to develop your understanding of the relationship between diet and psychological health and well-being. Together, we can build a new model of mental healthcare to include this important piece of the puzzle.
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