Schizophrenia is a mental disorder affecting a person’s thoughts, speech, emotions, and actions. Those diagnosed with schizophrenia will be delusional, experience hallucinations, and find it difficult to differentiate between reality and perception. They will be low on motivation and have difficulty thinking and speaking. Lifelong medication, psychological and behavioral therapy, and the right diet play a key role in improving their condition. Diet plays a crucial role as they generally do not pay too much attention to it.

Some foods can worsen symptoms of schizophrenia and should be replaced with healthy alternatives. The following five groups of food have to be avoided as much as possible.

1. Gluten-rich products
Research from the early 1950s has consistently linked wheat and gluten to a higher risk of schizophrenia. Gluten has been associated with celiac disease for some time, and those diagnosed with it are thrice more at risk of being affected by schizophrenia. Hence, reducing gluten can prevent gluten intolerance and reduce symptoms of multiple mental health issues, including schizophrenia. Avoid bread made with refined flour or wheat and look for bread with gluten-free whole grains.

2. Sugar and artificial sweeteners
A growth hormone found in the brain known as a brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BNDF is low in people with schizophrenia. Sugar can further suppress the BNDF activity and lead to worsening of symptoms. Sugar can also trigger other reactions that increase inflammation and, in the long term, damage neurons. Schizophrenic patients are at a higher risk of diabetes, and too much sugar can increase blood sugar levels. One should not shift to artificial sweeteners as an alternative for sugar cravings, as they are linked with mental health and depression. They also have zero value, and the long-term use of synthetic sweeteners can be harmful.

3. Simple carbohydrates
Simple carbohydrates can increase depression as they increase the chemical activity in the brain, particularly serotonin and tryptophan. In the long run, simple carbs can affect mood and energy levels causing more distress to people with schizophrenia. Carbs can increase feelings of anxiety and cause frequent mood changes. Without gluten in the diet, many resort to a carb-rich diet, making symptoms worse. One way of balancing this is to have adequate protein with the carbs.

4. Processed food
Persons diagnosed with schizophrenia do not generally have healthy eating habits and routines. Processed food contains Omega-6 fatty acids, hidden sugars, saturated fat, hydrogenated fat, trans fat, salt, and other additives and preservatives, each of which can add to weight gain, diabetes, and depression. Processed foods cause imbalances in the quantity of minerals, fatty acids, and nutrients required for the body and the brain. These imbalances could lead to psychosis and depression.

5. Caffeine
The recommended dose of caffeine for an adult with schizophrenia is 400 mg. Anything higher than this can enhance dopamine signals in the brain and lead to increased delusions and hallucinations. Coffee, carbonated beverages, and candy should be restricted to the minimum.

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, greens, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics is ideal for the overall mental and physical health of schizophrenic patients.