Diet for a Schizophrenic

Schizophrenia is a serious brain illness. The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that schizophrenia affects 2.4 million people in the United States who are over 18 years old, and that the exact cause of this troubling mental health problem is often unclear. Dietary changes may be beneficial for those people suffering from schizophrenia, although treatment decisions for this condition should always be supervised by a licensed healthcare provider.

About Schizophrenia

Approximately 1 percent of all Americans have schizophrenia, reports the National Institute of Mental Health. Symptoms of this condition include hearing voices that others are unaware of, developing feelings of paranoia, saying nonsensical things, and having difficulty controlling your thoughts. Though this condition affects men and women equally, men may experience symptoms earlier in life than women. Onset of this condition is rare in children and those over the age of 45.

An Appropriate Diet

An appropriate diet in treating schizophrenia may involve the elimination of certain dietary proteins, especially gluten. According to medical doctor Alan R. Gaby, author of "The Natural Pharmacy," a gluten-free and dairy-free diet may be among the most helpful natural treatment measures in addressing this serious health problem. Consuming a high-fiber diet that is rich in raw vegetables and eating smaller meals more frequently may help stabilize your blood sugar levels, which in turn stabilizes your behavior and mood. Brewer's yeast, halibut, sunflower seeds, broccoli, carrots, corn and eggs are important dietary inclusions in treating this health problem.

A Helpful Food

Halibut may be a helpful food in treating schizophrenia. Halibut, notes biologist and nutritionist George Mateljan, author of "The World's Healthiest Foods," contains a significant amount of essential fatty acids. Schizophrenia.com notes that some epidemiological data suggests that increased consumption of essential fatty acids may produce favorable outcomes in people with schizophrenia, and that people with this health problem often have decreased levels of essential fatty acids in the membranes of their red blood cells. However, research confirming that essential fatty acids will help the disorder does not exist at this time.

Considerations

Schizophrenia is a health problem that should always be managed by a skilled healthcare practitioner. A person who develops the characteristic signs and symptoms of this condition should see an appropriate healthcare provider as soon as possible to be properly diagnosed and treated. Although nutritional therapy has long been used as an adjunct health measure in treating this condition, further scientific scrutiny may be necessary to validate the purported health benefits of this natural therapeutic approach.