Author name: Jennifer Hanes MS, RDN, LD

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Can Diet Improve Depression? What the SMILES Trial Means for Mental Health Management.

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Why the SMILES Trial is a Landmark for Mental Health Nutrition The idea that food can affect mood isn’t new, but the SMILES trial gave us the first step to a solid answer to the question: Can diet help depression? Published in 2017, this was the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate whether a […]

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pink text reads, "Evaluating Research and Translation to Real Dietetic Practice" to the left is an image of 4 people in white lab coats talking at a small table.

Evaluating Research and Translation to Real Dietetic Practice

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Navigating nutrition research is one of the biggest challenges dietitians (and the general public) face. With an overwhelming number of studies published every year, many of them conflicting or influenced by industry funding, determining what’s truly evidence-based sometimes feels like an uphill battle. Adding to the complexity, controlled research conditions rarely reflect the diverse realities

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Building a Multidisciplinary Team: A Guide for Private Practice Professionals

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In private practice, it’s common to feel isolated in your work. Many healthcare professionals operate independently, which can limit your ability to provide holistic care. Building a multidisciplinary team not only enhances the support you offer to clients but also elevates your professional practice, making it more sustainable and impactful. Why Multidisciplinary Teams Matter In

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Strategies for Motivating Patients: A Practical Guide for Dietitians

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Motivating patients to make meaningful nutrition changes is one of dietitians’ biggest challenges. Whether working with clients in an outpatient setting, residents in a long-term care facility, or patients in a hospital, you’ve likely encountered resistance, ambivalence, or frustration when discussing dietary changes. The reality is that even the best advice can fail if a

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a white, round plate with black rim and speckles. There is olives, cheese, pork, an eg, nuts, cucumbers and mixed greens on it. text to the right reads, "Low Carb Diets and Mental Health"

Low-Carb Diets and Mental Health: What Dietitians Need to Know

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A client shares their excitement about a low-carb diet, describing an initial boost in energy and mental clarity. But a few weeks later, they’re back, frustrated by mood swings, fatigue, and cravings they didn’t expect. These stories are all too common, and they highlight just how complicated the relationship between low-carb diets and mental health

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salmon, broccoli, tomatoes, almonds, blueberries, walnuts, pepitas, and oatmeal arranged on and around white plates and bowls on a white surface. Text to the right reads, "Addiction Recovery and Nutrition"

Addiction Recovery and Nutrition

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Recovering from addiction is an incredibly personal journey filled with physical, emotional, and mental challenges. While therapy and medical support are often at the forefront of recovery, the role of nutrition is less frequently discussed—despite its potential to make a substantial impact on the path to healing. Addiction affects the body’s nutrient balance, metabolism, and

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How the Gut and Brain Communicate

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The gut and brain constantly communicate, exchanging signals influencing everything from mood and mental health to digestion and immune response. This complex interaction is known as the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system that links the central nervous system (CNS) with the enteric nervous system (ENS). Often referred to as the “second brain,” the gut

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Managing Expectations of Medical Nutrition Therapy for Mental Illness

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As the connection between nutrition and mental health continues to gain attention, more people are turning to Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) in hopes of finding relief for mental illness. It’s exciting to see this shift toward using food and nutrients as a tool for mental well-being, but it’s also important to set clear expectations about

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Intake Questions for Clients With Mental Illness

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As dietitians, the foundation of our work lies in understanding our clients’ unique needs, goals, and challenges. The initial intake process is more than just gathering basic information—it’s the key to building a strong, trusting relationship and crafting an effective, personalized nutrition plan. This is especially true when working in nutritional psychology, where the mind-body

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An Overview of DSM-V for Dietitians

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Understanding mental health is becoming increasingly essential in dietetic practice. As dietitians, we often encounter clients whose eating habits are influenced by underlying mental health conditions. Whether it’s a client struggling with an eating disorder, a patient whose anxiety impacts their appetite, or someone managing depression with the help of food, the connection between mental

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