Diet and mental health with nutrition scientist Megan Lee

In Episode #187 I sit down with Megan Lee, BPsychSc, to talk about food and mental health. Megan is a career researcher, scientist, and academic at Bond University on the Gold Coast here in Australia. She has a Bachelor in Psychological Science (with Honours) and her PhD in nutritional psychiatry is currently under examination. She has published research on food and mood, body image, disordered eating, dietary patterns, and mental health, and occupational stress in academia.

There’s an interesting backstory as to how this exchange came about. Megan and I recently had some back and forth on Twitter after I did a thread expressing concern with regards to the way the media had misinterpreted a study that she, along with her colleagues, had published in British Medical Journal on plant-based dietary patterns and depressive symptoms.

Following some productive dialogue on twitter I thought it would be a good idea to have Megan on the show.

I hope you enjoy it.

Some of the topics covered in this conversation include:
- Megan’s background and discovering an interest in the link between nutrition and mental health
- Classifying depression
- The incidence of depression
- The science we currently have on the effect of diet on mental health
- Anti-depressant medications and the lack of lifestyle approaches to dealing with mental health
- Potential causes of depression
- The results from her study of vegans and depression
- The media misrepresenting the results of Megan's study
- The pros and cons of cross-sectional studies
- What other types of studies could be useful in examining the relationship between diet and mental health going forward
- Fatty fish/omega 3’s and depression
- The negative effects of alcohol on mental health
- Intuitive eating

Resources:

Megan's study published in the BMJ

My tweet on the Channel 7 article

Video of Megan talking about the study

2021 Omega 3 and depression Meta-Analysis

Megan's new study survey

Books mentioned: Pyschobotioic Revolution, This naked Life and Brain Changer

Want to support the show?
If you are enjoying the Plant Proof podcast a great way to support the show is by leaving a review on the Apple podcast app. It only takes a few minutes and helps more people find the episodes.

It's also helpful to subscribe on Apple Podcast app and/or follow on the Spotify Podcast app.

Simon Hill, Nutritionist, MSc, Sports Physiotherapist, Bsc (Hons)
Creator of Plantproof.com and host of the Plant Proof Podcast
Author of The Proof is in the Plants
Connect with me on Instagram and Twitter
Download my FREE two week meal plan
Download my FREE blood test and supplement guides here
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode #187 I sit down with Megan Lee, BPsychSc, to talk about food and mental health. Megan is a career researcher, scientist, and academic at Bond University on the Gold Coast here in Australia. She has a Bachelor in Psychological Science (with Honours) and her PhD in nutritional psychiatry is currently under examination. She has published research on food and mood, body image, disordered eating, dietary patterns, and mental health, and occupational stress in academia.

There’s an interesting backstory as to how this exchange came about. Megan and I recently had some back and forth on Twitter after I did a thread expressing concern with regards to the way the media had misinterpreted a study that she, along with her colleagues, had published in British Medical Journal on plant-based dietary patterns and depressive symptoms.

Following some productive dialogue on twitter I thought it would be a good idea to have Megan on the show.

I hope you enjoy it.

Some of the topics covered in this conversation include:

- Megan’s background and discovering an interest in the link between nutrition and mental health

- Classifying depression

- The incidence of depression

- The science we currently have on the effect of diet on mental health

- Anti-depressant medications and the lack of lifestyle approaches to dealing with mental health

- Potential causes of depression

- The results from her study of vegans and depression

- The media misrepresenting the results of Megan's study

- The pros and cons of cross-sectional studies

- What other types of studies could be useful in examining the relationship between diet and mental health going forward

- Fatty fish/omega 3’s and depression

- The negative effects of alcohol on mental health

- Intuitive eating

Resources:

Megan's study published in the BMJ
My tweet on the Channel 7 article
Video of Megan talking about the study

2021 Omega 3 and depression Meta-Analysis

Megan's new study survey

Books mentioned: Pyschobotioic Revolution, This naked Life and Brain Changer

Want to support the show?

If you are enjoying the Plant Proof podcast a great way to support the show is by leaving a review on the Apple podcast app. It only takes a few minutes and helps more people find the episodes.

It's also helpful to subscribe on Apple Podcast app and/or follow on the Spotify Podcast app.

Simon Hill, Nutritionist, MSc, Sports Physiotherapist, Bsc (Hons)

Creator of Plantproof.com and host of the Plant Proof Podcast

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Connect with me on Instagram and Twitter

Download my FREE two week meal plan

Download my FREE blood test and supplement guides here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices