Foods to Manage Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental health disorder that has to be managed properly and under medical supervision. The condition causes patients to mistakenly interpret reality abnormally often resulting in symptoms that may include hallucinations or delusions, emotional withdrawal, and disordered thinking and behavior that impacts daily functioning. While many doctors recommend ongoing therapy with a mental health professional and medications such as Invega Sustena or Invega Sustenna to help you manage symptoms; the foods patients eat can also play an important role in managing symptoms: 1. Sweet potatoes There are several reasons that sweet potatoes are good for people who have schizophrenia. They are filled with beta-carotene. Studies have shown that beta-carotene can protect the brain from damage. It can also protect the DNA from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been linked to anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. 2. Spinach Spinach is a leafy green. It is high in folate. Keep in mind that folate is called folic acid when it is in a supplement or a fortified food. Folate can help you cope with the symptoms of schizophrenia because studies show that folate plays a crucial role in DNA methylation, which regulates gene expression, reducing negative symptoms. Other foods that have folate include beef liver, asparagus and black-eyed peas.