Food
Food and overall diet shape brain chemistry: dietary amino acids supply neurotransmitter precursors (tryptophan→serotonin, tyrosine→dopamine) and blood-glucose swings affect mood and focus. Higher-quality dietary patterns (e.g., Mediterranean) are associated with lower rates of depression, while highly processed, energy-dense foods engage reward circuitry and can promote overeating. Much of the mental-health evidence is observational, so causation is still being established.
Too little may be associated with
Undernutrition, low energy, impaired health.
Too much may be associated with
Overeating, weight gain, metabolic disease.
Informational only — not medical advice.
Body systems
Hormones
Neurotransmitters
Related
Books (25)
Podcasts
- Binge Eating to Food Freedom | For Driven Hearts and Minds
A practical, no-nonsense approach to overcoming binge eating for driven individuals ready to stop letting food control their lives and start channeling their energy into what truly matters. Host Katie Papo guides ambitious, growth-oriented people in…
- Brain over Binge Podcast
Kathryn Hansen on stopping binge eating using a brain-based approach.
- Conversations, The CEA-HOW Podcast
This podcast highlights talks from members of Compulsive Eaters Anonymous-HOW. Compulsive eaters identify in many ways – overeater, undereater, food addict, anorexic, bulimic; it can be someone with 10 pounds to gain or with 205 pounds to lose. Regardless…
- Food Addiction, the Problem and the Solution
The International School For Food Addiction Counseling And Treatment (The INFACT School) brings you the podcast, Food Addiction: The Problem And The Solution which explores the ubiquitous problems of food addiction and presents the solution. The school,…
- Food Addicts In Recovery Anonymous
Free talks about recovery from food addiction. More information at: https://www.foodaddicts.org.
- Food Psych Podcast
Christy Harrison on food, eating behavior, and body image.
- Food Psych Podcast with Christy Harrison
Christy Harrison on food, eating behavior, and body image.
- Half Size Me
Heather Robertson on sustainable weight loss and food behavior.
- Losing 100 Pounds with Corinne, Weightloss for Women
Corinne Crabtree on overeating, food habits, and weight loss.
- Low Carb MD Podcast
Low Carb MD is a patient-centered podcast focusing on weight loss, wellness and preventative medicine. The co-hosts, Dr. Brian Lenzkes & Dr. Tro interview a new guest on each episode and walk the listeners through how they approach weight loss, wellness…
- Real Food Recovery (Archive – Moved to New Show)
We've MOVED! Find our newest episodes at Real Food Recovery Podcast! Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/real-food-recovery-podcast/id1886808884 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5py4Is3HEfqMOldpyPLWCV?si=3728fd631c604e09 Real Food Recovery's…
Research (23)
- Gallbladder Volvulus Kashyap et al. (2026)
- About Sugar Addiction Guo et al. (2025)
- Osteoarthritis treatment via the GLP-1-mediated gut-joint axis targets intestinal FXR signaling Zhang et al. (2025)
- Micro/nano plastics in the urinary system: Pathways, mechanisms, and health risks Wang et al. (2024)
- Ultra-Processed Foods and Mental Health: Where Do Eating Disorders Fit into the Puzzle? Wiss et al. (2024)
- The cognitive (lateral) hypothalamus Sharpe (2024)
- Obesity as a Neuroendocrine Disorder Ferreira-Hermosillo et al. (2023)
- The Immunobiology and Pathogenesis of Celiac Disease Iversen et al. (2023)
- Neuroimaging and eating disorders Frank (2019)
- Ghrelin and food reward Al et al. (2019)
- Technology for Augmenting Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Management Condren et al. (2019)
- The dopamine motive system: implications for drug and food addiction Volkow et al. (2017)
- Similarities and Differences in Genetics Zhang et al. (2017)
- The neurobiological basis of binge-eating disorder Potenza et al. (2016)
- Understanding opioid reward Fields et al. (2015)
Links
Recovery resources
Help for food use and recovery. Not an endorsement or medical advice — see all recovery resources.
Compulsive Eaters Anonymous - HOW (CEA-HOW)
A structured 12-step fellowship for compulsive eaters seeking recovery through a disciplined plan of eating.
Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA)
A 12-step fellowship treating food addiction as a biochemical disease, with abstinence from addictive foods.
- Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA)
A 12-step program for people recovering from food addiction, including overeating, undereating, and bulimia.
Overeaters Anonymous (OA)
A 12-step fellowship for people recovering from compulsive eating and other food behaviors.
SMART Recovery
A secular, science-based recovery program using cognitive-behavioral tools for any addictive behavior.
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