An Interconnected Approach to Nutrition and Mental Health
Speaker
Kathy Maibaum-Perryman, Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC)
Summary
Our January 2023 General Meeting kicked started the new year focused on a common resolution: Nutrition and its connection with mental health. Our very own NAMI Contra Costa family member/volunteer, Kathy Maibaum-Perryman, coached or ‘cheered’ attendees on their health journey using an interconnected approach to treating the whole body systems and genetics while including the mind, spirit, and one’s environment and educating on the importance of food, supplements, and many other holistic tools to support reaching optimal health.
Kathy elaborated on the importance of talking to medical professionals about weight concerns while on certain medications: Why SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, or Atypical antidepressants could cause weight gain in some and loss in others, how it interfered with metabolism, serotonin levels, satiety, etc. Exploring the ‘why’ helped understand and make mindful changes in one’s menus and lifestyle habits.
She had recently completed her Functional Nutrition Alliance Certification to be a Functional Nutrition Counselor and continued to explore and learn new developments and resources related to functional nutrition, exercise, self-care, and sleep. Kathy believed there were many gaps in the healthcare system, and one was to take the time to look at the whole health picture for any missing pieces while seeing a practitioner. Functional Nutrition Counselors helped fill that gap by looking at the individual as a whole and not a diagnosis.
Kathy had worked in the medical field and always enjoyed learning about health and knew the importance of eating healthy. With this new knowledge, she realized that health was so much more than just eating a salad and exercising. It involved healthy relationships with oneself and others, being mindful, and being an advocate for one’s health, just to name a few. It was an opportunity to support and educate herself on practicing functional nutrition to help her son who was living with mental health issues and educating him as well.
As always, there was time for a Q&A. NAMI Contra Costa also used this opportunity to recap highlights of achievements from 2022 and set projected, future goals for 2023. Happy New Year!