In this thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Sophia Dawson, senior psychologist and founder of Holistic Psychology, to explore one of the most powerful yet overlooked tools in mental health care: nutrition.

Together, we dive into Sophia’s research into nutritional psychology, with a particular focus on OCD, intrusive thoughts, and how ultra-processed foods, gut health, and nutrient deficiencies may influence mental well-being more than we’ve been taught to believe.

This isn’t your typical chat about food groups—it’s a deep dive into the mind-body connection, and the everyday choices we make that either fuel or drain us. From decoding food labels to challenging outdated beliefs about restrictive eating, we cover the emotional, psychological, and physical impacts of how we eat—and how that relates to our long-term mental health.

We also explore the healing potential of whole foods, the risks of the Western diet, and why small, consistent changes are far more powerful than any short-term “fix.” If you’ve ever felt curious about how food might be affecting your mood, energy, and clarity—this episode is for you.

🗝️ Takeaways

• Nutrition is a powerful, underutilized tool in mental health treatment
• OCD is often misunderstood—intrusive thoughts are more common than we think
• Gut health plays a major role in emotional well-being
• The Western diet and ultra-processed foods are harming our mental clarity
• We make over 35,000 food-related decisions a day—every one of them counts
• Movement can be as effective as medication for mental health
• “Hard now or hard later”—we choose which version of hard we live with
• Whole foods nourish us—restriction is not the goal
• Knowledge = empowerment when it comes to making food choices
• Healing starts with curiosity, compassion, and connection

💬 Sound Bites

“Movement is as effective as antidepressants.”
“Food is to nourish, not to punish.”
“We choose our hard.”
“Food can heal physical illnesses.”
“We make 35,000 choices a day.”
“Physical health is mental health.”

“We are behind in terms of food quality—but we just need to know how to find it.”
“It’s all about the mind-body connection.”
“Health isn’t about restriction—it’s about balance.

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In this podcast we focus our conversations around fitness, nutrition & mindset. Based on real life experiences.

On The Menu each week: An Introductory Starter, Insightful Main Course & Juicy Dessert. Navigating the world, our food environment, social changes & a whole lot more.

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https://open.spotify.com/show/6uggKNL3etOwlk0LcYi7sD?si=_x12uZCcTk6bVim5VXGrog

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https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/lifestyle-design-secrets/id1692127355

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