Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that causes patients to have difficulty understanding and navigating reality. Symptoms often include delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech or behavior. Schizophrenia can be caused by genetics, changes in brain chemistry, and environmental factors. Surprisingly enough, certain foods can either curb or encourage the development of schizophrenia.

Here’s a list of six foods and drinks and how they affect schizophrenia:

1. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are helpful for mental health management because they contain antioxidants, Vitamin A, fiber, and protein. Research shows that beta-carotene, an antioxidant found in sweet potatoes, plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy brain function by preventing free radicals from doing damage to the brain.

2. Fatty fish

Fatty fish contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain development. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help reduce symptoms of depression and bipolar disorder, prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, and offset the development of schizophrenia. Some examples of omega-3 sources are salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines.

3. Spinach

Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is a nutrient found in spinach that helps the body develop new cells. Some studies show deficiencies in folate can cause neurological defects, including mental illness and depression. This leafy green is an excellent source of vitamin B, vitamin A, and vitamin K, which are also great for brain health.

4. Milk

Scientific studies have begun to correlate dairy consumption with the onset of schizophrenia, and mental health experts often advise their schizophrenic patients to cut it out of their diet. Milk has been shown to hinder folate absorption in the brain. As mentioned above, folate is a key nutrient for maintaining neurological health, so too much of this drink should be avoided.

5. Refined sugar

Refined sugar has been linked to the development of mental illness because it can affect neurotransmitters in the brain. Sugar turns into simple carbohydrates very quickly, causing a spike in energy levels that eventually turns into fatigue and even sadness hours later. Eating these sugars also increases inflammation throughout your body. In certain studies, a strong correlation has been found between the consumption of sugar and the development of schizophrenia. Those who have diets high in sugar and fat reduce a key growth hormone in the brain which affects memory and learning, leading to mental health issues.

6. Alcohol

It is all too common for those diagnosed with schizophrenia to have Alcohol Use Disorder. For those with schizophrenia, drinking is known to worsen aggression, suicidal ideologies, medication nonadherence, and many other negative behaviors. Excessive drinking has been found to stimulate the development of schizophrenia, especially in those genetically prone to the illness already.

This list only includes six foods that have been shown to affect schizophrenia, but there are many others. The list is not meant to deter anyone from eating these foods; it is simply a reference guide for those who are looking to manage their mental health through their food intake. Please talk to a healthcare professional about foods and other factors that may impact your symptoms.