The Intersection of Diet and Psychotherapy with Yulia Brockdorf, RD, LD, CDCES, CST, NCC, LPC, BC-ADM (Ep 19)

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
Psychotherapy, Diet, and Trauma w. Yulia Brockdorf, RD, LD, CDCES, CST, NCC, LPC, BC-ADM

The Intersection of Diet and Psychotherapy with Yulia Brockdorf, RD, LD, CDCES, CST, NCC, LPC, BC-ADM (Ep 19)

In this episode, I’m talking to Yulia Brockdorf all about the intersection of diet and the brain.

We had a great conversation all about how different foods affect cognition and how there’s no one-size-fits-all diet.

The food you eat is information and heavily influences how your brain works.

Yulia’s practice focuses on using foods and different cognitive-based therapies to help patients with mental health issues.

About Yulia Brockdorf

Yulia Brockdorf, RD, LD, CDCES, CST, NCC, LPC, BC-ADM is a dietitian and licensed professional counselor. She is board certified in advanced diabetes management, diabetes education, sex therapy, and EMDR (an evidence-based trauma treatment intervention). She serves on several boards and in her practice she strives to integrate the fields of clinical mental health counseling and psychotherapy and dietetics.

Topics Discussed

  • Nutrition + Psychotherapy
  • People w. Trauma can benefit from nutrition modification
  • Tryptophan – 5-HTP pathway
  • Most serotonin is in the gut
  • Serotonin syndrome symptoms can require medical attention
  • Gut issues can sabotage serotonin and neurotransmitter metabolism
  • Serotonin taken exogenously cant cross blood-brain barrier so you need your body to make it
  • GABA should not cross Blood Brain Barrier and if it does it can be a sign of a problem
  • GABA-like sources: L-Theanine, skullcap, milky oat, Passionflower, hops
  • Psychobiome research can help work with gut bacteria’s production of neurotransmitters
  • Certain diets can affect gut bacteria
  • Fermented foods are a great source of probiotics
  • Prebiotics: Jicama, resistant starch
  • Individualized diets are better than trendy diets.
  • Good quality fats are needed for optimal brain health
  • Genetic variance makes a difference in how your body metabolizes food
  • Turmeric and its effects on memory and cognitive decline.  Saffron helps long term memory.
  • Pickled turmeric is a great source of turmeric
  • Lion’s Mane can ameliorate mental deficiencies from a bad diet
  • Diabetes and mental health: Long term use of Metformin affects B12
  • Diabetes increases depression and increases inflammatory markers
  • Rule of 15: For less than 70 Blood Sugar Only need 15g (tbsp sugar, fruit juice, glucose tablet etc) of carbohydrates.. 15 minutes later BS should jump 30-40 points, then follow up  of.. don’t need to consume a snack bar or sandwich bc these foods slow down the absorption of glucose and person will want to consume more bc they don’t get the benefit of glucose
  • Carbs and sugar in the morning is the worst time to eat carbs
  • Mood disorders can come from food sensitivity like gluten.
    • Also from medication reaction
  • Cortisol drops with Bacopa Monnieri 
  • Lion’s Mane is good for blood sugar.. BDNF is beneficial for blood sugar
  • Trauma: Body Keeps Score- looks at the impact of trauma on the body
    • Trauma impacts methylation, and epigenetic markers
    • Issues like forgetfulness can be a symptom of trauma
    • Trauma affects how we present to the world and respond to issues
  • EMDR: eye movement desensitization
    • Allows body to bring memories stored in the hippocampus back to life and find peace with them
  • Biofeedback
  • Neurofeedback

Yulia Contacts

PsychologyToday.com Profile

https://yuliabrockdorf.com/

Studies Discussed

Mediterranean diet improves cognition: the PREDIMED-NAVARRA randomized trial.Retraction

Effect of the NU-AGE Diet on Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of acute wild blueberry supplementation on the cognition of 7-10-year-old schoolchildren

Influence of the Mediterranean and Ketogenic Diets on Cognitive Status and Decline: A Narrative Review

Music Makes the World Go Round: The Impact of Musical Training on Non-musical Cognitive Functions—A Review

Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory

Hericium erinaceus Improves Mood and Sleep Disorders in Patients Affected by Overweight or Obesity: Could Circulating Pro-BDNF and BDNF Be Potential Biomarkers?

Photo of author

Author

Erik Abramowitz is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP), Naturopathic Doctoral student, health coach, and father. He is the primary content creator for HolisticNootropics.com and the host of the Holistic Nootropics Podcast.

Leave a Comment