Publisher's Weekly Review

Eating the right foods can reduce anxiety, according to this valuable guide. Nutritional psychiatrist Naidoo (This Is Your Brain on Food) explains that as gut bacteria metabolize food, they create metabolites that travel through the bloodstream to the brain where they're assembled into neurotransmitters ("chemicals that carry messages between your nerve cells") that regulate mood. Diet affects which neurotransmitters are created in the brain, she notes, observing that foods rich in the amino acid tryptophan, such as poultry and chickpeas, boost the production of the calming serotonin. A detailed overview of the mental health benefits of various foods reveals that kale and spinach "are a great source of polyphenols," which have "shown promise in reducing depression-like symptoms," and that walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help fight "anxiety-causing neuroinflammation." Naidoo strikes the perfect balance between scientific background and practical advice, offering plenty of concrete takeaways ("Two meals a day should be fully plant-based, with meat at only one meal") while recognizing the importance of flexibility (because the gut "microbiome is heavily individualized... what is healthy and balanced in one person might look totally different in another"). It's a rigorous yet accessible look at how readers can eat better to feel better. (Dec.)