Diet plays a crucial role in the treatment process of various illnesses, including paranoid delusions. Therefore, individuals with delusional disorders need to have a clear understanding of what to eat and what to avoid to improve their overall health.
Paranoid Personality Disorder, commonly known as paranoid delusions, is a prevalent mental disorder. Those affected by this condition often have distorted and inappropriate thoughts and beliefs that do not align with reality. These distortions are severe and cannot be explained or persuaded otherwise, regardless of evidence or reasoning.
The treatment for paranoid delusions requires the involvement of psychiatric specialists. Depending on the specific type and severity of delusions, the treatment methods may vary, and the duration can differ from case to case. However, alongside the application of appropriate therapeutic measures by experts, establishing a healthy diet regimen also plays a crucial and necessary role.
What should individuals with paranoid delusions eat to improve their condition?
Understanding what to eat and what to avoid is a common concern among individuals with paranoid delusions. The process of managing delusional symptoms often requires an extended period, combined with multiple approaches to achieve the best results.
Moreover, due to the distorted and inappropriate thinking patterns associated with paranoid delusions, most individuals with this condition experience additional symptoms such as sleep disturbances and changes in eating habits. As a result, during the treatment of delusions, patients need to pay particular attention to their daily nutritional intake, ensuring they consume a well-balanced diet and choose foods that are suitable for their current health condition.
Here are some beneficial foods for individuals with paranoid delusions, which can help them quickly improve their psychological state and control negative thoughts:
Fish Oil
Fish oil is a widely trusted food and considered an essential component for supporting human health. Research shows that fish oil contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids (DHA, EPA, ALA), which are crucial components in the formation of cell membranes in the human body and are also considered foundational in hormone production.
Pumpkin is a food rich in omega-3 fatty acids that individuals with delusions should regularly incorporate into their diet.
Numerous scientific studies have provided evidence of the benefits of omega-3 in fish oil for cardiovascular health, memory, and brain function. Additionally, daily supplementation of fish oil helps minimize the risk of developing psychiatric disorders and paranoid delusions.
Scientists have concluded that regular supplementation of fish oil has similar effects to using anti-anxiety medication but with fewer side effects and greater safety. Moreover, individuals with paranoid delusions can also obtain omega-3 fatty acids through foods like flaxseeds, fatty fish, and pumpkin seeds to facilitate rapid improvement in their condition.
Seaweed
Seaweed is a flowering plant that commonly thrives in moist areas such as canals, sandy beaches, and marshes. It is not only a popular food choice but also an effective remedy for reducing joint inflammation, improving digestive issues, and enhancing both physical and mental well-being. Additionally, this herbal remedy has positive effects on cognitive function in the elderly and helps reduce the risk of stroke.
Researchers have found that seaweed contains saponin compounds, specifically bacosides A and B. These compounds promote brain circulation, enhance nerve conduction, improve cognitive function, increase focus and alertness, and provide neuroprotective antioxidant effects.
Chocolate
Chocolate is a food that offers many benefits for individuals with paranoid delusions. In these cases, consuming chocolate helps eliminate free radicals and improve endothelial function and platelet function due to its flavanol content. It is advisable for patients to choose darker varieties of chocolate and prioritize options with higher levels of cocoa solids if possible. Opting for pure chocolate is preferable.
Eating a lot of pure chocolate can help improve mood, alleviate fatigue, and reduce stress.
Using chocolate regularly can help reduce the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease by 39% in adults, especially the elderly. Additionally, a group of polyphenols derived from plants has a positive impact on mood. Therefore, when consuming chocolate, you will feel refreshed, relaxed, and experience a reduction in negative and distorted thoughts.
Shellfish – Good food for people with delusions
Nutrition experts state that most shellfish species are rich in vitamin B12 and potassium. For instance, foods like clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops contain up to 84mcg% of vitamin B12. With their high nutritional content, these food groups are beneficial in improving fatigue, boredom, and lethargy caused by delusional disorders.
In addition to the aforementioned shellfish, crabs are also an excellent choice for individuals with delusions. They contain a high amount of vitamin B12 and calcium, so consuming crabs regularly not only helps improve delusional conditions but also aids in preventing osteoporosis and supports brain function.
High-fiber rice
Experts recommend that individuals with delusions who are undergoing treatment prioritize consuming high-fiber rice, such as brown rice or rice with bran. These types of rice are effective in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood and minimizing cardiovascular health issues.
Rice varieties with high bran content bring many health benefits, especially for individuals with delusions.
The heart is an essential organ for humans as it helps circulate blood to all parts of the body and provides an adequate supply of oxygen to the cells. Additionally, the heart plays a vital role in supporting the functioning of the nervous system, aiding in the maintenance and enhancement of brain function. Therefore, maintaining a diet rich in rice bran can help patients increase concentration and reduce memory decline.
Lychee fruit
Lychee fruit is also one of the foods that should be prioritized for individuals experiencing delusions. This fruit contains natural antioxidants that can enhance the immune system, helping to combat schizophrenia and delusional disorders. The antioxidants found in lychee fruit have a relaxing effect, reducing stress, fatigue, and stabilizing the nervous system.
Green vegetables and fruits
Green vegetables and fruits are always recommended as a supplementary food group for people of all ages, including those with stable health conditions who need to maintain a diet high in green vegetables. Most green vegetables and fruits contain essential vitamins for the body, including a significant amount of vitamin B12.
To effectively improve delusional symptoms, patients should increase their intake of green vegetables.
Nutrition experts say that green vegetables and fruits contain up to 17% of beneficial vitamins. Therefore, you need to increase the daily intake of these foods to boost your immune system, improve mental health, and alleviate discomfort caused by delusional symptoms.
Basil
Basil, also known as sweet basil, Thai basil, lemon basil, or holy basil, is not only a familiar herb but also an effective medicinal plant. Basil contains 0.02-0.06% essential oil with a pleasant aroma similar to lemon grass.
Moreover, this food contains flavonoids, including vicenin and orientin, which protect cells and chromosomes from environmental damage. Additionally, beta-carotene in basil helps prevent joint inflammation and cancer-causing cell mutations. The nutrients such as iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber in basil are highly beneficial for overall health.
According to a study conducted in India, proper consumption of basil helps maintain a healthy cortisol hormone level, which is known to cause stress in the body. Therefore, experts recommend that individuals with delusions include basil in their diet to effectively manage stress and tension caused by delusional episodes.
What foods should delusional patients avoid?
In addition to the recommended foods, individuals with delusions should also be mindful of eliminating or reducing the consumption of the following foods to prevent the exacerbation of their condition.
Sugar
According to a study conducted in 2004, it was found that individuals with psychotic disorders who consume excessive amounts of refined sugar beyond the recommended limits are more likely to experience a slower treatment and recovery process compared to normal cases. Scientists also assert that a high-sugar diet negatively impacts the progress of the disease improvement for at least two years.
It is necessary to restrict it in the diet to prevent the exacerbation of psychotic symptoms.
This is explained specifically by the fact that refined sugar is a simple carbohydrate that can inhibit certain hormones involved in maintaining the health of nerve neurons, particularly the branching fibers. These fibers serve as the means to connect neurons together, allowing them to communicate through neurotransmitters. Therefore, the activity of these fibers plays a crucial role in transmitting nervous signals throughout the body.
Additionally, maintaining high levels of sugar in the body increases the risk of developing chronic brain inflammation. Controlling and reducing sugar intake helps effectively alleviate depressive symptoms, reinforce positive energy, maintain focus and alertness, and promote a sense of happiness and comfort. Moreover, limiting sugar in the daily diet is also a way to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes.
Fermented Foods
Although fermented foods contain beneficial bacteria, they are only recommended in small daily doses. Nutrition experts state that naturally fermented foods like sauerkraut and homemade pickles contain beneficial probiotics along with ample amounts of vitamin C. However, most of these foods have a rather salty taste, so they should not be consumed too frequently or in excessive amounts.
Particularly for commercially processed and canned fermented foods, they should be avoided. These foods often contain preservatives and have lost many essential nutrients. If you want to consume fermented foods, it’s best to prepare them at home to ensure hygiene and retain the necessary nutrients.
Gluten
In 1953, Dr. Lauretta Bender first proposed a hypothesis in the United States regarding gluten in the daily diet as a potential cause of psychotic disorders. Subsequently, American psychiatrist F.C. Dohan further developed this theory.
Gluten present in the diet has the potential to be a contributing factor to psychotic disorders and delusions
Dohan shared that the genetic characteristic causing gluten intolerance (celiac disease) is also the underlying cause of symptoms in psychotic disorders, and each pathology plays a role in the development of the other. This hypothesis has been further supported by in-depth studies conducted in the UK and the US.
Gluten, a type of protein found abundantly in wheat, barley, and rye, has the ability to give food its structure, acting as a great adhesive that holds the ingredients together.
Dairy Products
Some hypotheses suggest that restricting the consumption of dairy products can help reduce mild fever symptoms, blood congestion, mental confusion, etc. However, recent evidence also suggests that dairy products made with beneficial microorganisms and unprocessed, natural milk are less likely to cause symptoms in the body. Moreover, these products, to some extent, have already undergone partial digestion, which aids the body.
Stimulants
Stimulants and addictive substances such as coffee, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, energy drinks, and drugs should be avoided by individuals with delusional disorders. These substances not only harm health but also increase the symptoms of delusions, impairing emotional control, behavior, and self-awareness. If necessary, one should only consume mild stimulants such as green tea but should not do so excessively.
The information provided in this article has helped answer the question “What should delusional patients eat and avoid for good improvement?” In addition to building a healthy diet, patients should also combine it with rest, exercise, and engage in positive activities to contribute to better treatment outcomes.
For patients with delusional personality disorders, uncontrolled thoughts can lead to a constant state of anxiety, tension, and fear. However, when there are initial signs of suspicion and the patient’s reality awareness is not yet lost, the support of psychotherapists can bring about positive results and aid in the treatment of delusional disorders.
For individuals with delusional disorders, psychotherapy can reduce obsessive thoughts and alleviate their anxiety. Naturally, given the nature of this condition, the therapist needs to have a realistic understanding and collaborate with mental health experts to achieve progress.
