Schizophrenia is a serious mental condition that can cause paranoia, hallucinations, and emotional issues among others. Although you need to get a treatment to cure this health problem, your food habits can influence your symptoms. Schizophrenia is found to affect a person’s eating habits, often getting them to unhealthy foods. So, let us read through some food habits that can help schizophrenia patients.

Foods to eat
A few food items that can help your symptoms of schizophrenia are as follows:

1. Probiotics
Research suggests that bad gut bacteria can have a negative influence on a patient suffering from schizophrenia. To help with this, you can include probiotic foods like yogurt in your diet. However, you must try to avoid dairy and whey products, which consist of casein antibiotics.

2. Fruits
According to studies, foods eaten by schizophrenia patients lack fiber. Fiber is important in reducing bad cholesterol and improving digestion. Heart diseases, obesity, and diabetes are often linked to schizophrenia. Hence, including different-colored fruits in your diet can help tackle these health problems.

3. Flaxseeds
Another important nutrient included in diets that can help schizophrenia is omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that these fatty acids prevent and reduce its symptoms. Flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. So, introducing it among your daily foods can provide your body with the needed nutrients.

4. Vegetables
Vegetables are rich in vitamins and fiber but contain less fat and carbohydrates. This way, vegetables help keep your body healthy and lower the chances of cholesterol and heart diseases. As schizophrenia is associated with these health conditions, preventing them can improve your mental health. So including vegetables like kidney beans, lima beans, and sweet potatoes in your diet is advisable.

5. Spinach
Folate is an important nutrient known for its ability to lessen the symptoms of schizophrenia. Spinach is a rich source of folate, along with black-eyed peas and asparagus.

Foods to avoid
While it is essential to include healthy foods in your diet to ease the symptoms of schizophrenia, you must also reduce or avoid certain foods that can aggravate the condition. Some of these include the following.

1. Gluten
This is a major protein component found in some grains, especially wheat. Certain patients suffering from schizophrenia are sensitive to it. Studies also show that patients show improvement when they are on a gluten-free diet. So try to avoid gluten as much as possible, after confirming this diet change with your doctor.

2. Refined sugars
Schizophrenia affects people by following an unhealthy diet rich in fats, calories, and sugar. A diet that avoids refined sugar found in foods like candy, sweetened drinks, and cake is less likely to cause diabetes, which is associated with schizophrenia.

3. Stimulants
Stimulants like caffeine distress the blood sugar balance in your body. Furthermore, stimulant drugs like amphetamines, nicotine, and cocaine can induce schizophrenia. So, it is strongly advised to avoid these if you suffer from this mental condition.