Is Your Food Really Nourishing You?

The Hidden Link Between Soil Health, Nutrient Deficiency, and Mental Health

You eat your veggies, choose whole foods when you can, and try to care for your body and mind. Yet, many people I work with—especially those struggling with anxiety, depression, fatigue, or brain fog—are still missing key nutrients that deeply impact mental health.

It’s not just about what we eat. It’s about where our food comes from.

Soil Health: The Foundation of Our Food and Minds

Modern farming practices, like monocropping, heavy pesticide use, and over-farming, have stripped our soil of minerals and microbial diversity that plants need to become nutrient-rich. Crops are often bred for size and shelf life, not nutritional quality, leading to “hidden hunger,” where calorie intake is sufficient but essential nutrients are lacking.

Studies have found significant declines in magnesium, zinc, iron, and B vitamins in our fruits and vegetables over the past several decades. These nutrients are foundational for neurotransmitter production (serotonin, dopamine, GABA), energy and mitochondrial health, hormone balance, and reducing inflammation in the brain and body.

Why This Matters for Your Mental Health

Your biological need for these nutrients increases if your food is less nutrient-dense and your lifestyle includes stress, medication use, or chronic conditions. Deficiencies in magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins have been linked to anxiety and depression, brain fog and memory issues, sleep challenges, mood swings and irritability, and fatigue and low motivation.

You might be eating healthy and still falling short because the food itself doesn’t contain what your brain and body need to thrive.

The Standard American Diet Compounds the Issue

In addition to soil depletion, the Standard American Diet (SAD) is filled with ultra-processed foods that are low in nutrients but high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and additives that disrupt gut health and increase inflammation, factors deeply tied to mental wellness.

What You Can Do

While systemic change is needed in how we grow and distribute food, there are steps you can take to protect your mental health.

When possible, prioritize nutrient-dense whole foods, including colorful vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, and quality proteins.

Support local and regenerative farming to encourage better soil health.

Be mindful of your individual needs. If you take medications, have chronic stress, or live with mental health conditions, your body may need higher levels of specific nutrients.

Consider evidence-based supplementation to fill in gaps, especially for nutrients like magnesium, zinc, and methylated B vitamins. These can support mood, energy, sleep, and focus when food alone isn’t enough.

Why This Matters in Your Mental Health Journey

At Hilbert’s Whole Health Psychiatry, I believe nutrition and mental health are deeply connected. Addressing nutrient gaps is often a missing piece in stabilizing mood, improving focus, and building resilience, especially in a world where even healthy eating may not be enough due to factors beyond our control.

If you are struggling with mental health symptoms despite your best efforts, consider exploring how targeted nutrition and supplementation can support your healing journey.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you would like personalized support to assess your nutrition and create a plan that supports your mental health, I invite you to contact me to learn how integrative psychiatry can support your journey toward wellness.

Food is meant to nourish, but without nutrient-rich soil, even the best diets may fall short. Awareness and small daily actions can help you reclaim your health, mind, and body, from the ground up.