Psychosomatic: The Mind-Body Connection

Welcome to the MHD Newsletter

Your weekly dose of nutrition, mental health, and all things recovery.

This week’s focus is on something called the “psychosomatic” relationship, which is just a fancy word for how mental and emotional factors can affect our physical health. If you’ve ever felt stress manifest as a stomach ache or muscle tension, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about!

Journal Prompts

Do I feel connected to my body?

Take a moment to reflect. Is there a part of you that feels neglected or disconnected? Would you describe yourself as feeling numb? Or do you consider yourself to be Embodied?

When was the last time I listened to my body without judgement?

We often hear what our bodies are saying but quickly ignore or judge it or tell ourselves we interpreted it wrong. Write about the last time you truly listened—whether it was a craving, a need for rest, or an emotion. What did you hear, and how did you respond?

How do my thoughts about food impact how I feel physically?

Think about your beliefs and emotions around food. Do they make you feel anxious, calm, energised, or sluggish? Dive into the connection between your relationship with food and your physical reactions.

Nutrition in the News

This month, an interesting study was published that really highlights the psychosomatic connection in nutrition—research on the “nocebo” effect with gluten. You can check it out here.

So, what’s a nocebo? It’s the opposite of a placebo: instead of feeling better due to a harmless substance, a nocebo makes you feel worse because you expect it to.

In this study, people who believed they had gluten sensitivity experienced symptoms, even when no gluten was present. This is a perfect example of the psychosomatic effect—the powerful role that our minds, thoughts, and emotions can play in shaping our physical health.

It’s a reminder that our beliefs about food can deeply influence how we feel physically.

So, next time you notice discomfort after eating, it might be worth considering: is this my body talking, or could it also be my mind? Am I actually reacting to this food or is my body in a heightened state of anxiety?

October’s book club

This month’s recommendation is a bit different: Holy Feast and Holy Fast: The Religious Significance of Food to Medieval Women.

I stumbled across this older, history-based book during a discussion with a client last week, and it really got me thinking about how food, culture, and beliefs are so deeply intertwined. Even though it’s a little different from previous book club books, it offers an insightful look at how food has historically been tied to identity and spirituality. I also look forward to finding parallels between the way we see food and women’s bodies today.

*Trigger warning- this goes without saying but if the theme of starvation and anorexia nervosa could be triggering to you, then please proceed with caution.

A Little Update:

Can you believe the MHD Newsletter has been running for four months?

In that time, we’ve tackled some pretty big topics, from ultra-processed foods and supplements to AI in eating disorder treatment and even the role of psychedelics. Here’s a quick recap of some of the things we’ve covered:

• Ultra-Processed Foods

• Supplements

• Adventure Therapy

• Faecal Transplants in Anorexia Nervosa

• AI in Eating Disorder Treatment

• Perfectionism

• Health Tracking

• Psychedelics in Eating Disorder Treatment

And more…

For now, we’re taking a short break to consider how to make future editions even more engaging and helpful. Your feedback and ideas are always welcome—please do share what’s on your mind!

Look after yourself <3

Sophie and the team at Mental Health Dietitians.

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