There is an old saying that claims food to be medicine for the body. This holds true for those who have been diagnosed with mental disorders like schizophrenia. Food plays a significant role in maintaining one’s physical and mental health. While many foods promote good health, some end up triggering or worsening the symptoms.

Below is a list of top foods that one needs to avoid for schizophrenia.

1. Wheat
There are a lot of diets that claim the positive effects of gluten-free foods like wheat. However, some have an intolerance to wheat, which is a result of celiac disease. Exposing oneself to food that can cause an imbalance in one’s mental health can be detrimental when suffering from schizophrenia. It is best to avoid wheat to ensure that one does not face any triggers.

2. Carbs
Most often, when one is trying to pick a gluten-free grain and avoid wheat, they must choose carbs wisely. Get professional help to determine which kind of carbs can help manage the symptoms of schizophrenia and not end up triggering it. When one tries to avoid carbs completely, the body may undergo certain changes as a result of the sudden switch. Get all the help when one decides to make this shift.

3. Deserts
One of the most important things to cut out of one’s diet is sugar. This has been known to cause major mood imbalances and worsen complications. In reality, one does not need sugars, especially artificial sweeteners. One can sweeten their drinks with other natural forms of sweeteners that do not cause an imbalance when suffering from schizophrenia.

4. Artificial sweeteners
Stay away from artificial sweeteners. Most often, people tend to fail to read the labels. There are a lot of foods that contain artificial sweeteners in many forms, and they are highly detrimental for those diagnosed with schizophrenia, as they can end up triggering the symptoms. In reality, artificial sweeteners do not contain any form of nutritional value. Rather, they only become addictive to one’s palette. As a result, one starts to crave these types of unhealthy foods. It is essential to moderate the intake of sweeteners in one’s diet.

5. Cheese
Very often, dairy ends up causing inflammation, and this can have other pervasive effects on the body. Many people do not have a high tolerance for dairy, and this can be all the more problem-causing for those who are diagnosed with schizophrenia.

There are other types of foods, such as processed foods and trendy health foods, which one should adapt to only with caution because the triggers may be different for different people. The best way to know what to eat and what to keep off the plate is to start a journal and keep track of how each food impacts a person. This way, one can make informed choices and eliminate the foods that are worsening their health.