What is Culinary Psychiatry?

This is an emerging field being pioneered by Dr Uma who teaches clinicians, coaches and mental health advocates to learn how to use cooking skills, heathy whole foods and spices to feel emotionally better. She has redefined the way we understand the connection between mood and food. With a unique blend of medical expertise, culinary skills, and nutritional neuroscience, Dr. Uma is widely recognized as the pioneer of Culinary Psychiatry.

Through her groundbreaking work and bestselling book This Is Your Brain on Food, Dr. Uma has helped thousands of people recognize that the kitchen can be a powerful tool in their mental health toolkit. She combines the rigor of science with the joy of cooking, making evidence-based recommendations not only accessible but also enjoyable. For Dr. Uma, food isn’t just fuel—it’s a key part of the care plan for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and even Alzheimer’s prevention.

Culinary Psychiatry is not just a concept—it’s a movement, and Dr. Uma is at its helm. As the field’s leading voice, she continues to educate clinicians and the public alike through her teaching at Harvard, her clinical work, clinical research, and her speaking engagements around the world. Her message is clear: food has the power to heal, and the future of psychiatry must include the plate as much as the prescription pad.

Whether you're navigating a specific mental health condition or simply striving for better focus and emotional balance, Dr. Uma’s approach to Culinary Psychiatry empowers individuals to take control of their brain health—one bite at a time. With warmth, credibility, and a deep passion for helping others, she invites us all to rethink what it means to feed both body and mind.