Bipolar Diet: Foods to Eat & Foods to Avoid

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFoods to EatFoods to Avoid

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Foods to Eat

Foods to Avoid

Close

Mood episodes can be managed with stabilizingmedicinesandtherapy. In addition, a potential way to help manage mood changes is through a change in diet. Eating the right foods may help those living with bipolar disorder feel better.

This article provides a list of foods to eat and foods to potentially avoid as part of a bipolar diet.

Foods to Eat

Whole grains

Eating whole grains has been shown to increase your body’s serotonin.Serotoninis a neurotransmitter that regulates various activities in the body including mood, behavior and memory. Serotonin has been shown to be important in regulating a healthy sleeping pattern andreducing anxiety.

Some examples of whole grains include:

Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The results of the research that looked at the effectiveness of a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids in the management of bipolar disorder have been mixed. More studies need to be conducted in order to understand whether omega-3s can be used as an adjunctive form of treatment for bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions.

Although the research has been inconsistent, omega-3s have been shown to have several benefits for your body and your brain and may help in the prevention ofAlzheimer’s disease,protection against inflammation, peripheral artery disease, and major coronary events.Therefore, it can still be beneficial to include these in your diet.

Some foods sources of omega-3 fatty acids include:

Foods Rich in Selenium

Selenium is a trace mineral that supports brain health, immune system, fertility and other bodily processes. Those low in selenium have been shown to have a higherrisk of depression, anxiety and decreased cognition.

Some food sources of selenium include:

Foods Rich in Tryptophan

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that helps your body make serotonin, which is important in regulating mood, anxiety, and sleep, among other functions.

Some food sources of tryptophan include:

Foods Rich in Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that is involved in several bodily processes such as muscle and nerve function, blood pressure regulation and blood glucose control. Magnesium has been shown to have som mood-stabilizing properties.

Some food sources of magnesium include:

Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast that are naturally present in fermented foods and may be added to other food products.

Research has shown that incorporating probiotics into a diet can have an anti-inflammatory effect and could potentially benefit our gut-brain axis. One study showed that probiotic supplementation helped prevent rehospitalization in patients recently discharged following hospitalization with mania.

Some food with probiotics include:

Foods to Avoid

Caffeine

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that has many effects on the body. Drinking coffee and tea are common ways people consume caffeine.

Consuming too much caffeine has been associated with increased sleep problems and exacerbation of anxiety disorders. Specifically, caffeine can cause your body to mimic the symptoms of anxiety such as increased heart rate, restlessness, nervousness, digestive issues, and sleep problems.

Therefore, it is best to avoid or limit the consumption of caffeine in a bipolar diet.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant that can negatively affect your mood. Most psychiatric medications state that users should not consume alcohol as it can interfere with their effectiveness.

Alcohol has been shown to be a trigger for depressive episodes. Alcohol use disorder has been shown to have an adverse effect on the course and prognosis of bipolar disorder as it makes it harder to treat and leads to more frequent hospitalizations.

Highly Processed Foods

Highly processed foods are foods that contain few nutrients but are high in calories, sugar, fat and salt. Typically, additives and thickeners are added to enhance the flavour and improve the texture of the food. Some examples include potato chips, ice cream, sugary drinks, candy, french fries, cookies, cakes, muffins and doughnuts.

A diet high in processed carbohydrates may be associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

In addition, eating too many high-fat and high-sugar foods can cause excess caloric intake and weight gain.Being overweight has been shown to decrease the effectiveness of bipolar disorder treatment.

Foods That Contain Tyramine

Tyramine is an amino acid that naturally occurs in the body and is found in some foods. It helps regulates blood pressure.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)are a type of medication that is sometimes used to treat depression in bipolar disorder. MAOIs inhibit monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that cleans out excess tyramine in the body. Therefore, a diet high in tyramine can cause a sudden increase in blood pressure leading to potentially severe health complications. Those on MAOIs should avoid foods that contain tyramine.

Some examples of foods rich in tyramine include:

Grapefruit

Consuming grapefruit can interfere with the body’s ability to break down certain medications. It can cause serious side effects because the medication is metabolized slower and causes an increased level of it in your blood.

It’s important to talk to your doctor about your medications before eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice.

Recap

Incorporating certain foods and reducing the intake of others may be worth considering as part of your overall treatment plan in managing your bipolar disorder.

A change in diet may not cure your mental health condition but may help you feel better and improve your overall well-being.

22 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed.). Washington, DC. 2013.National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder. Updated November 2017.Sathyanarayana Rao T, Asha M, Ramesh B, Jagannatha Rao K.Understanding nutrition, depression and mental illnesses.Indian J Psychiatry. 2008;50(2):77.Bamalan OA, Al Khalili Y.Physiology, serotonin.In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Sarris J, Mischoulon D, Schweitzer I.Omega-3 for bipolar disorder: Meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depression.J Clin Psychiatry. 2012;73(1):81–86. doi:10.4088/JCP.10r06710Swanson D, Block R, Mousa SA.Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA: health benefits throughout life.Adv Nutr. 2012;3(1):1–7. doi:10.3945/an.111.000893National Institutes of Health.Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsSher L.Depression and suicidal behavior in alcohol abusing adolescents: possible role of selenium deficiency.Minerva Pediatr. 2008;60(2):201–209.National Institutes of Health.Selenium Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsJenkins TA, Nguyen JC, Polglaze KE, Bertrand PP.Influence of Tryptophan and Serotonin on Mood and Cognition with a Possible Role of the Gut-Brain Axis.Nutrients. 2016;8(1):56. Published 2016 Jan 20. doi:10.3390/nu8010056Friedman M.Analysis, Nutrition, and Health Benefits of Tryptophan.Int J Tryptophan Res. 2018 Sep 26;11:1178646918802282. doi: 10.1177/1178646918802282. PMID: 30275700; PMCID: PMC6158605Sylvia LG, Peters AT, Deckersbach T, Nierenberg AA.Nutrient-based therapies for bipolar disorder: a systematic review.PPS. 2013;82(1):10–19.National Institutes of Health.Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsNational Institutes of Health.Probiotics Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsDickerson F, Adamos M, Katsafanas E, et al.Adjunctive probiotic microorganisms to prevent rehospitalization in patients with acute mania: A randomized controlled trial.Bipolar Disord. 2018;20(7):614–621.Winston AP, Hardwick E, Jaberi N.Neuropsychiatric effects of caffeine.Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 2005;11(6):432–439.Sonne SC, Brady KT.Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2002;26(2):103–108.Firth J, Gangwisch JE, Borsini A, Wootton RE, Mayer EA.Food and mood: how do diet and nutrition affect mental wellbeing?BMJ. 2020;369:m2382.Eating highly processed foods linked to weight gain.National Institutes of Health (NIH).McElroy SL, Kemp DE, Friedman ES, et al.Obesity, but not metabolic syndrome, negatively affects outcome in bipolar disorder.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2016;133(2):144–153.Sub Laban T, Saadabadi A.Monoamine oxidase inhibitors(Maoi). In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022Bailey DG, Dresser G, Arnold JMO.Grapefruit–medication interactions: Forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences?CMAJ. 2013;185(4):309–316. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120951

22 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed.). Washington, DC. 2013.National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder. Updated November 2017.Sathyanarayana Rao T, Asha M, Ramesh B, Jagannatha Rao K.Understanding nutrition, depression and mental illnesses.Indian J Psychiatry. 2008;50(2):77.Bamalan OA, Al Khalili Y.Physiology, serotonin.In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Sarris J, Mischoulon D, Schweitzer I.Omega-3 for bipolar disorder: Meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depression.J Clin Psychiatry. 2012;73(1):81–86. doi:10.4088/JCP.10r06710Swanson D, Block R, Mousa SA.Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA: health benefits throughout life.Adv Nutr. 2012;3(1):1–7. doi:10.3945/an.111.000893National Institutes of Health.Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsSher L.Depression and suicidal behavior in alcohol abusing adolescents: possible role of selenium deficiency.Minerva Pediatr. 2008;60(2):201–209.National Institutes of Health.Selenium Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsJenkins TA, Nguyen JC, Polglaze KE, Bertrand PP.Influence of Tryptophan and Serotonin on Mood and Cognition with a Possible Role of the Gut-Brain Axis.Nutrients. 2016;8(1):56. Published 2016 Jan 20. doi:10.3390/nu8010056Friedman M.Analysis, Nutrition, and Health Benefits of Tryptophan.Int J Tryptophan Res. 2018 Sep 26;11:1178646918802282. doi: 10.1177/1178646918802282. PMID: 30275700; PMCID: PMC6158605Sylvia LG, Peters AT, Deckersbach T, Nierenberg AA.Nutrient-based therapies for bipolar disorder: a systematic review.PPS. 2013;82(1):10–19.National Institutes of Health.Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsNational Institutes of Health.Probiotics Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsDickerson F, Adamos M, Katsafanas E, et al.Adjunctive probiotic microorganisms to prevent rehospitalization in patients with acute mania: A randomized controlled trial.Bipolar Disord. 2018;20(7):614–621.Winston AP, Hardwick E, Jaberi N.Neuropsychiatric effects of caffeine.Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 2005;11(6):432–439.Sonne SC, Brady KT.Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2002;26(2):103–108.Firth J, Gangwisch JE, Borsini A, Wootton RE, Mayer EA.Food and mood: how do diet and nutrition affect mental wellbeing?BMJ. 2020;369:m2382.Eating highly processed foods linked to weight gain.National Institutes of Health (NIH).McElroy SL, Kemp DE, Friedman ES, et al.Obesity, but not metabolic syndrome, negatively affects outcome in bipolar disorder.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2016;133(2):144–153.Sub Laban T, Saadabadi A.Monoamine oxidase inhibitors(Maoi). In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022Bailey DG, Dresser G, Arnold JMO.Grapefruit–medication interactions: Forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences?CMAJ. 2013;185(4):309–316. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120951

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed.). Washington, DC. 2013.National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder. Updated November 2017.Sathyanarayana Rao T, Asha M, Ramesh B, Jagannatha Rao K.Understanding nutrition, depression and mental illnesses.Indian J Psychiatry. 2008;50(2):77.Bamalan OA, Al Khalili Y.Physiology, serotonin.In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Sarris J, Mischoulon D, Schweitzer I.Omega-3 for bipolar disorder: Meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depression.J Clin Psychiatry. 2012;73(1):81–86. doi:10.4088/JCP.10r06710Swanson D, Block R, Mousa SA.Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA: health benefits throughout life.Adv Nutr. 2012;3(1):1–7. doi:10.3945/an.111.000893National Institutes of Health.Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsSher L.Depression and suicidal behavior in alcohol abusing adolescents: possible role of selenium deficiency.Minerva Pediatr. 2008;60(2):201–209.National Institutes of Health.Selenium Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsJenkins TA, Nguyen JC, Polglaze KE, Bertrand PP.Influence of Tryptophan and Serotonin on Mood and Cognition with a Possible Role of the Gut-Brain Axis.Nutrients. 2016;8(1):56. Published 2016 Jan 20. doi:10.3390/nu8010056Friedman M.Analysis, Nutrition, and Health Benefits of Tryptophan.Int J Tryptophan Res. 2018 Sep 26;11:1178646918802282. doi: 10.1177/1178646918802282. PMID: 30275700; PMCID: PMC6158605Sylvia LG, Peters AT, Deckersbach T, Nierenberg AA.Nutrient-based therapies for bipolar disorder: a systematic review.PPS. 2013;82(1):10–19.National Institutes of Health.Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsNational Institutes of Health.Probiotics Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsDickerson F, Adamos M, Katsafanas E, et al.Adjunctive probiotic microorganisms to prevent rehospitalization in patients with acute mania: A randomized controlled trial.Bipolar Disord. 2018;20(7):614–621.Winston AP, Hardwick E, Jaberi N.Neuropsychiatric effects of caffeine.Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 2005;11(6):432–439.Sonne SC, Brady KT.Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2002;26(2):103–108.Firth J, Gangwisch JE, Borsini A, Wootton RE, Mayer EA.Food and mood: how do diet and nutrition affect mental wellbeing?BMJ. 2020;369:m2382.Eating highly processed foods linked to weight gain.National Institutes of Health (NIH).McElroy SL, Kemp DE, Friedman ES, et al.Obesity, but not metabolic syndrome, negatively affects outcome in bipolar disorder.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2016;133(2):144–153.Sub Laban T, Saadabadi A.Monoamine oxidase inhibitors(Maoi). In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022Bailey DG, Dresser G, Arnold JMO.Grapefruit–medication interactions: Forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences?CMAJ. 2013;185(4):309–316. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120951

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed.). Washington, DC. 2013.

National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder. Updated November 2017.

Sathyanarayana Rao T, Asha M, Ramesh B, Jagannatha Rao K.Understanding nutrition, depression and mental illnesses.Indian J Psychiatry. 2008;50(2):77.

Bamalan OA, Al Khalili Y.Physiology, serotonin.In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.

Sarris J, Mischoulon D, Schweitzer I.Omega-3 for bipolar disorder: Meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depression.J Clin Psychiatry. 2012;73(1):81–86. doi:10.4088/JCP.10r06710

Swanson D, Block R, Mousa SA.Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA: health benefits throughout life.Adv Nutr. 2012;3(1):1–7. doi:10.3945/an.111.000893

National Institutes of Health.Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

Sher L.Depression and suicidal behavior in alcohol abusing adolescents: possible role of selenium deficiency.Minerva Pediatr. 2008;60(2):201–209.

National Institutes of Health.Selenium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

Jenkins TA, Nguyen JC, Polglaze KE, Bertrand PP.Influence of Tryptophan and Serotonin on Mood and Cognition with a Possible Role of the Gut-Brain Axis.Nutrients. 2016;8(1):56. Published 2016 Jan 20. doi:10.3390/nu8010056

Friedman M.Analysis, Nutrition, and Health Benefits of Tryptophan.Int J Tryptophan Res. 2018 Sep 26;11:1178646918802282. doi: 10.1177/1178646918802282. PMID: 30275700; PMCID: PMC6158605

Sylvia LG, Peters AT, Deckersbach T, Nierenberg AA.Nutrient-based therapies for bipolar disorder: a systematic review.PPS. 2013;82(1):10–19.

National Institutes of Health.Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

National Institutes of Health.Probiotics Fact Sheet for Health Professionals

Dickerson F, Adamos M, Katsafanas E, et al.Adjunctive probiotic microorganisms to prevent rehospitalization in patients with acute mania: A randomized controlled trial.Bipolar Disord. 2018;20(7):614–621.

Winston AP, Hardwick E, Jaberi N.Neuropsychiatric effects of caffeine.Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 2005;11(6):432–439.

Sonne SC, Brady KT.Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2002;26(2):103–108.

Firth J, Gangwisch JE, Borsini A, Wootton RE, Mayer EA.Food and mood: how do diet and nutrition affect mental wellbeing?BMJ. 2020;369:m2382.

Eating highly processed foods linked to weight gain.National Institutes of Health (NIH).

McElroy SL, Kemp DE, Friedman ES, et al.Obesity, but not metabolic syndrome, negatively affects outcome in bipolar disorder.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2016;133(2):144–153.

Sub Laban T, Saadabadi A.Monoamine oxidase inhibitors(Maoi). In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022

Bailey DG, Dresser G, Arnold JMO.Grapefruit–medication interactions: Forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences?CMAJ. 2013;185(4):309–316. doi:10.1503/cmaj.120951

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?