Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that alters a person’s perception of reality. The person may experience hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and extremely disordered thinking. Such an altered perception of surroundings may hinder the affected person’s daily activities and prevent them from leading a normal life. Thankfully, nutrition can play a major role in managing schizophrenia-related symptoms in people. Some foods that must be avoided or completely eliminated from meals are described as follows:

1. Refined sugars
People suffering from schizophrenia are advised to reduce their sugar intake to keep their blood sugar levels normal. This is because the medication prescribed for schizophrenia hinders the body’s ability to control blood sugar levels and results in high blood sugar. These medicines could be fatal if the patient is not managing their sugar intake.

2. Wheat
Wheat or any other foods ingredients that contain a large amount of gluten and simple carbohydrates must be avoided by people suffering from mental disorders like schizophrenia. These nutrients can often lead to inflammation and may worsen the symptoms in patients. Moreover, sometimes, if you are consuming gluten, even if you are intolerant, it can aggravate a person’s mental health.

3. Alcohol
People who have schizophrenia are known to be at risk of being irresponsible about their alcohol consumption. Such patients are largely drawn to stimulants like alcohol and cigarettes, which can ultimately worsen their condition. Thus, it is recommended to limit or eliminate alcohol from their routine while symptoms are manageable to avoid any further problems.

4. Coffee
Another stimulant that can be easily overused and misused by people suffering from schizophrenia is coffee and nicotine. Beverages that contain stimulating substances should be consumed in moderation since they can sometimes worsen the symptoms associated with schizophrenia. These beverages may include tea, coffee, or energy drinks, like Red Bull.

5. Cheese
If someone is lactose intolerant, consuming dairy products like cheese or yogurt may also cause inflammation in the body. People suffering from schizophrenia should avoid any inflammatory foods, in general, to avoid and prevent the symptoms from worsening. Thus, it is recommended to avoid dairy products, especially if lactose intolerant.

6. Saturated fats
Processed foods contain a large number of saturated fats, refined sugars, and salt. They also have added preservatives and artificial flavors that can be quite harmful to the body and result in water retention and inflammation. Instead, try to opt for home-cooked meals or organically sourced foods that do not contain as many salts and preservatives.

7. Artificial sweeteners
While avoiding refined sugars when suffering from schizophrenia is recommended, it is also not recommended to replace them with some artificial sweeteners. These foods do not contain any nutritional value and may cause an increase in the consumption of sugar over time. It has also been observed that artificial sweeteners could lead to depression in people suffering from certain mental disorders.