INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Moodfood.net is a holistic approach to nutrition that seeks to balance brain biochemistry through diet and lifestyle choices.
Your body has been hardwired to heal itself. However, sometimes there are road blocks to healing that need to be addressed so your body can continue being awesome. Moodfood.net collaborates with you on finding and removing the road blocks that are getting in the way of your mental health. Together we can repair your brain and restore your mental well being.
“When the diet is wrong medicine is of no use, when the diet is correct medicine is of no need.”
—Ancient Ayurvedic proverb
The MoodFood Strategy is a bio-individual mental health tune-up that involves 5 basic components.
1: A healthy food plan designed to benefit your brain and digestive system.
2: Basic supplements to provide a balanced brain chemistry and gut microbiome.
3: Lifestyle enhancements including exercise, meditation, breath work, journaling, sleep and mental exercises to balance your nervous system and promote neuroplasticity (the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization.).
4: Nontoxic living by reducing your exposure to environmental toxins, off-gassing from plastics, molds and toxins found in food, body care products, cleaning supplies and your teeth.
5: Sound modulation of brain wave patterns to balance the nervous system, synchronize the hemispheres of the brain and stimulate neural activity.
Matt Volla
I am a certified Integrative Nutritionist, internationally certified Health Coach, artist, yogi and surfer. I studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City and strongly believe the adage that “food is medicine.” As a younger person I received a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Masters degree in Electronic Music from Mills College in Oakland, CA. Using my own experiences of self-discovery and healing through exercise, the arts, music/sound and decades of integrative health and yogic practices I now provide therapies to help people suffering from mood disorders, PTSD and addiction recovery. I currently live and work in San Francisco, CA.
Nutrition has played a vital role in my own journey to mental health. Along the way chemical imbalances in my brain created periods of time where I experienced both depression and anxiety. Searching for healing in all of the traditional ways through psychotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic and the like did not fully alleviate my pain.
I clearly remember the day my therapist said, “I can’t do anything for you. You must go on medication.” I had heard something similar from other therapists, but deep down I knew that I could solve this emotional riddle naturally– and I decided to make it my life’s purpose.
Various practices helped relieve some of my symptoms however nothing truly balanced my brain chemistry until I focused deeply on nutrition. By changing my diet, adding key vitamin and amino acid supplements while maintaining regular exercise and meditation routines I have found a holistic solution to my mental health! This process of self-discovery inspired a strong desire in me to help others who also suffer from biochemical disturbances and has become the basis for assisting others in healing a range of physiological and mental conditions.
“Using MoodFood's binaural beats/sound therapy I am able to relax my sympathetic nervous system, reduce anxiety and experience a healing state of flow. This simple practice is a nice addition to my routine now; it's something I look forward to each day! Other consultations from MoodFood have also enhanced my eating and exercise practices in simple and smart ways that I hadn't considered before. Self-care is the best! Thanks so much, Matt.”
—Doug Fogelson, artist and entrepreneur