Lifestyle Track Will Nourish Your Mind and Body

The importance of lifestyle psychiatry has been APA’s theme during the presidency of Ramaswamy Viswanathan, M.D., Dr.Med.Sc.—and it all comes to a head this week in Los Angeles, where Annual Meeting attendees can choose from dozens of sessions related to the six pillars of healthy living: good nutrition, restorative sleep, physical activity, connectedness, stress management, and avoidance of toxic exposures.

“Whatever aspect of lifestyle intrigues you most, you will not be disappointed,” said Gia Merlo, M.D, M.B.A, M.Ed., a clinical professor of psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and chair of the Annual Meeting’s Lifestyle Psychiatry Track.

What’s more, attendees have a chance to practice what is being preached, as this year’s EduTours includes three hands-on culinary workshops focused on healthy eating:

• Naturally Sweet: Guilt-Free Desserts for Brain Health
  (Monday, May 19, Noon – 3:45 p.m. PT)
• Healthy Mains for the Brain
  (Monday, May 19, Noon – 3:45 p.m. PT)
• Plant-Forward Party and Picnic Pairings
  (Tuesday, May 20, Noon – 3:45 p.m. PT)

Each of these paid workshops will be held at the Los Angeles Trade Technical-College teaching kitchens a short distance from the Los Angeles Convention Center. Each session is led by both culinary and clinical professionals, so attendees can learn about nutrition’s role in mental wellness as they prepare tasty dishes such as Crispy Tikka Masala Tofu or gluten-free Omega-3 Powerhouse Cookies. Space is limited for these paid courses, so head over to registration quickly if interested.

Attendees who cannot make it to the teaching workshops can still learn valuable nutritional information for themselves or their patients. One planned free scientific session will discuss the use of spices for both taste and health (Sunday, May 18, 1:30 – 3 p.m. PT, Room 402A), while another panel session will explore how to meet protein needs across the lifespan through a plant-based diet (Tuesday, May 20, 1:30 – 3 p.m. PT, Room 411).

And on Tuesday morning (8 – 9:30 a.m. PT, Room 411), Merlo will participate in a session on the bidirectionality of mental and physical health with renowned cardiologist and advocate for plant-based eating Kim A. Williams, M.D., professor and chair of medicine at the University of Louisville. “You cannot have one without the other,” Merlo said. “The two of us will discuss the intertwining from our professional perspectives; Dr. Williams from the heart and me from the head.” ■

(Image: Getty Images/iStock/piola666)