047: The Role of Nutrition in Mental Health with Jill Sheppard Davenport
The Uncommon Couch
047: The Role of Nutrition in Mental Health with Jill Sheppard Davenport
In this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Jill Sheppard Davenport, MS, MPP, CNS, LDN, LN, NBC-HWC who is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, Licensed Nutritionist, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and meditation instructor. Jill shares her journey of finding her way in the space of nutrition and mental health.
She and I talk about her practice and she gives her candid advice for other practitioners who want to support clients with their mental health through nutrition. We also discuss general dietary principles, the correlation between traumatic events and nutrition and what a nutritional intervention looks like.
What you’ll find in this episode:
How Jill became interested in the space of nutrition and mental health
How finding the right health provider can feel like dating
The mental and emotional connection people have with food
The role of functional nutrition and its impact on mental health
What mental health providers should know about nutrition and mental health
General dietary principles to follow
How to discern specific nutritional recommendations people might need
The link between nutrition and trauma
Nutritional intervention examples
About Jill:
Jill Sheppard Davenport, MS, MPP, CNS, LDN, LN, NBC-HWC is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, Licensed Nutritionist, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and meditation instructor. Her heart-centered, science-oriented approach empowers clients to understand the root causes of their symptoms, so they can become the best version of themselves.
She owns a private nutrition practice in Washington, DC, JustHeath LLC focused on nutrition for mental health, and works as a nutritionist for Chris Kresser’s Adapt180 Health. She also does public policy consulting on integrative health and nutrition. Jill is experienced at developing customized dietary and lifestyle approaches for those experiencing pain and inflammation, depression, anxiety, and/or gastrointestinal, hormonal, metabolic, immune, and thyroid imbalances.
Jill earned a Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health from the Maryland University of Integrative Health, a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, and received training in functional medicine from the Institute for Functional Medicine. She completed advanced training in health coaching, nutrition for mental health, nutritional biochemistry, medical herbalism, nutritional genomics, mindfulness meditation and suicide prevention. Previously, Jill directed health policy, advocacy and education initiatives for the nonprofit and government sectors.
In her free time, Jill can be found doing yoga, juicing fresh vegetables from her garden, or experimenting in the kitchen.
Connect with Jill:
Links mentioned:
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The Uncommon Couch is the place for therapists, coaches, and wellness entrepreneurs who want to take their practice on the road less traveled. If you enjoyed this show, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you’ll never miss an episode. Want to get to know me more? Find out more about me by following along on Instagram!
Quotes:
“I knew bringing nutrition to people just wasn’t enough. I had to learn this wholly distinctive field which is health coaching and then I really needed to understand mindfulness, meditation and ways to calm stress.” - Jill
“Nutrition is not the only piece of the puzzle people are dealing with.” - Jill
“I’ve seen time after time of people really discovering who they are by making the space to do this work.” - Jill