Mindful Eating: Exploring the Connection Between Food and Mental Health

Guest post by Eden Share Board Member Dr. Rose Marie Sime, MD

During this time of year when we gather with friends and family and give thanks for our many blessings, let’s spend a moment thinking about what we often take for granted: How blessed we are for having food on our tables.

Over time, I have learned that what we put in our mouths really matters! Not all food is created equal. Back in the 60's when I was growing up in Los Angeles, it was customary for parents to say that children had to be mindful of too much candy. If not, your teeth would rot, and you would end up looking haggard and ugly! If only that was the worst that could happen!

Fast forward twenty plus years. When I was in medical school, the emphasis shifted to heart disease and cancer, and sadly those concerns still stand today. The good news is that over the past 20 years or so, we have learned a lot about how food not only impacts our physical but also our mental health. We have learned how food is important to nurturing our health.

This holiday season, we pause and reflect on how fortunate we are to have access to healthy and nutritious food. We encourage all to help support our mission to bring the physical and mental health benefits of gardening, nature and healthy food to our neighbors in the Hudson Valley.

Today, we know that most of us carry a couple of extra pounds of digested material in our intestines, with different bacteria growing and thriving. But it turns out the type of bacteria that grow in the gut have a direct impact on our mental health! This is because these organisms influence the substances that are produced in the gut and eventually make their way to our brains. 

This may explain why in developed countries, we see much higher levels of depression and anxiety, compared with those societies whose development is not on par. So, scientists took to studying this significant difference in mental health and have discovered that eating large quantities of processed food influences the type of bacteria that we have in our gut, as well as the quantity of bacteria. This then goes on to influence our mental health and our predisposition to depression, anxiety or both.

There have been studies that show that in those societies where vegetables and fruits are routinely eaten, the bacterial growth in the gut is more diverse and that these societies have lower rates of mood disorders. Even more interesting is a study where researchers gave people in an African country a diet of Western ultra-processed food. As expected, the quantities of gut bacteria fell and became less diverse.

This is one of the many factors that contributes to the decline of our collective mental health, and it is something that we can all help improve! That is why I am so passionate about Eden Share’s mission to protect and improve mental health by teaching people about the importance of real food, how to grow it and appreciate the bounties that nature gives us. 

I wish you all a joyous, peaceful and healthy holiday season and thank you for supporting our mission!

Dr. Rose Marie Sime, MD
Member, Board of Directors, Eden Share

Local Media Features Eden Share in Dutchess County Empowerment Center Coverage

On Friday, September 6, the Dutchess County Empowerment Center held their official ribbon cutting. After the ceremony, guests were led to the Eden Share garden. There, Jean-Marie Niebuhr, the commissioner of the county Department of Mental Health, introduced Eden Share’s Scott Pidgeon to present the garden.

Dutchess County celebrates growing Empowerment Center - WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Dutchess County cuts ribbon on empowerment center - Mid Hudson News

Dutchess County Empowerment Center Ribbon Cutting

Join the Dutchess County Empowerment Center and Eden Share on Friday, September 6 at 1:00 p.m. for a ribbon cutting ceremony, celebrating the Empowerment Center’s new garden.

Light refreshments will be served. Tours of the center and community garden will be available.

230 North Road
Entrance 3
Poughkeepsie

RSVP at dutchessny.gov/rsvp

Eden Share, Inc., Joins Family Services’ Family Partnership Center, Signs Five-Year Lease to Take Over Fallkill Community Garden

Poughkeepsie, NY, August 8, 2024 – Eden Share, Inc. and Family Services are proud to announce a reimagining of the Fallkill Community Garden in the heart of Poughkeepsie. Eden Share, a Dutchess County-based nonprofit dedicated to wellness through community gardening, leased the 18,000 square foot space from Family Services on 8/1/24. As part of the agreement, Eden Share has joined as the newest member of the Family Partnership Center to support the community.

This exciting new project will transform the garden space at 29 North Hamilton Street into a sprawling educational garden designed to promote wellness and community engagement. Eden Share intends to partner with 10-12 nonprofit organizations to offer educational and wellness programming over a 28-week season, starting in April 2025.

“Eden Share is looking forward to bringing gardening and hope to more residents of Poughkeepsie. We are thrilled to partner with Family Services, a community advocate and provider to so many families in the Hudson Valley,” said Scott Pidgeon, co-founder of Eden Share, Inc. “The garden not only serves as a living classroom, but more importantly, a place for healing and recovery.”

Leah Feldman, CEO of Family Services said “For over 140 years, Family Services has been dedicated to enhancing the well-being of individuals and families in the Hudson Valley. Partnering with Eden Share to transform the Fallkill Community Garden aligns perfectly with our mission to strengthen our community and support everyone's right to thrive. We are excited to see the positive impact this garden will have on promoting wellness, education, and connection."

Work to transform the space has already begun, and volunteers are welcome to help prepare this new, vibrant space where community members can learn about gardening, regenerative agriculture, food production, and wellness practices.

Gardening has long been an important part of physical and mental wellness in many parts of the world, and Eden Share aims to bring the proven benefits of gardening to Hudson Valley residents.  Educational programming will be held throughout the spring, summer, and fall, and will focus on a variety of topics; from soil health to pest management and everything in between.

About Eden Share, Inc.:

Eden Share is a 501(c)3 nonprofit company located in the Hudson Valley Region of New York, dedicated to creating welcoming spaces for clients and communities served by nonprofits, whereby all may enjoy the mental and physical health benefits afforded by gardening through regenerative agriculture, which also serves to promote healthy food and land.

About Family Services:

Founded in 1879, Family Services brings people together to find the support they need, improving their lives and communities, and building a stronger, safer Hudson Valley. Our program areas include Behavioral Health, Victim Services, Family Programs, Youth Services, Community Safety, and Prevention.

The Family Partnership Center is available to the community as a place to come together for conversation and the exchange of ideas, to participate in athletics and arts programming, and where a variety of nonprofits can co-locate and collaborate to offer enhanced services that create real access.

Media Contacts:

David Garland

Eden Share, Inc.

Phone: (516) 840-8928

Email: dgarland@edenshare.org

Kerri Minet

Family Services

Phone: 845-250-5272

Email: kminet@familyservicesny.org