Schizophrenia influences the way a person behaves, thinks as well as feels. The condition can give rise to hallucinations, delusions, and speech problems. Additionally, the condition often leads to unhealthy eating habits giving rise to other health conditions like diabetes and heart problems. Furthermore, some foods worsen the condition and aggravate the symptoms. Here is a list of foods that schizophrenia patients need to avoid.

1. Sugar
The list of worst foods for schizophrenia includes sugar for it proves detrimental for overall mental health. Overeating sugar and sugar-based products like cakes, desserts, and more can increase mood imbalances, cause memory impairment in patients with schizophrenia, and affect the overall well-being of the individual. Additionally, sugar aggravates the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Avoiding sugar will help keep diseases like diabetes at bay which tend to be very common in patients suffering from schizophrenia.

2. Bread
The foods that worsen schizophrenia symptoms also consist of bread like white bread as it causes a spike in blood sugar levels. Refined carbohydrates slam the mood and energy levels and elevate the risk of depression. Moreover, eating white bread leads to weight gain as it releases an excess amount of sugar along the bloodstream that when not used immediately gets stored in the form of fat in the body.

3. Caffeine
This list of worst foods for schizophrenia even pertains to avoiding caffeinated products from the diet including soda, tea, and coffee, for excess intake of these beverages causes anxiety, frayed nerves as well as jitters. Furthermore, the high consumption of caffeine is even linked to increased incidences of hallucination among people suffering from schizophrenia. However, drinking a single cup of coffee can prove helpful as it is known to improve emotional health.

4. Fried Foods
To reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, it is important to restrict the consumption of fried foods as they come rich in saturated and transfat which leads to clogging of the arteries and mental health problems. Furthermore, these foods are rich in omega-6 fatty acids that elevate the risk of developing diabetes and blood pressure. Foods high in omega-6s also cause an increase in triglyceride level in the body and consequent weight gain.

5. Processed Meats
The consumption of processed meats like beef and salami are linked to increased occurrence of symptoms of schizophrenia. This is because these foods comprise high level of nitrates which are utilized to cure as well as process meats. And, nitrates prove toxic for both mind and body and pose a serious health risk for patients suffering from the condition.

Restricting these foods for schizophrenia can assist in better management of the condition and keeping the symptoms under control.