The BALM Protocol: Revolutionising Bread for Global Well-Being
A Paradigm Shift in Bread Consumption
Imagine a world where bread, a staple food often vilified by nutritionists, becomes a powerful tool for supporting gut health and mental well-being on a global scale. The Baking as Lifestyle Medicine (BALM) protocol makes this vision a reality, offering a groundbreaking, evidence based framework that aligns with the principles of nutritional psychiatry and sets a new standard for bread consumption. Healthcare professionals are increasing understanding that the gut plays a central role in anxiety and depression and increasingly acknowledging that the foundation of good health is in diet and targeting the gut microbiome. Many studies are now focusing on novel diet related treatments in treating anxiety and depression, using with both prebiotics and probiotics to treat the symptoms of psychiatric disorders, but very few have looked at using bread, as our most basic, affordable and accessible food as a way to improve mental health.
Why has bread not been central to supporting public health?
The UK government’s focus on reducing fat and calorie intake as the primary strategy for promoting public health has overshadowed the potential benefits of increasing dietary fibre and diversity, and post war focus on mass production of cheap industrial bread using the Chorelywood process has failed to address the complex interplay between nutrition and mental well-being. Despite now understanding that the gut plays a central role in supporting both physical and mental health the UK government, and advisors have consistently neglected the crucial role of gut health in maintaining optimal psychological functioning. By prioritising salt, fat and calorie reduction over the promotion of a diverse, fibre-rich diet, policymakers have inadvertently hindered the exploration of bread as a central component of a comprehensive nutritional psychiatry framework. This oversight has limited the development of effective, accessible, and affordable strategies for supporting mental health through dietary interventions, despite the growing evidence linking the gut microbiome to various aspects of mental well-being.
Coupled with lack of financial incentives for pharmaceutical companies to invest in researching bread as a mental health intervention, and with the public perception of high-quality bread as an indulgence rather than a staple food, this has contributed to the limited exploration of bread’s potential in nutritional psychiatry.
Despite the relatively minor additional cost associated with purchasing nutrient-dense bread, consumers may be hesitant to allocate their resources towards this investment in better nourishment, failing to recognise the long-term benefits for their mental well-being.
The BALM Protocol is one of the most powerful tools for change by revolutionising our approach to bread, the framework transforms good bread it from a mere indulgence into a practical accessible tool for promoting mental well-being through targeted nutritional interventions and lifestyle changes.
Empowering People through Accessible Nutrition
What sets BALM apart is that healthcare professionals, bakers and industrial bread producers can use its pragmatic and accessible approach to improving well-being. By transforming bread into a vehicle for delivering essential nutrients and supporting gut and mental health, BALM empowers people from all walks of life to take control of their health through a simple, everyday food.
Grounded in Nutritional Psychiatry and Backed by World-Renowned Experts
Many of the key research papers used to underpin BALM has been written by Professor Felice Jacka and the Food and Mood Centre in Australia. Her work is groundbreaking, and she led the way in demonstrating the positive impact of the Mediterranean diet on mood and mental well-being. The potential of BALM to change the world has not gone unnoticed by leading experts in the field. Professor David Veale, one of the world’s most eminent psychiatrists, strongly endorses the protocol, stating, “BALM provides a framework that supports nutritional psychiatry. It transforms the way we approach bread, from a food that can harm health to a food that nourishes the gut microbiome and supports good mental health. BALM is set to revolutionise the way we think about bread and its role in our daily lives.”
The Mediterranean Diet Connection
BALM draws inspiration from the extensively researched Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to positively impact mood and mental well-being. By incorporating key elements of this diet, such as whole foods, plant-based options, nutrient density, antioxidants, and healthy fats, BALM takes the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle and makes it accessible to people across the globe through the humble loaf of bread.
A Blueprint for Global Health
The BALM protocol not only transforms individual lives but also has the potential to reshape entire communities. By providing a blueprint for baking nutrient-dense, gut-friendly bread, BALM encourages the creation of local bakeries and fosters a sense of community around healthy eating. Imagine a world where every neighbourhood has its own BALM-certified bakery, providing fresh, wholesome bread that supports the well-being of the entire population. As more bread millers and bread manufacturers embrace the principles of BALM in the way they create their breads, the impact on global health will be profound. By improving gut health and mental well-being through a simple dietary change, BALM has the potential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems, boost productivity, and create a happier, more resilient population. The ripple effect of this protocol could extend far beyond individual health, influencing economies, societies, and the very fabric of our global community.
It is time to reimagine the role of bread in supporting both physical and mental health
This revolutionary protocol democratises healthy eating, making it achievable for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic background. BALM challenges us to see bread not as a guilty pleasure, but as a powerful tool for nourishing our bodies and minds. By embracing BALM, we have the opportunity to be part of a global movement towards better health, one slice at a time. The question is, are you ready to join the revolution?
GP Dr Davidson Explains how bread plays a central role in longevity in Sardina
“Baking as Lifestyle Medicine protocol provides a framework that supports nutritional psychiatry. It transforms the way we approach bread, from a food that can harm health to a food that nourishes gut microbiome and supports good mental health.” Professor David Veale
David Veale is one of the most eminent psychiatrists in the world. He is a Consultant Psychiatrist specialising in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy associated with the Overcoming OCD practice, which specialises in CBT for OCD and related disorders, and he is known for his work on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), health anxiety, emetophobia and depression. He also uses Wake and Light Therapy and nutritional psychiatry, and the gut microbiota. David is also the author of many books and has encouraged and supported the BALM research into the impact of our approach on mental health and mood. You can read more about how David and his team use BALM here in the bakery in the psychiatric ward.
