Feb 17
Join Tracy in episode 84 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women. introduces you to dietician and nutritionist Nicole DeMasi Malcher. Nicole is the founder of DeMasi Nutrition, a virtual private practice based in Los Angeles, CA. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Certified Diabetes Educator with a Master’s Degree in Nutrition. Nicole spent 10 years working at Los Robles Hospital in the ICU, and as a nutrition coach at UCLA, Kaiser Permanente and DaVita Dialysis. In her practice, she uses nutrition therapy & coaching to help people lose weight, improve their health, and prevent & treat medical conditions through personalized diet & lifestyle changes. Nicole was diagnosed with ADHD (combined type) about a year ago at the age of 32 & since then has been determined to understand how nutrition impacts ADHD symptoms.
THIS EPISODE IS NOT FOR WOMEN WITH DISORDERED EATING. Nicole shares: The circumstances surrounding her later in life diagnosis Her ADHD symptoms including those that she always wondered about but now recognizes as clearly ADHD How she always felt different than others How her childhood and teen years were impacted by her ADHD What has changed since you were diagnosed? The relationship between sugar and dopamine The food group that spikes our dopamine naturally What kind of carbohydrates help cognition How she feels about intermittent fasting for the ADHD brain Information on the gut-brain axis and how inflammation affects the brain What the enteric nervous system is and how it affects our brains The one food to get rid of to feel better Her number one ADHD workaround A page that she’s built just for us that’s all about nutrition for the ADHD brain.
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"Protein is really important to create dopamine in the body. And that's because protein is made up of amino acids. And amino acids are the precursors to create dopamine in the body."
- Nicole DeMasi Malcher
"95% of the body's serotonin is found in the gut. It's like, it's a huge amount. 70% of your immune system is in the gut."
- Nicole DeMasi Malcher
"The easiest way to think about building a healthy plate is to do a quarter of your plate protein, a quarter of it, your high fiber, carbs, and then half of your plate should be low carbohydrate vegetables."
- Nicole DeMasi Malcher
- Nicole was diagnosed with ADHD a year ago and struggled with concentrating and organizing throughout her life.
- Nicole has gained self-compassion and understanding of her brain's wiring after being diagnosed with ADHD, leading to a stronger relationship with her husband.
- Nicole explains the importance of identifying food allergies and sensitivities through elimination diets and monitoring symptoms.
[21:37 - 36:59] Intermittent Fasting and Gut Health
- Nicole explains that intermittent fasting can be harder for some people due to the lack of a schedule, leading to unpredictable eating times and potential negative effects on mental and physical health.
- Nicole discusses the gut microbiome and its impact on mental health, including anxiety and ADHD.
- Nicole discusses how the gut microbiome breaks down food and absorbs nutrients, and how an imbalance of gut bacteria can lead to digestive issues like gas, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea.
[36:59 - 50:05] ADHD Tips and Productivity Strategies
- Nicole discusses the importance of gut health for ADHD brains, including the role of probiotics and prebiotics.
- Nicole's number one ADHD workflow is adding everything to her phone calendar, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
- Nicole provides top tips for ADHD nutrition on her website, including a downloadable resource with how each tip relates to ADHD brains.
