Julia Rucklidge - Mental Health & Nutrition Research: Te Puna Toiora

06/04/2026

I will be presenting on how to parent children in a toxic food environment...coming to Auckland soon!

06/04/2026

Coming up in Auckland in May...amazing line up of speakers....Will be a fantastic inspiring and practical day not to be missed.....

31/03/2026

For those who were stuck at home unable to make it to Lincoln on a cold wet windy night, you can watch the recorded debate! As always with Kim Hill, a stimulating discussion on the importance of looking after our soil to really impact on human health - this is about ensuring sustainability of our current food system as well as thinking about how we ensure New Zealanders have access to nutritious food at affordable prices. A wicked problem but solvable if governments can see the value of improving public health long-term. Let's keep pushing this conversation as we move into the election.

Rethinking Our Connection. Join Kim Hill and four panellists discussing soil and mental health. To read more, go to Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/s...

26/03/2026

"The Science and Practice of Wellbeing" is an undergraduate course we developed to explore the research behind wellbeing, and how to actually apply it in real life.

Ice baths have been linked to a range of mental health benefits, including improved mood, increased resilience to stress, and a greater sense of calm after discomfort.

So this week, with the help of Health HQ, we transformed the UCSA Amphitheatre into a pop-up ice bath lab, setting up six ice baths for students (and anyone else keen) to experience first hand.

Participants could choose to take the plunge into water ranging from 3 to 10 degrees, or simply observe. Before and after, students were encouraged to reflect on how they felt: their anticipation, their physical sensations, and their emotional responses.

Whether it was a quick dunk or a few minutes of determination, everyone was invited to step (or dip) outside their comfort zone.

Despite the chilly weather, dozens of students (and some non-students!) braved the icy waters, supported and cheered on by those around them.

Wellbeing isn’t just something we study. Sometimes, it’s something we feel - one degree at a time ❄️

10/03/2026

When the APA runs stories on nutrition and mental health, I can only feel excited that psychologists are starting to appreciate the foundational importance of nutrition in their psychological practice. This is an excellent article summarizing where the field is at...hopefully it can be read by the public!

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2026/03/nutrition-food-mental-health #

Researchers are furthering our understanding of nutrition to optimize mental health.

10/03/2026

This is weird. Back in late 2025, the Ministry of Health rejected my application to change the maximum daily dose for general sale vitamin D medicines from 25 mcg (1,000 IU) to 75 mcg (3,000 IU).

So I was a bit surprised when this consultation document arrived in my inbox suggesting that the maximum daily dose for general sale vitamin D medicines should be increased from 25 mcg (1,000 IU) to 50 mcg (2,000 IU).

A compromise?

What initiated this?

Apparently they are going to be consulting on limits for a number of different vitamins and minerals and this is the first one (they will NOT though review limits on lithium - I have sent an appeal on this decision to David Seymour).

You can submit feedback on the consultation until April 2nd 2026.

Some things you could include:

Given the combination of (1) global safety data, (2) New Zealand’s high levels of deficiency, (3) seasonal and ethnic disparities, and (4) the substantial preventable disease burden, there is no evidence that 3000 IU/day poses greater risk than 2000 IU/day, and strong NZ‑specific reasons support permitting up to 3000 IU/day in general‑sale vitamin D products.

This dose remains well within the internationally accepted safety margin and better reflects New Zealand’s population needs and environmental realities.

Find and participate in consultations run by the New Zealand Ministry of Health

06/03/2026

Slowly getting picked up by local news outlets. Maybe greater interest will push the government to sort out the current outdated legislation preventing easy access to supplements that improve mental health.

New research, based on a clinical trial, shows broad-spectrum micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) can significantly reduce severe irritability in teenagers.

06/03/2026

Our research got pick up by The New York Post!

In teenagehood, some degree of irritability comes with the territory. But severe emotional disorders in teens could be exacerbated by something as seemingly innocuous as a gap in their diet.

03/03/2026

I am thrilled to share the results of a clinical trial we conducted through COVID investigating the role of vitamins and minerals in treating irritability in teens. The news is good!

This study from my lab in press (and available free online https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856726000213?via%3Dihub ), published in the esteemed Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, highlights the impact that vitamins and minerals have on the developing brain to help regulate big emotions in teenagers. The good news is that supplementing with minerals and vitamins can restore activity and improve teenagers mood, irritability, meltdowns and even reduces suicidal ideation.

There has been much discussion in the media about the role of poor nutrition in chronic health problems. But what gets overlooked is the impact of a diet consisting mainly of ultra-processed foods, which are low in essential nutrients, on brain health. What is also not recognised is that some people are more vulnerable to broad deficiencies than others, or may simply need more nutrients than what they get out of food alone, even if it is healthy.

While I am all in favour of this treatment, and we and others have repeatedly demonstrated the efficacy of this approach along with minimal side effects for all kinds of mental health challenges from ADHD to antenatal depression to stress, it should also bring stark attention to the fact that our food supply is a mismatch for our brain's needs.

I do hope this study not only gives hope to parents with teens who are struggling, offering a nonpharmaceutical approach, but also stimulates governments aorund the world to pay attention to our nutritional environment and recognise that the rise in ultra-processed foods, designed for profit not for health, is contributing to the mental health crisis.

A huge thanks to the parents and teens who participated and made this research happen. And to the Health Research Council for funding this work. For more information on the formulation that we studied, email mentalhealthnutrition@canterbury.ac.nz. Also detailed in the article.

03/03/2026

I am thrilled to share the results of a clinical trial we conducted through COVID investigating the role of vitamins and minerals in treating irritability in teens. The news is good!

This study from my lab in press (and available free online), published in the esteemed Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, highlights the impact that vitamins and minerals have on the developing brain to help regulate big emotions in teenagers. The good news is that supplementing with minerals and vitamins can restore activity and improve teenagers mood, irritability, meltdowns and even reduces suicidal ideation.

There has been much discussion in the media about the role of poor nutrition in chronic health problems. But what gets overlooked is the impact of a diet consisting mainly of ultra-processed foods, which are low in essential nutrients, on brain health. What is also not recognised is that some people are more vulnerable to broad deficiencies than others, or may simply need more nutrients than what they get out of food alone, even if it is healthy.

While I am all in favour of this treatment, and we and others have repeatedly demonstrated the efficacy of this approach along with minimal side effects for all kinds of mental health challenges from ADHD to antenatal depression to stress, it should also bring stark attention to the fact that our food supply is a mismatch for our brain's needs.

This Conversation piece outlines our study, our findings and the broader implications. I do hope it not only gives hope to parents with teens who are struggling, offering a nonpharmaceutical approach, but also stimulates governments aorund the world to pay attention to our nutritional environment and recognise that the rise in ultra-processed foods, designed for profit not for health, is contributing to the mental health crisis.

A huge thanks to the parents and teens who participated and made this research happen. And to the Health Research Council for funding this work. For more information on the formulation that we studied, email mentalhealthnutrition@canterbury.ac.nz. Also detailed in the article.

Teenagers with dysregulation disorders and from low-income families showed the strongest improvements in response to a treatment with micronutrients.

03/03/2026

I am thrilled to be a part of this year's topic is Soil To Brain - Rethinking Our Connection. Kim Hill will lead a panel of experts to delve into the issues. Once the panel has deliberated their views, the audience will be invited to question panel members. The evening is always a well-attended, stimulating and enjoyable occasion; all are welcome. Seats are limited!!

Panellists:
Julia Rucklidge | University of Canterbury
Pablo Gregorini | Lincoln University
Carolyn Lister | Bioeconomy Science Institute
Hadee Thompson-Morrison | Bioeconomy Science Institute

Event Details:
Thursday 26th March
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the event starts at 7:30 p.m.
The discussion will be held in the Stewart Building at Lincoln University.
Koha on the door.

Soil To Brain - Kim Hill Hot Topic 2026, Join us for another thought-provoking "Hot Topic" ..., Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, 26 March 2026,

26/02/2026

"The Science and Practice of Wellbeing" is an undergraduate course we developed to explore the research behind wellbeing (including the importance of good nutrition), and how to actually apply it in real life.

One of the most common pushbacks we hear is: "Eating nutritious food is too expensive."

So this week, instead of just debating it in a lecture theatre, we went outside.

In glorious sunshine, at UC's beautiful Waiutuutu Community Garden, over 100 students (and a few friends and whānau) rolled up their sleeves and planted seeds in take-home pots to grow (and hopefully eat!) later in the season. Students also had the option of completing a scavenger hunt around the garden, learning about the edible plants already growing there and the incredible potential of this space.

Established in 2002, UC The Waiutuutu Community Garden is an informal recreation and learning space for students, staff, and the wider UC community. It’s open to anyone who wants to get involved, whether that’s learning how to grow food, meeting new people, or simply spending time in a calm, green space.

Nutrition and wellbeing aren't just taught. Sometimes, they're planted 🌱