Inflammation
Inflammation is the body's response to injury, infection, or irritants involving immune cell activation and the release of signaling molecules. Chronic inflammation can lead to tissue damage and is linked…
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Nutritional psychology examines how dietary patterns, nutrients, food-related behaviors, and psychological factors interact with mental health and well-being. Launched by the Center for Nutritional Psychology in 2024, the Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology defines the terms, mechanisms, processes, and research areas shaping this growing field.
Created for students, educators, researchers, healthcare professionals, and curious readers, the ENP includes hundreds of clear, research-informed entries. Content is written and regularly updated by contributors across relevant scientific disciplines, with new entries and major revisions reviewed by the CNP Encyclopedia Editorial Board before publication.
The encyclopedia helps readers understand terminology and foundational concepts. For deeper exploration of the studies behind those concepts, visit the Nutritional Psychology Research Library .
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Inflammation is the body's response to injury, infection, or irritants involving immune cell activation and the release of signaling molecules. Chronic inflammation can lead to tissue damage and is linked…
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, primarily Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, often linked to nutrient malabsorption and elevated risk of anxiety and depression.
Inflammatory depression refers to a subtype of depression where systemic chronic inflammation contributes to the condition's onset and persistence. Studies suggest that around one-quarter of individuals with depression may experience…
The involuntary or voluntary ability to withhold behavior. This capacity is generally considered an executive function at the voluntary level.
Injunctive social norms reflect what most group members think they should do (i.e., ‘you should eat more vegetables'). Thus, an injunctive norm involves one’s perception of what most others think…
The innate immune system is a subdivision of the immune system. It consists of various physical and chemical barriers that serve as the first line of defense against pathogens. The…
Attachment styles characterized by either high anxiety, high avoidance, or both. They typically arise from caregivers being inconsistently responsive, distant, or both, which can impair emotional regulation and development. These…
A brain structure considered to be the hub of Interoception that lies within the cerebral cortex of the brain.
Insulin is a peptide hormone secreted by the β-cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas to maintain normal glucose levels and to regulate many metabolic processes that provide…
In nutritional psychology, interdisciplinary refers to intentionally integrating the psychological sciences (e.g., cognition, emotion, behavior, psychosocial functioning, perception, interoception, mental health) with the nutritional sciences (e.g., nutrients, dietary patterns, eating…
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