Nutrition, Mental Health, and the Invisible Load: Supporting Military, Veterans, and First Responders

Nutrition is a critical—yet often underexamined—component in the continuum of care for military personnel, veterans, and first responders. Despite growing awareness of mental health challenges, systemic gaps in nutritional support persist, impacting recovery, resilience, and long-term health outcomes.

This inquiry emerged from a recent interdisciplinary conversation centered on the intersections between trauma, suicide risk, and nutrition. As both a researcher and practitioner, I began investigating where science, service, and support collide—and where they fall short.

My connection to this work is personal. My father is a veteran. My father-in-law served in Vietnam. My grandfather was a World War II veteran. Several additional family members have served or are currently serving in the military. I also have firsthand experience as a first responder and have worked within two state forensic mental health facilities. These lived experiences inform my professional focus and underscore the urgency of research-driven solutions.

As a clinical nutritionist specializing in mental health, addictions, and eating disorders, I’ve observed recurring patterns that suggest significant gaps in integrated care models. The complexity of this population’s needs demands not only compassion but also interdisciplinary, evidence-informed collaboration.

Identified Gaps in Military and First Responder Nutrition Care:

• Limited nutritional screening or interventions in standard care protocols

• High prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies (Vitamin D, Omega-3s, Magnesium, B12)

• Underrecognized disordered eating and eating disorders within active duty and retired populations

• Dysregulated gut-brain axis due to chronic stress, medications, and disrupted routines

• Minimal access to trauma-informed, nutrition-integrated care

• Lack of collaboration between mental health, medical, and nutrition professionals

• Food insecurity and poor access to nutrient-dense, whole foods

• Absence of structured support during the transition from service to civilian life

Emerging Research Questions:

• How does chronic systemic inflammation modulate mental health outcomes in veterans and first responders?

• What is the role of gut microbiota in trauma recovery and emotional regulation?

• Can nutritional repletion improve outcomes in co-occurring conditions such as PTSD and substance use disorder?

• What models of care best integrate nutrition into multi-disciplinary trauma-informed frameworks?

While nutrition is not a standalone solution, it offers a modifiable, impactful entry point into regulation, healing, and long-term resilience. Food, when understood and applied appropriately, becomes a pathway to restoration—not just of health, but of identity, trust, and agency.

This is an open call for collaboration.

If you are a researcher, clinician, policy advocate, or service provider working with military, veteran, or first responder populations, I invite you to connect:

• What are you seeing in the field?

• Where are the gaps most evident?

• How can we co-create research and programs that address these needs without stigma?

Let us advance a research agenda that reflects the realities of those we serve. Let us build care systems grounded in evidence, empathy, and equity.

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