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Can your diet give you the blues? New study links junk food and depression
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Junk foods have been linked to increased risk of depression.
If you've ever suspected that your love of junk food is ruining not only your physical health (hello, obesity!), but also your mental health, well, you may be on to something: A recent study out of Great Britain suggests that eating a diet high in processed food increases the risk of depression. And, conversely, a healthy diet consisting of vegetables, fruit and fish can lower risk of depression.
The study, conducted on 3,500 middle-aged British civil servants, found that those who consumed large amounts of processed foods -- such as sweetened desserts, fried food, processed meat, refined grains and high-fat dairy products -- had a 58 percent higher risk of depression than those who ate very few processed foods, reports the BBC.
Now, we've already reported on another study linking the Mediterranean diet with decreased risk of depression, so these latest findings are not that surprising. The scientists called for more research into the relationship between diet and mental health; but here's one idea, based on common sense: Foods consisting of processed carbohydrates and sugars enter the bloodstream and get converted to energy very quickly, giving you that well-known "sugar rush." But just as quickly, you come crashing down -- both physically and mentally. You feel sleepy, sluggish and depressed!
In fact, there's only one conclusion to reach from the growing pile of evidence: Junk food and junk drinks are the devil's tool, and we've got to stop the madness!
Bottom line: Lay off the Lays, torpedo the Doritos, and ditch the Mr. Chips. You'll feel much better!
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- In the spirit of disclosure: I am sometimes provided samples of products or books I write about. I also sometimes use affiliate links to products.
