Eating a diet high in processed food increases the risk of depression, research suggests.
Sugar intake from sweet food and beverages, common mental disorder and depression: prospective findings from the Whitehall II study
Intake of sweet food, beverages and added sugars has been linked with depressive symptoms in several populations. Aim of this study was to investigate systematically cross-sectional and prospective associations between sweet food/beverage intake, common mental disorder (CMD) and depression and to examine the role of reverse causation (influence of mood on intake) as potential explanation for the observed linkage. We analysed repeated measures (23,245 person-observations) from the Whitehall II study using random effects regression. Diet was assessed using food frequency questionnaires, mood using validated questionnaires. Cross-sectional analyses showed positive associations. In prospective analyses, men in the highest tertile of sugar intake from sweet food/beverages had a 23% increased odds of incident CMD after 5 years (95% CI: 1.02, 1.48) independent of health behaviours, socio-demographic and diet-related factors, adiposity and other diseases. The odds of recurrent depression were increased in the highest tertile for both sexes, but not statistically significant when diet-related factors were included in the model (OR 1.47; 95% CI: 0.98, 2.22). Neither CMD nor depression predicted intake changes. Our research confirms an adverse effect of sugar intake from sweet food/beverage on long-term psychological health and suggests that lower intake of sugar may be associated with better psychological health.
Gut bacteria may have impact on mental health, study says
Research opens door to possible treatments for depression based on probiotics
Stress Is Edible. Here's How We Can Avoid It In Our Food System | Worth
Stress hormones in our diet may be a missing link between food and wellness.
Caffeine could limit damage of chronic stress
A cup of joe wards off depression following chronic stress.
Scientists reveal foods to eat now to stave off cognitive decline later
Data on over 3,000 people shows only 8 percent with low-quality diets maintained high cognitive abilities into their 70s, a new study reveals.
Think Twice: How the Gut's "Second Brain" Influences Mood and Well-Being
The emerging and surprising view of how the enteric nervous system in our bellies goes far beyond just processing the food we eat
When You Are Depressed, Make Something.
Depression doesn’t discriminate. Everyone is a potential target for it, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, geographical location, or income. We are all subject to its grasp, and remember, it’s not the same thing as sadness.
When You Are Depressed, Make Something.
Depression doesn’t discriminate. Everyone is a potential target for it, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, geographical location, or income. We are all subject to its grasp, and remember, it’s not the same thing as sadness.
For the first time, scientists pinpoint brain cells linked to depression
Scientists identified two types of brain cells, neurons and microglia, that are altered in people with depression. Through genomic mapping of post-mortem brain tissue, they found major differences in gene activity affecting mood and inflammation. The findings reinforce that depression has a clear biological foundation and open new doors for treatment development.
Not just a fad: the surprising, gut-wrenching truth about gluten
While a tiny number of people have coeliac disease, many others suffer with gluten-related digestive problems. Some researchers believe mass-produced food is to blame
Why Sleep Deprivation Eases Depression
Glial activity reveals how sleep deprivation elevates mood
Is Sugar Toxic? (Published 2011)
That it makes us fat is something we take for granted. That it might also be making us sick is harder to accept.
Gut–brain link grabs neuroscientists
Idea that intestinal bacteria affect mental health gains ground.
The Unhealthy Truth Behind 'Wellness' and 'Clean Eating'
My eating disorder had once looked very different, and then I found wellness—but I was not well.
Opinion | The Real Causes Of Depression Have Been Discovered, And They're Not What You Think
To deal with depression, you need to deal with its underlying causes.
Need More Self-Control? Try a Simple Ritual
Study finds an unusual technique for eating less
