Foods have an immense impact on your brain, and eating whole foods as described in my
nutrition plan is the best way to support both your physical and mental health. Based on the evidence, avoiding sugar (particularly fructose) is an important prevention and treatment strategy for anxiety and depression, both of which are rising in prevalence.
A number of studies have linked
high-sugar diets to a higher risk of
depression. Most recently, men consuming more than 67 grams of sugar per day were found to be 23 percent more likely to develop
anxiety or depression over the course of five years compared to those whose sugar consumption was less than 40 grams per day.
1,2,3This held true even after accounting for other contributing factors, such as socioeconomic status, exercise, alcohol use, smoking, other eating habits, body weight and general physical health. As noted by lead author Anika Knüppel,
4 a Ph.D. student at the Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London:
5
"Sweet food has been found to induce positive feelings in the short-term. People experiencing low mood may eat sugary foods in the hope of alleviating negative feelings. Our study suggests a high intake of sugary foods is more likely to have the opposite effect on mental health in the long-term."
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