A recent study on Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Depression and physical ill-health such as cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, and obesity. According to a new study, eating huge amounts of ultra-processed foods especially those containing artificial sweeteners – could increase the risk of developing depression, research has found.
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The study indicates a potential link between the intake of ultra-processed foods and depression. According to Gunter Kuhnle, a professor of food and nutritional science at the University of Reading in the UK, who was not involved in the study, there appears to be approximately a 50% higher risk of depression among those who consume 9 portions or more (in the top 20%) compared to those who consume 4 portions or less,” said in a statement.
According to Andrew Chan, a professor at Harvard Medical School and one of the study’s authors, the results indicate that individuals, especially those dealing with mental health challenges, might consider reducing their consumption of ultra-processed foods whenever feasible.
Eating any ultra-processed foods — prepackaged soups, sauces, frozen pizza, ready-to-eat meals, and pleasure foods such as hot dogs, sausages, French fries, sodas, store-bought cookies, cakes, candies, doughnuts, ice cream — boosts chances of the blues, US researchers found. Sweetened drinks increased the risk by 37 percent, the most of any type of UPF.
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Researchers said chemicals in the drinks can cause changes in the brain linked to poor mental health. Experimental studies have shown that artificial sweeteners may trigger the transmission of particular signaling molecules in the brain that are important for mood.
What is the connection?
Why might these foods be connected to the development of depression? To start, there is a established association between ultra-processed foods and chronic inflammation, as noted by Chan.
Inflammation serves as a fundamental factor in the development of numerous chronic diseases. For instance, research has established connections between ultra-processed foods and conditions such as colorectal cancer in men, as well as heart disease and premature mortality in both men and women.
According to Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard professor emerita of nutrition, there exists a substantial body of evidence from hundreds of studies that links ultra-processed foods to obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and overall mortality.
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Depression:
This represents a significant potential mechanism connecting ultra-processed food to depression. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbes may influence mood by participating in the metabolism and production of proteins that impact brain function.
There is also an association with dementia. A 2022 study found that if over 20% of a person’s daily caloric intake is derived from ultra-processed foods, the risk of cognitive decline increases by approximately 28%. To put this into perspective, for a 2,000-calorie daily diet, that amounts to 400 calories. To illustrate, a small order of fries and a regular cheeseburger from McDonald’s together provide a total of 530 calories.
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Early depression is likely to compromise dietary restraint and increase intake of ‘comfort’ and ‘junk’ foods. Additionally, it’s challenging to distinguish the influence of diet on the risk of depression from other established risk factors, like a family history of depression, elevated stress levels, and a lack of a supportive social network, as explained by Dr. Paul Keedwell, a consultant psychiatrist and fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The researchers accounted for various other potential factors that could contribute to depression, including age, body mass index (BMI), total caloric intake, menopausal hormone therapy, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, pain, and the presence of other conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
Nonetheless, it seems the authors have diligently accounted for these factors, and the association between artificial sweeteners and depression is evident,” commented Frayn.
He continued, “This contributes to the mounting apprehensions surrounding artificial sweeteners and their impact on cardiometabolic health. The connection with depression warrants validation through additional research, as well as exploration into potential mechanisms.”
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