Hundreds of years ago if you were depressed you were labeled as “mad” or “possessed”. In modern ages; however, doctors learned that psychological disorders explained most of these disturbances. Today, millions of people in North American experience different levels of depression and sometimes diet can explain it.
More researchers are reporting that certain kinds of foods consumed in excess can create the feeling of depression. It turns out that foods that are low in cholesterol, sugars and fat, but are high in protein at the same time, can reduce the production of serotonin, which is best described as our brain’s happy transmitter. If the happy transmitter is low, naturally you will be depressed. Studies also indicate that people with blood sugar problems, low vitamin D, and food intolerance issues can also battle depression.
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The Effect of Food on Mental Health
If you suffer from depression and can’t seem to figure out why, you might consider looking at your eating habits. Below is a list of some of the top foods that trigger depression.
• Alcohol
Some people think of this as a stimulant, but overindulging is not only hard on your liver; it can put you in a bad mood. If you already have a tendency to suffer from bouts of depression or have other psychological disorders, alcohol consumption is not recommended.
• Deep fried starches
French fries and donuts fall into this category. Before they even hit the frying machine, they are simple sugars and they have very little nutritional value.
• Canned and pre-packaged hydrated food
This category of food tends to be packed with sodium and sugar which can drag you down.
• Chocolates
While the caffeine may initially give you a high, the rest of the chocolate, including the sugar is known as a big depression trigger.
• High fat dairy products
In most cases high fat, including diary means low nutrient deficiency. Studies in both the Unites States and Europe have shown that nutrient deficiency can lead to depression.
• Processed meat
This tends to have a lot of sodium, oil and sugar added.
• Refined grains
Most refined grains like white rice, pasta and bread are nutritionally imbalanced, are starchy, enriched with synthetic vitamins, devoid of fiber
and often have added chemicals.
• Tea and Coffee
Like chocolate, it is the caffeine that can trigger the depression.
• Potato Chips
One is rarely enough; however, they are full of salt and saturated fats.
• Fast Food
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Hamburgers, hotdogs and Pizza all contain high amounts of sodium and fat. A lot of the sauces and condiments such as ketchup have large amounts of sugar in them as well.
Researchers at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain and the University of Granada concluded that depression is 51 per cent more likely to occur in people who consume large amounts of fast food. They also included junk food like donuts and other deep fried items in their study. The research team also indicated that people who eat fast food on a regular basis tend to have other unhealthy habits, such as sedentary behavior, which are linked to a higher risk of depression.
Fatty foods are also associated with gas, bloating, indigestion and heartburn — factors that can, like depression, interfere with sleep, moods and positive energy levels.
