You are What You Eat…Foods Effect Mental Health

Depression, Anxiety, and Diet: What’s the relationship?

We all know sugar is bad. Sugar consumption can trigger chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation leads to disease such as, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. Chronic inflammation effects your mental awareness. What are these sugars? They are not just refined sugar, but also high fructose corn syrup and added sugars. In fact added sugars can be sneaky. Some added sugars are agave, brown rice syrup, maltose, fruit juice concentrate, and dextrose (just to name a few). Some sugars are more natural in form, but when there is too much intake of sugar it is bad for your health and mental ability.

Here are a couple of studies:

For example, a 2004 study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry found that a higher dietary intake of refined sugar and dairy products predicted a worse 2-year outcome of schizophrenia.

Also, the importance of reducing inflammation when dealing with mental health issues is also evidenced by another recent study.

Published in the International Breastfeeding Journal, the study entitled “A new paradigm for depression in new mothers: the central role of inflammation and how breastfeeding and anti-inflammatory treatments protect maternal mental health” discovered that inflammation may be more than just another risk factor for depression. It may in fact be THE risk factor that underlies all others.

The researchers’ stated:

“The old paradigm described inflammation as simply one of many risk factors for depression. The new paradigm is based on more recent research that has indicated that physical and psychological stressors increase inflammation. These recent studies constitute an important shift in the depression paradigm: inflammation is not simply a risk factor; it is the risk factor that underlies all the others.

Moreover, inflammation explains why psychosocial, behavioral and physical risk factors increase the risk of depression. This is true for depression in general and for postpartum depression in particular.”

If you have depression, anxiety, or inflammation and would like a consultation, please call Voitenko Wellness today.

Please call Voitenko Wellness at 714-730-2225 or contact us here to schedule an appointment!

Voitenko Wellness- Dr. Amber Voitenko-Chiropractor

13372 Newport Ave D, Tustin, CA 92780

(714) 730-2225