Recent studies have revealed the strong link between what we eat and how we feel – not just from a physical perspective – but also from a psychological one. Today, many people eat foods on a regular basis that are not especially conductive towards health and wellbeing, but have the advantage of being convenient, fast and comforting – a perfect antidote for hectic lifestyles and routines. However, whilst this approach to eating may have positive benefits in the short-term – it can lead to clinical depression in the long-term.
Therefore, if you wish to maintain good mental health, it’s best to eat sensibly and avoid a range of foods that can have a highly-detrimental impact on your health, wellbeing and mood. For instance many studies have revealed the foodstuffs high in saturated fats, such as many meats, butter, crisps and fried foods can significantly contribute to depression, and that these fats can also lessen the positive impact of fats that are good for you, such as omega-3s.
The tendency for people to eat more junk and fast-food has also led to a rapid-increase in sugar production, and according to recent research, the average America will consume 216 litres of sugar-rich sodas a year. This can have a dire impact upon your wellness by disrupting normative glucose levels in the blood-stream, potentially leading to the onset of chronic-conditions such as diabetes and high-blood-pressure. Excessive sugar content in the body can also affect the brain’s endorphins and result in irritability and depression.
Regularly eating these sorts of foodstuffs can also create vitamin-deficiencies, as they are often low in, or completely devoid of the essential nutrients the body requires to function properly. A particularly common form of vitamin deficiency is the absence of sufficient Vitamin D levels. Recent studies have revealed that those with low quantities of the vitamin in their blood-streams were most at risk from suffering depressive-related conditions. So in many ways, you are indeed – what you eat.