Food For Thought: How Diet Impacts Mental Health

You are what you eat - this age-old expression best sums up the integral role that diet plays in one's physical and mental well-being. On World Mental Health Day today, we delve into the undeniable role of nutrition in safeguarding mental as well as emotional well-being and how we can nourish our minds by consuming the right food.

- Madhupriti Mitra

A recent study published in the journal JAMA Network Open has added to the mounting evidence on the link between diet and mental health. Its findings indicate that consuming large amounts of ultraprocessed foods (UPFS) especially those containing artificial sweeteners, can contribute to the risk of developing depression. Ultra-processed foods are notorious for their high levels of salt, sugar, hydrogenated fats and additive content. This category includes popular junk food items like processed meat, alcohol, chips, soda and carbonated drinks. The research also found that those who consumed nine portions or more of these foods in a day had a 49% increased risk of depression compared to those who consumed fewer than four portions.

FOOD AND MOOD: BREAKING DOWN THE LINK