Do you find that sugar makes you sad? Recent research suggests that it does
It is recommended that the World Health Organisation recommends that people cut down on the amount they consume from added sugars (that is, sugar in all forms, except for the sugar naturally present in fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and fruits) by less percent of their total energy consumption. However, the people of the UK consume more than the UK consume twice, and so do those in the US, triple the volume of sugar. Three-quarters of these sugars are derived from sweet beverages and food like soft drinks and cakes. The rest are from other processed foods like ketchup.
However, the majority of people in the world have a general mental condition like anxiety or mood disorder. Could there be a connection between high sugar intake and mental health disorders?
An earlier research that was published in 2002 looked at the connection of depression with sugar use across six countries. Researchers from Baylor College in the US and Baylor College in the US discovered that higher levels of consumption of refined sugar were linked to higher levels of depression.
In the past, a number of studies have looked into the connection between sugar consumption and depression. For instance, in 2011, scientists from Spain discovered that when they classified participants according to their commercial baked food intake, the group who ate the most baked items had a 38% greater probability of developing depression than those who ate the least. The relationship remained even when accounting for health consciousness and work level.
The year 2014 was the time when researchers examined the relationship between sweetened drinks in an extensive US sample. They discovered that sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages (diet drinks) can increase the chance of being diagnosed with depression. Additionally, a 2015 study that included nearly 70,000 women revealed more likely to be depressed when people have a large consumption of added sugar; however, not so in those who consume a lot of sugars naturally occurring like the ones found in fruits.
In attempting to explain the link
We’re not certain of the causes of depression. However some scientists believe that changes in the body are the main cause of the condition. Certain of these changes may influence the way you feel due to sugar or sweet tastes. For instance, a study on rats revealed that diets that are high in fat and sugar can decrease a protein called BDNF, which influences the development and growth of brain nerve cells. The protein is believed to play a role in the development of depressive symptoms as well as anxiety.
Another possibility of a biological cause is inflammation. Consuming a diet high in sugar may cause inflammation as a reaction to protection of the body, usually directed at microorganisms or other foreign substances. While the most common symptoms of inflammation, like the appearance of redness, aren’t a sign of a mood disorder, the characters that make us stay in bed suffering from colds are more pronounced, including lack of energy and the inability to focus. The ongoing studies suggest the possibility that depression might be related to inflammation, at least in a few instances.
Dopamine is another potential cause. Another possible cause is dopamine. study conducted on rats has garnered media attention because it suggested that sweets may be just as addicting as cocaine. It could be because of the effects of dopamine, which is the brain chemical that is involved within this reward system. Dopamine is also believed to affect mood. It is also linked to a higher chance to develop a disorder of the mood.
Additionally, sugar consumption may be linked to other factors, including obesity, which can be linked to mood.
However, these relationships could indicate a reverse-effect that could cause low mood to cause people to alter their diet. Sweet foods can be used to alleviate negative feelings and provide the temporary boost in mood. Low mood and anxiety can make everyday things, such as grocery shopping or cooking, extremely exhausting and tiring for sufferers that they begin to avoid these foods. Instead, they may prefer junk food, takeaways or prepared meals, all of which are packed with an excessive amount of sugar.