The connection between what we eat and our mental health is deeper than you imagine. Dr. Daniel Amen, a renowned psychiatrist and neuroscience specialist from California revealed, in a recent TikTok video, Foods to avoid if you suffer from depression.
Recent research has shown that the gut and the brain communicate constantly through a complex network of nerves and chemical signals. Stress can trigger physical symptoms, such as nausea or diarrhea, highlighting the importance of taking care of our intestinal health.
In this way, the intestinal microbiome – which includes trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms – plays a crucial role in regulating our mental and emotional health. That is why avoiding junk food is essential for those face depression.
According to Amen, “If you follow a diet of ultra-processed foods, you have a dramatically increased risk of fighting depression”. Likewise, he emphasized the importance of “feeding your intestinal ‘bugs’” with healthy foods, fiber, colorful fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy proteins.
Nichole Andrews, a dietitian oncologist, also warned about the need to avoid alcohol, processed meats, soda, red meat, coffee drinks, white beans, and plant milks. Ultra-processed foods have been associated with an increased risk of disease.
Studies that support the relationship between diet and depression
A 2023 study from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health found that People who consume nine or more servings of ultra-processed foods a day have a 50% increased risk of developing depression than those who eat four or fewer servings.
Additionally, artificial sweeteners have been linked to an increased risk of depression, suggesting that these chemicals could alter brain chemistry in harmful ways.
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