Sweet depression

A British study has found that those who abuse sweets may have a 23% greater risk of developing psychological problems.

Having a hard day or surviving a tough week is often the perfect excuse to send the diet aside and feed on unhealthy things. This self-rewarding way can be the result of a very stressful job, or just poor food education. In the long run, such habits directly impact your physical shape: in addition to having less disposition, you will have to buy pants with larger numbers.

However, a study published in Scientific Reports showed that for men, abusing sugar can mean effects that go beyond bodily changes. In their case, a too sweet life can be, I should say, more depressing.

Consuming more than 67g of sugar per day (two cups of Coca-Cola, for example) represented a 23% greater chance of developing psychological disorders over a 5-year period compared to those who maintained moderate consumption - less than 39.5g daily.

To reach these relationships, the researchers at University College London observed the sugar consumption and mental health of 7,000 Britons, including 5,000 men. Data were collected by the Whitehall II study, which lasted 30 years (between 1983 and 2013). The participants answered questionnaires that included questions such as "How often do you eat a piece of cake?" And regularly participate in mental health tests and physical assessments - such as weight and height measurements.

The fact that women are not equally affected by the sugar-rich diet remains without a definitive answer. The researchers hypothesis is that the explanation lies in the difference in the number of men and women analyzed. Despite this, research on British diets proves that, in general, they have blood sweeter than them. A national census of 2013 showed that, for males in the United Kingdom, the daily average sugar consumption is at 68.4g.

It is known that very sweet foods can directly affect the development of nerve cells. Too much blood sugar reduces levels of a protein (BDNF) that drives the creation of new neurons in the brain - which is believed to be related to the development of depression and anxiety. The onset of inflammation, which also directly impact mood and are a brain response to sugar, may also be involved in the process.

"Diets very rich in sugar have many implications for our health, but our study shows that there is a relationship between sweet foods and mood swings, especially for men." It is true that being in good health depends on a set of Factors, but sugar consumption may "be the last straw" for the appearance of some psychological problems, argues Anika Knüppel, one of the authors of the study.

In addition to determining the onset of diseases such as diabetes, obesity and dementia, it is not the first time that excessive consumption of sugar is related to the development of depression. In 2011, Spanish researchers concluded that anyone who abuses cakes, biscuits and breads is 38% more likely to be depressed. Over-sweetened beverages have also proven to be determinants in a 2014 study to make those who is prone to depression to start the disease.