It is true! Sugar is poison for the body like obesity and type 2 diabetes. It wreaks havoc on the emotions. Sugar inflames the tissues and since everything is connected this affects the brain as well. Inflammation is way the body fights viruses in order to protect the tissue from foreign invaders.
Refined sugar found in white flour, candy, soda, and cookies and in cakes fuel the inflammatory messengers called cytokines. No good for the brain.
People who struggle with depression are sensitive to processed foods as the sugar goes immediately into the blood stream. The reason this is because it spikes your blood for a sudden boost and then it plummets.
This means a drop in energy, depression, sadness, agitation, poor sleeping habits and a struggle to focus. The National Center for Biotechnology Information found: “A higher national dietary intake of refined sugar and dairy products predicted a worse 2-year outcome of schizophrenia. A high national prevalence of depression was predicted by a low dietary intake of fish and seafood.”
How much sugar are we consuming?
Americans consumed 60 pounds of a sugar per year. By 2012 we were up to 130 pounds of sugar. No wonder we are depressed.
A UCLA rat study found:
The 2012 study illustrated what you eat does affect moods and our thinking process said professor of neurosurgery, Fernando Gomez-Pinilla. "Eating a high-fructose diet over the long term alters your brain's ability to learn and remember information. But adding omega-3 fatty acids to your meals can help minimize the damage.
We're less concerned about naturally occurring fructose in fruits, which also contain important antioxidants. We're more concerned about the fructose in high-fructose corn syrup, which is added to manufactured food products as a sweetener and preservative.” '
WebMD suggested lowering the risk of depression--people can scale back their sugar intake in beverages, this includes artificial sweeteners. This could lower the risk of depression. Sugar stifles the brain growth hormone called BDNF, a protein in humans. If too low, it can lead to depression and other disorders.
Sugar also can also influence addictions to drugs since it releases that the pleasure chemical dopamine. We know sugar is no good, so here is what you can do. If you are prone to depression watch your sugar intake by liming processed foods, sodas, and overloading with carbohydrates.
Change your lifestyle by getting more rest, exercising, and eating healthier. Look into buying cookbooks that will guide you into making healthier meals with less sugar and sodium. Lastly, talk with a healthcare provider or counselor to help you move forward.
Dutch Health Chief Paul van der Velpen as reported in the Daily Mail said sugar is a dangerous drug, and just as addicting. He believed that sugar should be taxed in order to become more regulated. Maybe that is going too far but one thing is certain excessive sugar is dangerous to our health. “This may seem exaggerated and far-fetched, but sugar is the most dangerous drug of this time and is easy to obtain. Just as with smoking labels, soft drinks and sweet products should come with the warning that sugar is addictive and bad for the health. Just as with smoking labels, soft drinks and sweet products should come with the warning that sugar is addictive and bad for the health.”
