A study found those who drank more than four glasses of this a day had a far higher risk of depression compared to those who avoided it.
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
Research has linked sweetened beverages—both sugar and artificially sweetened—with an increased risk of depression, the highest risk being associated with diet fruit drinks and diet soda
Another study found adolescents who had elevated levels of sodium and low levels of potassium in their urine—two factors indicative of a diet high in junk food and processed food—had more frequent symptoms of depression
A 2019 study found dietary intervention can effectively treat depression in young adults. Those who ate a Mediterranean-style diet reported a significant reduction in depression symptoms after 21 days
A recent meta-analysis also concluded that “Dietary interventions hold promise as a novel intervention for reducing symptoms of depression across the population”
As a general guideline, eating a whole-food diet can go a long way toward lowering your inflammation level and thus your risk of depression. A cornerstone of a healthy diet is limiting sugar of all kinds, ideally below 25 grams a day
Foods have an immense impact on your body and your brain, and eating whole foods as described in my nutrition plan is a good way to simultaneously support your mental and physical health. Avoiding sugar and artificial sweeteners is in my view, based on the evidence, a crucial aspect of preventing and/or treating depression.
Both contribute to chronic inflammation and can wreak havoc with your brain function. Recent research also shows how swapping processed junk food for a healthier diet can significantly improve depression symptoms, which really shouldn’t come as a great surprise.
The Sugar Trap
Research [1] published in 2014 linked sweetened beverages—both sugar and artificially sweetened—with an increased risk of depression. Those who drank more than four cans or glasses of soda a day had a 30 percent higher risk of depression compared to those who did not consume sweetened beverages of any kind.
Joseph Mercola
Author
Dr. Joseph Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com. An osteopathic physician, best-selling author, and recipient of multiple awards in the field of natural health, his primary vision is to change the modern health paradigm by providing people with a valuable resource to help them take control of their health.
