Food and Mood

Study: Fast food linked to depression

By Jayna Barker | The News Record

Published: Sunday, January 31, 2010

Coulter Loeb | The News Record

A new study suggests that eating junk food might cause depression

"Burgers, french fries and pizza might taste good, but consumption of processed junk food is not only bad for the waistline, but also for mental health.

A new study in The British Journal of Psychiatry suggests eating junk food is likely to cause depression.

British and French epidemiologists — scientists who study diseases and pathogens — analyzed food and mood data from 3,486 men and women.

The participants were asked about the type of food they ate and the size of the portions during the previous year.

The data was then converted to a daily intake and two dietary patterns were determined: the “whole food pattern” (a high daily intake of healthy fruits, vegetables and fish) and the “processed food pattern” (a diet consisting of lots of sweetened desserts, chocolates, fried food, processed meat, refined grains, high-fat dairy products and condiments).

Five years later, the same participants filled out a questionnaire that measured symptoms of depression. The scientists found high consumption of the processed foods was more likely to lead to depression, while people who ate healthier were less likely to
be depressed.

“This is the first study that I’ve read about natural versus processed foods,” said Erik Nelson, psychiatry adjunct associate professor. “It’s an interesting association.”

While many disagree that junk food is directly linked to depression, the study isn’t far off base. Food intake controls the levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which regulate behavior. Neurotransmitters are closely linked to mood, Nelson said.

Consuming fruits and vegetables (complex carbohydrates) raises the level of tryptophan in the brain, thereby increasing serotonin production, which has a calming effect.

High-protein foods promote the production of dopamine and norepinephrine, which promote alertness, Nelson said.

On the other hand, eating junk food reduces the levels of these hormones in the brain, increasing stress and tension and reducing joy and alertness.

“We know that there are biological causes that affect diet, but everyone is different,” Nelson said.

Depression is multifaceted, so many factors contribute to the real cause of its development.

The unhealthy oils in junk food can have a long-lasting effect on the brain’s ability to experience pleasure. This produces an addiction whereby food becomes the only way to
feel pleasure."

I realize this news may be shocking to some of you...but what I am curious about is how this "new" trend in regarding mental issues as a result of nutritional and hormonal imbalances fits into your professional approach.

Mark Hyman, MD, expands on this with his UltraMind therapy and the Institute for Functional Medicine operates based on the premise that the body is a system, rather than a set of separate, independent functions and needs to be treated as such.

Beyond changing eating habits*, one of Dr. Hyman's "remedies" for healing a "broken mind" is to address and alleviate stress, so this approach offers great opportunities to our field.

www.ultrawellness.com

www.functionalmedicine.org

*There is no such thing as junk food. There is food. And there is junk.

Tags: food, functional, issues, junk, medicine, mental, nutrition

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Permalink Reply by Donna Carter on February 1, 2010 at 8:21am

Nutrition... in my professional approach, is a leg that I stand on. If I took off that leg, I would fall down.
To have a healthy mind/body...we need healthy cells. To have healthy cells we need a healthy environment. Our environment is made up of what is inside our body (our nutrition and thoughts) and outside our body (the air we breath and what our senses touch on, etc.).

The idea that this "fast food causes depression" news is shocking to people? Is....sad.....(no pun intended).

~D.

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Permalink Reply by Joe K Fobes on February 1, 2010 at 10:36am

No no no.

Depressed people eat junk food.

Correlation does not prove causation.

Joe

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Permalink Reply by Roger Moore on February 1, 2010 at 10:55am

Oh Kelley - like minds! I have this one slated as a blog post for later this week.
Roger

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on February 1, 2010 at 11:06am

Thank, Ian. I am actually reading Hyman's book, "The UltraMind Solution". He does list over 400 references to support his claims. http://www.ultramind.com/references/ (Disclosure: I have no vested interest in Dr. Hyman in any way but AM hugely interested in how nutrition plays a role in our health, mental and otherwise...)

Including in his impressive results are cases of complete remission of autism sympoms in children. In addition, he has found success in treating Alzheimer's, "brain fog" and ADHD, among other "mental diseases". On his website he lists his 7 key components in the protocol, No. 7 of which is "Calm Your Mind":

A life of meaning and purpose, a life in balance with connection, community, love, support, and a sense of empowerment is essential for health. The overwhelming stresses of the twenty-first century, including social isolation, overwork, and disempowerment, create enormous stresses on our nervous systems, leading to burnout and breakdown.

A stiff, rigid, "hard" personality is reflected in stiff cells, rigid plaques in the brain, and a general loss of resilience. We lose the ability to renew, remember, and repair.

This is not just a metaphor for what happens. Your brain literally stiffens, slows, and loses function in direct relationship to your thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes about you and your place in the world. How each of us responds to our life–to our perceptions–has enormous implications for how we feel, how we age, and the health of our brain.

Ian Jay said:

This article, in common UK parlance, is total bollox!

While many disagree that junk food is directly linked to depression, the study isn’t far off base. Food intake controls the levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which regulate behavior. Neurotransmitters are closely linked to mood, Nelson said.

Consuming fruits and vegetables (complex carbohydrates) raises the level of tryptophan in the brain, thereby increasing serotonin production, which has a calming effect.

High-protein foods promote the production of dopamine and norepinephrine, which promote alertness, Nelson said.

Great rhetoric, but no evidence!

Ian

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Permalink Reply by Donna Carter on February 1, 2010 at 1:12pm

Kelley, I too...have been reading Hyman's Ultramind solution.
Maybe we could have a book discussion when done.

Cheers,
~D.

Kelley Woods said:

Thank, Ian. I am actually reading Hyman's book, "The UltraMind Solution". He does list over 400 references to support his claims. http://www.ultramind.com/references/ (Disclosure: I have no vested interest in Dr. Hyman in any way but AM hugely interested in how nutrition plays a role in our health, mental and otherwise...)

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Permalink Reply by Donna Carter on February 1, 2010 at 1:26pm

Ian,
Just so I understand...
are you saying you disagree with the idea that 'food intake controls the level of brain chemicals'
or something else in the article that I may have missed.

The general 'idea' and over all tone that I get out of this article, I agree with. You are what you eat. People who do not eat enough nutritional food can and often do show behavior issues.

I suppose one could argue... ~does junk 'cause' depression?~
Then we would have to get into..how much junk does one consume in a day, month, year. And just like some people are allergic to shell fish, each person is different and are susceptible to different things.
I could hazard an educated guess that...yes, junk can cause depression in many people. And...good nutrition can cause balance and harmony.

~D.

Ian Jay said:

This article, in common UK parlance, is total bollox!

While many disagree that junk food is directly linked to depression, the study isn’t far off base. Food intake controls the levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which regulate behavior. Neurotransmitters are closely linked to mood, Nelson said.

Consuming fruits and vegetables (complex carbohydrates) raises the level of tryptophan in the brain, thereby increasing serotonin production, which has a calming effect.

High-protein foods promote the production of dopamine and norepinephrine, which promote alertness, Nelson said.

Great rhetoric, but no evidence!

Ian

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Permalink Reply by Saul Rosenfeld on February 1, 2010 at 2:38pm

Hey folks,

It might interest you to know that I'm conducting a "nutritional" experiment of my own (purely in the interest of science and for the betterment of my fellow man).
So this morning for breakfast I had my usual bowl of oatmeal and a banana; then at 12:45 I ate a chocolate eclair (Enteman's- YUM!!), and went for my usual 8 mile hike in the woods until 2:30. Had a bit of fruit-flavored yoghurt when I stumbled back home, and then (all-natural) turkey breast, a fresh avocado, and a delicious mashed sweet potato with apple pie filling thingie my (certified nutritionist) wife makes, followed by a chocolate brownie for dessert.
My experiment is to determine if the overabundance of sugar (eclair, apple-pie filling and brownie) will be canceled out by the high nutritional value of the other fare (oatmeal, yoghurt, avocado & sweet potato) coupled with my strenuous (fast-paced) hike.
At the moment, I AM admittedly a tad depressed about the brownie and eclair already being gone, but I'm also cheerful and excited about watching those brand new episodes of "House, MD", "2 1/2 Men" and "Big Bang Theory" on the boob tube tonight.
So, for today at least, everything seems to be in harmonius balance!
Stay tuned for further developments...; - )

Saul

www.HistoryOfHypnotism.com

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on February 1, 2010 at 3:42pm

Now I understand you, Saul. You have developed a fine case of "sugar crust brain"!

Saul Rosenfeld said:

Hey folks,

It might interest you to know that I'm conducting a "nutritional" experiment of my own (purely in the interest of science and for the betterment of my fellow man).
So this morning for breakfast I had my usual bowl of oatmeal and a banana; then at 12:45 I ate a chocolate eclair (Enteman's- YUM!!), and went for my usual 8 mile hike in the woods until 2:30. Had a bit of fruit-flavored yoghurt when I stumbled back home, and then (all-natural) turkey breast, a fresh avocado, and a delicious mashed sweet potato with apple pie filling thingie my (certified nutritionist) wife makes, followed by a chocolate brownie for dessert.
My experiment is to determine if the overabundance of sugar (eclair, apple-pie filling and brownie) will be canceled out by the high nutritional value of the other fare (oatmeal, yoghurt, avocado & sweet potato) coupled with my strenuous (fast-paced) hike.
At the moment, I AM admittedly a tad depressed about the brownie and eclair already being gone, but I'm also cheerful and excited about watching those brand new episodes of "House, MD", "2 1/2 Men" and "Big Bang Theory" on the boob tube tonight.
So, for today at least, everything seems to be in harmonius balance!
Stay tuned for further developments...; - )

Saul

www.HistoryOfHypnotism.com

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on February 1, 2010 at 3:43pm

I'd love that...it's fascinating reading, isn't it? Thanks, Donna.

Kelley

Donna Rodolph said:

Kelley, I too...have been reading Hyman's Ultramind solution.
Maybe we could have a book discussion when done.

Cheers,
~D.

Kelley Woods said:
Thank, Ian. I am actually reading Hyman's book, "The UltraMind Solution". He does list over 400 references to support his claims. http://www.ultramind.com/references/ (Disclosure: I have no vested interest in Dr. Hyman in any way but AM hugely interested in how nutrition plays a role in our health, mental and otherwise...)

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Permalink Reply by Saul Rosenfeld on February 1, 2010 at 3:53pm

Kelley,

How right you are!
In fact, I have it on good authority that my metabolism has somehow managed to morph into an ENTIRELY glucose-based system (no veggies, proteins or complex carbs need apply!).
I'm convinced that this is also the reason why I don't look a day older than 29 even though my chronological age is 60.
As soon as I've compiled sufficient data, I plan on selling the results to Big Pharm (probably to the same dudes who make Viagra, because my sex-drive is even more pronounced than when I was a randy pimply-faced 16 year-old punk).
Glory be to refined (chlorine bleached) white sugar!!

Saul

www.HistoryOfHypnotism.com

Kelley Woods said:

Now I understand you, Saul. You have developed a fine case of "sugar crust brain"!

Saul Rosenfeld said:
Hey folks,

It might interest you to know that I'm conducting a "nutritional" experiment of my own (purely in the interest of science and for the betterment of my fellow man).
So this morning for breakfast I had my usual bowl of oatmeal and a banana; then at 12:45 I ate a chocolate eclair (Enteman's- YUM!!), and went for my usual 8 mile hike in the woods until 2:30. Had a bit of fruit-flavored yoghurt when I stumbled back home, and then (all-natural) turkey breast, a fresh avocado, and a delicious mashed sweet potato with apple pie filling thingie my (certified nutritionist) wife makes, followed by a chocolate brownie for dessert.
My experiment is to determine if the overabundance of sugar (eclair, apple-pie filling and brownie) will be canceled out by the high nutritional value of the other fare (oatmeal, yoghurt, avocado & sweet potato) coupled with my strenuous (fast-paced) hike.
At the moment, I AM admittedly a tad depressed about the brownie and eclair already being gone, but I'm also cheerful and excited about watching those brand new episodes of "House, MD", "2 1/2 Men" and "Big Bang Theory" on the boob tube tonight.
So, for today at least, everything seems to be in harmonius balance!
Stay tuned for further developments...; - )

Saul

www.HistoryOfHypnotism.com

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Pattie Freeman CH.t, MST on February 1, 2010 at 8:49pm

Nutrient is part of my background and it helps with my weight loss and stress clients. Jumk food and high protein if not exercised that excess sugars, proteins and carbs. this can cause insomnia, mervousness, stress, anxiety etc it just depends on how much i take and when and how often.

Its like a kid eating chocolate all the time its ok once in a while but after awhile they can have other problems....it changes your mood...

Donna I agree with your post..

Pattie

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on February 2, 2010 at 4:22am

Thank you, Ian, for your input and especially, your personal viewpoint, altho I'm not sure what the goat story has to do with it other than perhaps demonstrate that indigenous people evolved quite happily before the onslaught of trans fats, high fructose corn syrup and conservation-freak feminists!.

Ironically (or not) it seems we are actually in agreement, along with Hyman, that the medical system has failed many. With western medicine's emphasis on pharmalogical bandaids for chronic conditions such as inflammation, depression (which is being hailed as "the Type 2 diabetes") and immune system malfunction, it is easy to revert to "an apple a day" mentality. The picture is more detailed, of course, and involves the complex wonder of our bodies and how more of an attempt should be made toward balancing proper nutrition...and I'm not talking about vitamin fortified Wonder bread.

Interestingly, one of Hyman's key points is to also consider environmental factors, including mercury and other heavy metal intoxication, so this is not limited only to Western diet.

Sadly, yes, even people who CAN afford to eat properly are either ignorant, hypnotized by cultural hype or just too lazy to make the effort to do so. The body is amazingly resilient, though, and they can skate by for some time before succumbing to the host of diseases that represent our modern day.

Working in a field which requires I believe that the mind creates climates in my body, I don't find it hard to believe that the opposite is also true. This is the premise of Hyman's work and is supported from the simplest example of the mental benefits of exercise to studies showing the need for Vitamin D and omega 3s for healthy brain function.

Ian Jay said:

I don't eat 'junk food', but I am in a position where I can afford to buy fresh food, have access to it, and have the time to shop for it, prepare and cook it, and finally sit and relax to enjoy it. I am also aware that there are many people who are not as privileged as me.

It is a cruel fact of life that there are many for who 'fast food' is a necessity, not an option. And there are many more who starve to death for there is no food.

I once got embroiled in a heated argument with a conservation-freak feminist who was making a call-for-action to prevent the extinction of some species of wild goat that existed on some plain in Ethiopia. When I pointed out that when the local tribesmen with their families were dying through the lack of food - they had every right to kill and eat what they could find. It fell on deaf ears.

Those of us who live in a society where the sale of diet books matches the sales of recipe books, are fortunate to have a choice. And, yes, if given the choice we should be more responsible for what we eat. But what passes for education should not be self-serving pseudo-science, passing itself of as the voice of authority. However, most people who have a choice are neither stupid or ignorant when it comes to eating habits, they are lazy.

BTW, depression and the role of neurotransmitters was once part of my life. Though 'enlightenment', the discovery that it was bad science, I now use my knowledge to help my clients. Those that the medical system has failed and abandoned.