Is Diet The Reason You Are Depressed?
I was recently asked to host a series of corporate wellness webinars to help people find some semblance of order and control in what has, and continues to be, a very challenging time.
I know from 25 years of restoring people’s health, great personal energy can go a long way to lift mood and create a positive perspective on one’s self and the world around them.
People often find it challenging to shift dietary habits. It can take years. So, for the benefit of the busy tech executives tuning into my talk, I decided to make life easy.
It all boils down to three things. You simply need to remove these three things from your life and not only will your mental health improve, your physical health will thank you too.
Fast food is junk food, no questions about it
Yes, I understand this is blindingly obvious but only when you dig deeper do you truly realise there is no place at all in your life for the chemical filled ‘non food’ that is fast food.
It only exists to make you addicted to the chemical combinations big companies call ‘food’, thus making them more money in the process... 690 billion dollars to be precise.
Fast food is a huge money maker
“The global fast food market is expected to be worth more than $690 billion in 2022 with a compound annual growth rate of 4.2% from 2017 to 2022.”
The food technologists have made nearly 700 billion dollars by fine tuning every ingredient in their products to stimulate what’s known as the ‘sweet spot’ of your brain.
14,000 chemicals have been added to the production, processing and packaging of food since the late 1950’s, all sanctioned and given the green light by the FDA.
Let’s look at some examples of these scary ingredients, which we often see on our packets of food, but never once look into:
TBHQ – Tertiary butylhydroquinone
“This chemical is derived from petroleum and can have lasting effects on the lungs, liver, nervous system and reproductive organs”. It is linked to forms of cancer and used in the U.S to fry fries and nuggets. It’s banned in Europe.
Propyl gallate
This chemical is also found in “cosmetic and pharmaceutical drugs. The side effects include stomach irritability, liver and kidney problems and allergic reactions on your skin”.
Cellulose – Wood Pulp
Sounds creamy and normal? But, it’s actually wood pulp which is used in chicken nuggets and fish fillets. Taco Bell uses cellulose in at least 9 products.
In this category of fast food I must throw in the huge coffee shop chains, immersed in chemicals and toxicity, they, like the fast food bunch are hell-bent on taking your money with zero appreciation for your physical and mental health.
“Hiding behind the shadowy “Grocery Manufacturers Association”, Starbucks is supporting a lawsuit that’s aiming to block a landmark law that requires genetically-modified ingredients to be labelled. Amazingly, it claims that the law is an assault on corporations’ right to free speech.”
So, whichever way you dress up fast food, it’s got zero benefits to your physical and mental health and a very sinister side to it.
Sugar is the devil
There are 15 grams of sugar in a Costa Coffee Babyccino which is a product aimed at children. So, I guess we’re getting them hooked young? Sugar is considered more addictive than cocaine.
The Babyccino is just the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to the refined sugar crisis engulfing daily life. It’s time to be vigilant and read your food labels carefully. Don’t be fooled by clever marketing.
Sugar will make you depressed
According to UCL research, “Men who consumed more than 67g (of sugar), had a 23% increased chance of incident common mental disorders after five years, compared to those… who consumed less than 39.5 g. According to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey published in 2013 men in the UK consume an average 68.4 grams of added sugar per day.”
So, on average, men in the UK consume 1.4 grams over the danger zone of 67g of sugar which gives you an increased chance of mental disorders like depression and anxiety. Scary stuff.
Sugar will make you gain weight
Plus, let’s not forget, sugar adds weight to your body rapidly. And gaining weight can often leave people feeling depressed. Healthline.com talks us through exactly how sugar makes us gain weight:
“High blood sugar levels impair normal cell function and promote inflammation, which increases insulin resistance… Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas that moves sugar from your blood into cells, where it can be used for energy. Insulin is also involved in energy storage, telling your cells when to store energy as either fat or glycogen, the storage form of glucose.
Though cells become resistant to insulin’s effect on blood sugar uptake, they remain responsive to the hormone’s role in fat storing, meaning that fat storage is increased. This phenomenon is known as selective insulin resistance… This is why insulin resistance and high blood sugar are associated with increased body fat — specifically in the belly area.”
Alcohol is the silent assassin
Yes, I know it may feel anti-social to cut out alcohol for good. But, my friends, alcohol is wreaking havoc on your mental health.
A study in 2012, researching the connection between alcohol and depression, found, “Depression in an alcohol-dependent person has been reported to not only lower the resolve to resisting alcohol use, but may also lead to use of alcohol to relive the depressive symptoms”.
“The prevalence of depression at intake before detoxification was 63.8% (120 participants). Six months after detoxification and completion of rehabilitation the prevalence of depression was 30.2% (47 participants).”
So, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Within six months of stopping drinking, your chance of depression lowers dramatically. The body and mind are amazing. No matter what you throw at them, they will bounce back and achieve equilibrium. You are blessed to have such an amazing vessel to carry you through life. Don’t abuse it.
Let’s get back to food. It’s not so much what you eat as what you should avoid. Keep your diet simple. Stop buying in to what everyone else is doing and look after your own head and body.
Eat naturally occurring food
Vegetables, whole-grains, pulses, fruit, seeds, salad, nuts, non farmed fish and organic white poultry — this is the list which should make up 80/90% of your diet
Drink 3 litres of pure water everyday. Your heart and brain are 73% water and you overall are 60% water, so it makes sense, right?
Learn to cook the basic grains and pulses.Thanks to YouTube you have every recipe ever made at your fingertips
Invest in a juicer and a NutriBullet
By keeping your food simple, you will see significant increases in your energy and mood. Your mind will be clearer and your eyes and skin bright.
Of course, we can treat ourselves occasionally. 10% — 20% of your diet is the treat area. We are not aiming for perfection or a quick extreme fix. We are aiming for a realistic lifestyle change which is sustainable. Occasional treats are part of that.
Ultimately, you have the power and control to dictate how your food intake influences how you feel. If you’re constantly feeling tired, sluggish, depressed, and demotivated, why would you not choose to simplify your diet, cutting out sugar, alcohol and fast food?
All the signs to a happier you, are pointing towards a nutritious diet. So, it’s time to put down the burger and cookies, and pick up the apples and rice. It may not appeal at first, but overtime you will not only reap the rewards, but you will also find delicious recipes which make healthy eating a joy.
Photography by Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash