Can Sugar Cause Depression?

I just finished a really interesting book “This is Your Brain on Food.” As a health care practitioner, I’m always reading books about health and I love sharing the info with you. What I really like about this book is she broke down the chapters by health issues. Can sugar cause depression? I found the section on depression and sugar to be very insightful.

When you’re feeling a bit down, your body may actually crave sugar and the more you indulge the worse you feel over time. So you get stuck in this loop of craving sugar and feeling crappy. Actually, the more sugary snacks and drinks you consume, the more you increase your risk for depression.

Why does sugar cause depression?

The brain relies on glucose (sugar) from the food we eat in order to function. The thing is though, your brain only needs 62 grams of glucose in a 24 hour period to work well. And that amount can easily be achieved with a healthy, balanced diet of whole, nutritious foods. When you consume processed foods like baked goods and sodas, it overloads your system with sugar. These foods lead to inflammation in the brain and ultimately result in depression.

What about grains?

Most people don’t understand that high-carbohydrate foods are made from refined flour. Even though they may not taste sweet, your body will process them just like sugar. It really comes down to getting your carbs from veggies rather than processed foods. Also choose foods that are high in fiber and lower in the glycemic index. High glycemic foods are ones that turn to sugar in your body really quickly, like white bread, white potatoes, and white rice.

I always suggest limiting your consumption of grains and when you do eat them, make sure they are good sources of fiber and whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and steel-cut oats. Instead of grains, try foods like lentils, chickpeas, and kidney beans.

The studies cited in the book suggested a Mediterranean eating plan which uses olive oil, lean proteins, and fish along with a variety of veggies, beans, and nuts.

Foods to Enhance Your Mood

• Probiotics like sauerkraut, miso, tempeh
• Prebiotics like beans, oats, and berries
• Healthy Fats, like avocados, butter, and olive oil
• Low GI carbs, like chia seeds, quinoa, and steel-cut oats
• Omega-3s like fish oil and fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel
• Vitamins, especially B’s. C, and A
• Minerals and micronutrients like iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium, and potassium
• Spices like saffron and turmeric
• Herbs like oregano, lavender, passionflower, and chamomile

Sugar is addictive
Studies have shown that it’s even more addictive than cocaine. Let’s face it, I don’t know many people who can eat just one cookie or even one potato chip. Those foods flood your brain with serotonin, the feel-good hormone. But you can break the cycle of cravings and addiction in just 5 days with my simple RESET program. Our next live group starts January 9th. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy the holidays and then get started on the healthy path in the new year. Here’s a link to order your kit at wholesale. And, if you already have a USANA account, all you need to do is order the RESET kit. Let me know if you have any questions.

If you have any questions or need help,
I’m here to support you.

Have a great week. Donna

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