In a recent study, researchers used a long-term, large cohort study to evaluate the effects of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF) on mental health. Prior researches were based mainly on physical health with researchers flagging that UPFs are directly responsible for human diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome, obesity and overweight, reduced immune response, and cancer. Recent evidence suggests that consuming these dietary products may have a detrimental effect on mental health too.
The results of this study suggested that UPFs, especially artificially sweetened beverages, significantly increases depression risk in middle aged people. As the phrase goes “you are what you eat”, diet is one of the most important treatments individuals can harness to improve their health and well-being. Unfortunately, there has been an alarming trend in recent decades with a shift from fresh and minimally processed foods to ‘fast-foods,’ highly modified diets which are appealing to taste but of poor nutritional value. Ultra- Processed Foods consumption has been on the rise amongst people of different age groups. These foods are made from extracts of fats, starches, added sugars, and hydrogenated fats. They may also contain additives like artificial colors and flavors or stabilizers. These foods include frozen meals, soft drinks, hot dogs and cold cuts, fast food, packaged cookies, cakes, and salty snacks.
The researchers used a sizeable number of females aged between 42 and 62 years (mean 52) all of whom did not have any clinical depression symptoms. The long term study was conducted between 2003 and 2007, with follow ups every four years. Results from this study established a direct association between higher UPF consumption and increased risk of depression. Individuals with high UPF consumption also showed an increased prevalence of other unhealthy behaviors, including smoking, low physical activity levels, high BMI, and depression comorbidities, specifically diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. UPF component analyses revealed that artificially sweetened beverages and artificial sweeteners were directly associated with depression risk, while other component associations were non-significant. Finally, the exploratory analyses revealed that a reduction in UPF intake by three servings per day was able to partially rescue participants from depression risk, compared to participants who maintained a relatively stable UPF consumption pattern.