Baked Goods can lead to Depression

A new study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition by the U.S. National Institutes of Health has revealed that regular eating of commercially produced baked goods can lead to depression. So before you reach for the brownies, croissants, muffins or donuts, consider that junk food may be the reason you have that “pressed down” feeling. It may be the frozen pizzas that are the cause of your low energy and motivation. Could the cookies be making you anxious? Maybe you are consuming depression-causing chemicals. Oh yes, and the hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken sandwiches are also part of the list, which is nearly endless.

People in Spain who consumed the most fast food and baked goods were 37% more likely to become depressed compared to people who ate the lowest amount of those foods. The study was conducted on nearly 9,000 people.

“The more fast food you eat,” said the lead researcher, Almudena Sanchez-Vallegas, “the greater the risk of depression.” Even eating small amounts of baked goods can increase your chances of depression. There is a “positive-dose response relationship between the consumption of fast food and the risk of depression,” she said.

Though more study needs to be done to determine if the relationship is causative or if both eating higher quantities of fast food and depression stem from a common denominator, Sanchez-Vallegas said “the intake of this type of food should be controlled because of its implications on both health (obesity, cardiovascular diseases) and mental well being.”

“Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing. They impart a strength, a power of endurance, and a vigor of intellect, that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, page 81

Nature Knows Best!