Feeling blue? Blame that processed meal

Processed foods could be the reason why people sometimes feel mildly depressed or anxious.

Not surprisingly, the more times you consume a processed meal or drink, the more days you’ll feel blue and out of sorts.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt School of Medicine measured rates of mild depression and anxiety in a group of more than 10,000 American adults against the amount of processed food they consume.  Those who ate the most processed food had “significantly” more days of depression and anxiety than those who consumed the least amount of the food.  Very few eating the largest amounts had any days when they weren’t feeling low.

It’s not surprising, the researchers say.  Processed food is a non-food depleted of any nutritional value, and yet it is the staple of the typical American diet.  They represent 60 percent of the calories most Americans consume.

The foods are also high in sugars, saturated fats and salt, but low in protein fibre, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.  

Around 20 percent of Americans have some kind of a mental disorder, and the researchers say their findings have “significant clinical and public health implications.” 

Public Health Nutrition, 2022; 1: doi: 10.1017/S1368980022001566

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