Health Update: Depression & Blood Sugar Linked
Hello again friends:
As you know, inflammation will cause, perpetuate, and/or aggravate all chronic health conditions. This is very true for any brain or neurological condition and especially depression and brain fog. Here is some direct information about how what you eat may be a part of depression:
“Upon analysis, scientists found a “significant correlation” between elevated levels glycosylated hemoglobin (which is sugar saturated and damaged hemoglobin also known as HbA1c), reduced gray matter volume, and depression.
Researchers reported a lower gray matter volume was associated with depression, and this association was seen the most in study participants with prediabetes, compared to those with or without diabetes”.
Bottom Line:
Poor diets lead to elevated blood sugar, then pre-diabetes and this sugar saturated state produces a lot of inflammation that shrinks the brain. It is never a good idea to have any part of your brain shrink. An inflamed and shrinking brain is not a happy brain. So as part of your mental health protocols, make sure that you are not eating a food plan that is inflammatory and make your food blood sugar friendly. The paper also notes that those with diabetes are 2 to 3 x at greater risk for depression, and those that are depressed are more likely to become overweight and those that are overweight are more inflamed and more likely to be depressed.
Where to start?
Stop consuming processed foods of any type, avoid all added sugars of any type or name, avoid foods that turn to sugar quickly such as cakes, pastries, pastas, cookies, etc., and avoid fruit juices and anything with added fructose. These steps can help you improve brain function and reduce inflammation. There is no pill for this, no medication that can replace food. Personally, I always start my shopping at my Organic Farm-acy for my health!!
