Anxiety, Depression May Lead to High-Fat Diet-Related Brain Changes

A high-fat diet has been shown to cause brain changes that can contribute to anxiety and depression. The latest results, performed on mice, have shown that an increase in body weight and high blood sugar as a result of a high-fat diet is linked to anxiety and depression.

The senior author, Dr. Bruno Guiard, "When treating depression, you usually do not predict any treatment resistance. So if we think of metabolic disorders as a predictor of biased treatment resistance, this should encourage psychiatrists to apply personalized treatment with antidepressant drugs that no longer destabilize metabolism. "

When the mice were taken from the high-fat diets their metabolic weaknesses were completely reversed and their anxiety symptoms were reduced. Dr. said. Guiard, "This result reinforces the idea that normalization of metabolic parameters may lead to a better chance of remission, especially in patients with depression with type 2 diabetes."

The results were published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.

High-fat diet and depression

Many studies have been done linking high-fat diets to worse mental health. In an alternative study, also conducted on mice, researchers from Louisiana State University implanted mice given a normal diet with bacteria from mice that eat only fat. Cognition and behavior were then recorded over time against a control group of mice.

The mice that received the bacteria from the high-fat mice expressed more repetitive behavior, anxiety, and memory impairment. These mice also had increased inflammation and permeability in the intestines.

John Krystal, MD, editor of Biological Psychiatry, said, “This paper suggests that high-fat diets damage brain health, in part, by disrupting the symbiotic relationship between humans and the microorganisms that occupy our gastrointestinal tract. . "

The results also suggest that behavioral changes can be made even when the animal is not obese. Unfortunately, it is not yet known how the high-fat diet alters behavioral changes.

Many research studies have been done previously linking links between gut bacteria and psychological conditions. This latest research supports what has already been said.

Obesity and depression have been thought to be caused by genetics, and it is more common for a depressed person to eat high-fat foods to feel better. On the other hand, the stigma attached to an obese person eating high-fat foods is linked to depression.

The Obesity Action Coalition reported, “One recent study found that obese people have a 20 per cent increased risk of depression, and specifically for people with a college education in the Caucasus, the risk of depression rises to as high as 44 per cent. first."

These new findings may further the link between obesity and depression.

Fat Tips: How much fat is good for you?

More and more we see labels that read “fat-free,” but we need fat for it to function and it must be good fat. Harmful fats include saturated fat and trans fat - both of which are found in fast food, processed foods and are commonly linked to poor health outcomes. On the other hand, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega fatty acids are healthy fats that our body needs for good overall health. But we can still have too much of a good thing, which is why it's important to know exactly how much fat we need.

The amount of fat you need depends on many factors, including age, weight, gender and activity level. The USDA recommends that fat intake should be 20 to 30 percent of your daily caloric intake. Saturated fats should be limited to less than 10 percent (200 calories based on 2000 caloric intake) and trans fat should be below one percent (two grams based on 2000 caloric intake). Keep in mind that this fat comes from red meat and not from processed foods.

If you are not sure how much fat you should eat, or if you want to know exactly what 20 to 30 percent is, talk to your doctor; they can recommend your personalized fat intake based on your needs and health conditions.

How to reduce bad fats in your diet

As mentioned, saturated fats and trans fats are the types of fats known to boost bad cholesterol and contribute to cardiovascular problems. For this reason, it is important that you minimize or eliminate them from your diet.

The good news is that trans fat is banned by the FDA, so in the coming years you will not have to worry about its presence in foods. Trans fats are found naturally in products like red meat, so it's a good idea to minimize your intake.

Other ways to eliminate trans fat include eliminating the consumption of foods such as baked goods, fried foods, snack foods, solid fats such as margarine, and premixed products such as cake mixes.

Tips to reduce your saturated fat intake include:

• Eat less red meat.
• Stick with white meat.
• Bake, broil or grill instead of frying.
• Peel a chicken when possible.
• Avoid bread or fried vegetables.
• Choose low-fat milk and low-fat cheeses.
• Use liquid vegetable oils, specifically olive oil.
• Avoid creams and cheese sauces or serve them on the side.

Not only do bad fats contribute to obesity, but they can also affect your heart and mental health. If you want to maintain optimal overall health, you can! Your first move is to reduce your intake of harmful fats and stick to the good ones instead.