Bianca Castro

Researchers Study Links Between High-Sugar Diets And Depression

Researchers say they've found a correlation between high sugar intake and depression and mood swings in men.

The study from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London found that men who consumed more than 67 grams of sugar a day are 23-percent more likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety over five-year period.

In the study, researchers tracked the diets and medical conditions of 8,000 people over 22 years and found the link between sugar intake and depression only in men โ€” not women.

They theorize that high-sugar diets can produce proteins that might aid the development of depression.

Also, they say, high-sugar diets can cause inflammation, which can bring on mood swings.

"When you look at the baggie, that's a lot of sugar. That's almost 17 tablespoons of sugar, " said registered dietitian Amy Goodson, who says it's the equivalent of a single 20-ounce bottle of Coke or three candy bars.

Add that to the hidden sugars we eat, and she says, it adds up fast.

"They might be in your breakfast cereal, a granola bar, your favorite coffee drink or in your local smoothie or natural juice that you're drinking," Goodson said.

The World Health Organization says you should reduce your daily intake of added sugars to less than five percent of your diet.

Goodson says the more you fill yourself up with wholesome food, the less likely you are to reach for that extra doughnut.

"The more that you focus on eating fresh food โ€” so fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, things of that nature โ€” you're not as likely to consume as many added sugar calories," she said.

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