This is the diet that makes your brain sad

A poor quality diet may cause changes in the brain associated with depression and anxietyaccording to a pioneering study of the chemistry, structure and quality of brain nutrition conducted by the University of Reading, the University of Roehampton and King’s College London in the UK and Friesland Campin in the Netherlands and published in the journal. Nutritional neuroscience.

In a study conducted on diet 30 volunteersBrain scans have shown changes in neurotransmitters and gray matter volume in people on the poor diet compared to those on a Mediterranean diet. very healthy.

The researchers also found that these changes are associated with reflectionswhich is part of the diagnostic criteria for conditions affecting mental health such as depression and anxiety.

When a person wears poor quality dietGamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) decreases and glutamate—both neurotransmitters along with less gray matter—increases in the frontal region of the brain. This might explain the relationship between what we eat and how we feel.

Front part of the brain associated with mental health problems

Doctor Piril Hepsomalifrom the University of Reading, explains that “people who eat an unhealthy diet high in sugar and saturated fat have unbalanced excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, as well decrease in gray matter volume in the front of the brain. This part of the brain is involved in mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

He admits that “the exact reason why diet affects the brain in this way is still being researched, and it is possible that obesity and a diet rich in saturated fat cause changes in glutamate and GABA metabolism and neurotransmissionas shown in animal studies.”

“Changes in the gut microbiome caused by a diet rich in saturated fat are thought to influence the cellular machinery that increases production and GABA and glutamate,” he adds.

Remember that a diet rich in saturated fats and sugars has also been shown to reduces the number of parvalbumin interneuronswhich are responsible for transporting GABA to where it is needed.

“Unhealthy eating also has effect on glucose, causing an increase in blood glucose and insulin levels. According to him, this increases glutamate levels in the brain and plasma, thereby reducing the production and release of GABA. Diet rich in fats and cholesterol It can also cause changes in cell membranes that alter the release of neurotransmitters. “These changes in brain chemistry can lead to changes in the volume of gray matter in the brain, as observed in this study.”

Dr. Hepsomali insists that “GABA and glutamate are also closely related to appetite and food intake. Decreased GABA and/or increased glutamate may also be a determining factor in unhealthy food choices. Thus, there may be a circular relationship between good nutrition, a healthier brain and greater mental well-beingand choose better quality foods for nutritious nutrition,” he concludes.