Researchers from Hangzhou Normal University in China explored how what people eat relates to mood, focusing on symptoms of depression and anxiety. The findings appear in a study published in BMC Medicine, signaling that diet can influence mental health in meaningful ways. Attribution: Hangzhou Normal University study, BMC Medicine.
They found that higher consumption of sweets, butter, sugar and milk based desserts, combined with a lower intake of fruits and vegetables, correlates with greater intensity of depressive and anxious symptoms. The pattern suggests that everyday dietary choices may play a role in mental well being, beyond traditional views of mood disorders. Attribution: Hangzhou Normal University study, BMC Medicine.
The researchers analyzed data from a large cohort of 157,000 volunteers, of whom about 70,000 were diagnosed with depression and another 70,000 with anxiety disorders. Diet and mental state were tracked every three to four months, with the study spanning seven years and six months. This long follow up strengthens the reliability of the observed associations and highlights potential cumulative effects of diet on mood. Attribution: Hangzhou Normal University study, BMC Medicine.
Our results show the intricate links between overall diet and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The current analysis provides robust evidence that increased intake of free sugars and saturated fatty acids is associated with elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms, prompting clinicians and researchers to consider dietary patterns when assessing mental health risk. Attribution: Hangzhou Normal University study, BMC Medicine.
Historically, some scientists have speculated about connections between gut health and mood, suggesting that the gut may influence emotional well being. These early ideas align with modern research that continues to examine how bowel function and microbiome might relate to mental health outcomes. Attribution: Hangzhou Normal University study, BMC Medicine.