Eat Junk Food and You Might Become Depressed

Eating lots of fast food or junk food might make you depressed, according to new research from Spain. Researchers followed nearly 9000 people for several years and found that those who regularly consumed fast food and sweets were 51 percent more likely to develop depression than those who ate little or no junk food.

They also found that the more someone ate fast food the more likely he or she would become clinically depressed. Even people who only consumed small amounts of fast food or commercially baked sweets like doughnuts were more likely to suffer from the disease. That's pretty scary stuff in our opinion!

It's not a secret that diet and mental state are connected but this is one of the first studies to show a strong connection between eating junk food and "feeling down." It's possible that feeling depressed could cause someone to eat more high-sugar, high-fat junk foods and low-quality carbs. But it's also very possible that eating lots of processed sugars, artificial flavorings, food chemicals, and "bad" fats (like trans fatty acids) negatively affects mood and mental health in a significant way over time.

Researchers also found that smokers and people who worked more than 45 hours per week were much more likely to eat junk foods and suffer from depression. So the bottom line is, don't eat fast food or sweets, don't smoke, don't work too much, and follow a healthy lifestyle... and you probably won't become depressed! (duh)

Learn some mo': Sweets and Fast Food Linked to Depression