Depression refers to feelings of severe sadness and demoralization. A variety of nutrients help create and enable the proper functioning of neurotransmitters in the brain, so there is a strong relationship between dietary habits and emotional wellbeing. One’s moods might sometimes decide what food they choose to eat. For example, when upset, many people crave comfort foods or junk foods like ice creams and French fries. But the reverse is also true, and foods that a person eats can affect their moods. It’s best to avoid these six foods that can worsen depression:

Simple carbs
Refined carbohydrates are foods stripped of all their nutrition, fiber, and bran. White-colored foods like bread, rice, pasta, pastry, white flour used for pizza and certain breakfast cereals are perfect examples of foods with simple carbohydrates. These do not provide lasting strength and release short bursts of energy instead. They cause spikes in blood glucose levels and make a person hungry more often, leading to weight gain and obesity, increasing the risk of depression.

Sugar
Increased intake of sugar is directly proportional to increased inflammation in the brain, one of the definite contributors to depression. While a bar of chocolate tastes heavenly and provides an instant rush of energy when hunger pangs strike, it interferes with sleep and disrupts mood. Sugar reduces the effectiveness of the brain and causes numerous chronic conditions like dementia, depression, and diabetes.

Artificial sweeteners
Next on the list of foods that can worsen depression are artificial sweeteners that contain aspartame, a sweetener that is much worse than sucrose or sugar. Used as an alternative to sugar in soft drinks, candies, jams, dairy, and bakery products, it triggers headaches, insomnia, mood swings, and acts as a barrier to the production of serotonin, one of the happy hormones. Decreased serotonin can give rise to negative thoughts, irritable or anxious mood, and low energy, all of which are related to depression.

Processed foods
Processed foods undergo a lot of refinement and cleansing, and different types of sugars or salts are added to preserve them on the shelves for longer. Removal of the essential nutrients from whole grains and the addition of unnecessary compounds causes inflammation, which can directly affect brain functioning and behavior patterns. The more severe the inflammation, the worse is the damage to one’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Studies conducted in Britain and research papers published in the American Journal of Psychiatry confirm that people who ate the most processed foods are three times at a higher risk of developing depression than those who ate wholesome foods.

Alcohol
Alcohol is a well-known depressant that affects the central nervous system and is the worst enemy of people with depressive symptoms. It is capable of exacerbating the symptoms, so one should stay away from it to lead a healthy life.

Caffeine
Caffeine found in coffee, tea, sodas, energy drinks, and dark chocolates is a stimulant that affects sleep patterns, causes agitation and nervousness, and generally disturbs mood. When depressed, caffeinated foods that can worsen depression are unnecessary triggers of an already prevalent sensitive mental state.