Diet Sugar Driving You Crazy?

The highly respected researcher Malcolm Peet has found an extraordinary link between dietary sugar consumption and mental illness. This British psychiatric researcher has conducted an extensive analysis showing a strong link between foods that contain sugar or are converted to sugar in the body and the risk of developing both schizophrenia and depression.

According to their research, there are two ways that sugar in the body can influence mental health in toxic ways. As reported in Psychology Today, first, sugar can suppress the activity and function of an important growth hormone in the brain called BDNF. This hormone regulates the health, function and maintenance of neurons in the brain. It also promotes new neural connections in the brain that support optimal memory function. BDNF levels in the brain are very low in schizophrenia and depression. If sugar and sugar-forming foods are added to the diet, it can potentially cause these conditions or make them worse. These two conditions very often result in a shrinkage in the brain in areas that are affected by depression or schizophrenia. In other words, it can result in brain damage.

Second, Peet looks at how sugar and sugar-forming foods trigger glycation in the body, contributing to a whole litany of chemical reactions that promote chronic inflammation. This is a different type of inflammation than when the body needs to heal a small scratch or an insect bite. It takes some short-term inflammation to trigger an adequate immune response to heal a wound.

In the long term, a continuously irritating inflammatory response is not a good thing, it actually disrupts the normal functioning of the immune system by making the various types of white blood cells lazy and unresponsive, as well as causing problems in the brain.

There is growing scientific evidence that inflammation is responsible for a whole host of serious and chronic diseases and illnesses, such as arthritis, IBS, diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer’s, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, not to mention the gout and acid reflux. Several mental health challenges also arise. Even if these diseases are not present yet, scientists say the risk and possibility of their occurrence is there.

The definition of sugar and sugar-forming foods includes sugar itself, plus high fructose corn syrup, flours, refined grains, cereals, cakes, cookies, candy, gum, donuts, baked goods, puddings, cakes, ice creams. and any other product that contains sugar.

Cavemen did not eat sugar because there was no sugar for many centuries. We had an innate sweet tooth that led us to eat whatever fruit we could find, when it was available. Because the fruit was relatively scarce or unavailable because it was too high in the trees, we had no problem with our sweet taste buds. When we discovered sugarcane a few centuries ago, our sweet tooth became a curse. We developed cravings for sweet foods or foods that turned sweet in the body, causing problems with foods that we weren’t designed to eat consistently in large quantities. If you actually start reading labels at the grocery store, you will see how many products actually contain sugar or corn syrup. Some researchers say that corn syrup is even more dangerous than toxic sugars in our body.

Peet suggests that as this research has come to light, he is encouraging his mentally challenged patients to cut out sugars and simple starches for a couple of weeks to see if they notice any improvement in their depressive symptoms. For the few who have had the courage and determination to reduce their intake of sugars, breads, crackers, and other refined foods, encouraging improvements in their mood, memory, mental clarity, focus, and overall energy have been reported. Maybe it’s time to see how diet influences your state of mind.