Did you know that your gut health has an impact on your mental health? A far greater one than you may realize. Research shows that the microbiota living in your gut communicates with neurotransmitters in your brain and vice versa via the vagus nerve.

Watch this video to learn about the foods you should avoid if you have depression.

We also made another video on the foods you should avoid if you have anxiety: https://youtu.be/UzHQeqhIgF0

Writer: Sara Del Villar

Script Editor: Caitlin McColl

Script Manager: Kelly Soong

VO: Amanda Silvera

Animator: Aury

YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

REFERENCES:

Collins, R., & Legg, T. J. (2017, February 8). Depression & DIET: 6 foods that fight depression. Healthline. www.healthline.com/health/depression/diet.

Eat This Not That! Editors. (2020, April 27). 15 worst foods for anxiety or depression. Eat This Not That. https://www.eatthis.com/foods-make-anxiety-worse/.

Gangwisch, J. E., Hale, L., Garcia, L., Malaspina, D., Opler, M. G., Payne, M. E., Rossom, R. C., & Lane, D. (2015). High glycemic index diet as a risk factor for depression: analyses from the Women’s Health Initiative. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 102(2), 454–463. doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.114.103846

Lenoir, M., Serre, F., Cantin, L., & Ahmed, S. H. (2007). Intense sweetness surpasses cocaine reward. PloS one, 2(8), e698. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000698

Maher, T. J., & Wurtman, R. J. (1987). Possible neurologic effects of aspartame, a widely used food additive. Environmental health perspectives, 75, 53–57. doi.org/10.1289/ehp.877553

Pattemore, C. (2021, June 4). 8 foods that may cause depression. Psych Central. psychcentral.com/depression/foods-that-cause-depression.

Reardon, S. (2014, November 12). Gut–brain link grabs neuroscientists. Nature News. https://www.nature.com/articles/515175a.

Strawbridge, H. (2020, January 29). Artificial sweeteners: Sugar-free, but at what cost? Harvard Health. www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030.

Tandel K. R. (2011). Sugar substitutes: Health controversy over perceived benefits. Journal of pharmacology & pharmacotherapeutics, 2(4), 236–243. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-500X.85936

Tello, M. (2020, January 29). Diet and depression. Harvard Health. www.health.harvard.edu/blog/diet-and-depression-2018022213309