The Standard American Diet, Depression, and Anxiety

Diet is a top driver of disease in the US, and mental health imbalances are no exception to this. Did you know that the standard American diet has been linked to depression and anxiety? That’s because the standard American diet creates oxidative damage and inflammation in our digestive tract. Our guts are directly linked to our brains, and the quality of what we put into our system matters!

Research shows that diet and lifestyle changes are effective in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms, and may even be more effective than the conventional range of anti-depressant and anxiolytic medications alone or with behavioral therapy. (Many medications perform equally to or less than placebo.)

By simply shifting the diet to one that removes processed sugars and corn syrup, refined flours (including gluten-free), rancid oils (soybean, corn, canola, vegetable, shortening), and conventional animal products, you can dramatically reduce inflammation in your body, thereby alleviating negative mental health symptoms.

Of course, this goes along with increasing fiber from 9-12 daily servings of veggies and whole fruits, lean proteins and eggs from pastured or organic animals, wild-caught oily “SMASH” fish (Alaskan Salmon, Mackerel, Anchovies, Sardines, Herring/Halibut), healthy fats (coconut, avocado, sesame, mixed nuts, olive), and small quantities of whole grains (brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, millet, amaranth, buckwheat, etc.).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3998225/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3408478/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172306/