We’ve all heard that you are what you eat. You may also feel what you eat because of your blood sugar. Blood sugar changes from meals can impact your mental health.
Our customers know how blood sugar spikes impact them physically. But, a recent study has looked at how blood sugar fluctuations impact anxiety and depression. It has long been known that a high concentration of sugary food can negatively impact mental health.
Scientists looking at how sugar-heavy foods can trigger depression and anxiety saw that post-meal spikes have a connection to hormones. When a person eats high GI foods, the body releases dopamine, a feel-good hormone, into the brain. But, once blood sugar starts falling, the body releases adrenaline. While dopamine makes the body feel great, adrenaline pumps up anxiety, fear, aggression and other negative emotions. The yoyoing hormones cannot balance themselves quickly.
Dr. Mary Scourboutakos at Eastern Virginia Medical School led the research. Had advice to help your mood. A lot of it was simply about avoiding blood sugar spikes! She recommends a diet rich in low-GI foods. She spoke of the importance of whole grains and eating your carbs with protein. She spoke of eating carbs at the end of your meals, after your veggies and protein. She also recommended eating carbs earlier in the day to help get a good night’s sleep. This is advice you have heard before if you have read our blog and have blood sugar concerns. It’s all great advice!
While it isn’t new advice, we do think it’s helpful to have a new reason to follow health advice. A journey is just like a physical journey. We get tired and want to pull over! The destination can seem too far away. The roadside attractions are distracting and alluring. Having new studies like these helps us stay on track. When we find more reasons to stick to a healthy diet, it reinforces our goals.
Our customers are all doing their best! But everyone has pitfalls. Finding more motivation to stick to a healthy diet can be beneficial. As the researchers say, “mental health is a jigsaw puzzle with many pieces.” Eating a low GI diet will not be a magic bullet that cures depression and stabilizes moods. However, if you have struggled with post-meal spikes and your mood, this may be good advice for you and something to discuss with your doctor.
As always, we recommend speaking to your doctor regularly about your mental health so you can get the help you need and stay healthy. In the meantime, know that eating a healthy, balanced, low-GI diet may help you maintain a balanced sense of calm.
