An increasing number of studies have linked ultra-processed foods with depression, anxiety, and even dementia.
By now, we all know that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) aren’t particularly good for our bodies. UPFs, which are often high in sugar, salt, saturated fat and additives, have been repeatedly linked with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. But until recently, far less attention has been paid to what these foods might be doing to our brains. Could the typical Western diet — also known as the Standard American Diet (SAD) — which is packed with highly processed foods, be affecting how we think and feel, too?
Lately, I’ve noticed an increasing number of studies linking UPFs with depression, anxiety, and even dementia. I wanted to look at how strong the evidence is, and whether it offered another persuasive reason to eliminate them from my diet.
Cutting down on ultra-processed foods isn’t easy. Here are eight tips that worked for my family:
- Eat more plants
- Buy the best ingredients you can afford
- Openly discuss food, its effects and its origins
- Learn to cook
- Learn to bake
- Make cooking at home easy
- Prioritize mealtimes
- Be relentlessly consistent – and don’t be too hard on yourself