Food affects the soul: why sugar can make you depressed

how?
Especially for people who are often stressed and eat irregularly, a change in diet can make a huge difference and, at best, prevent depression. Our well-being largely depends on the state of our microbiome, namely our gut bacteria. If we give them probiotics, that is, fermented or cooked foods, it is good for our souls.

What exactly would the foods be?
Sour-milk products such as natural yogurt and kefir, or types of cheese such as Gruyère, Cheddar, and Parmesan are particularly probiotic. Also pickled vegetables such as kimchi, sauerkraut or pickles. In addition, fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain products are very digestible and have a positive effect on our health.

So why do we choose to reward ourselves with sweets instead of sauerkraut after a stressful day?
Eating sweets has always had a protective function in evolution. It is generally safe to eat something that is naturally sweet in taste—neither poisonous nor spoiled. Therefore, our brain still perceives sugar as a reward. It’s understandable to reach for dessert when things are going badly for us. Sugar makes us feel good and safe. But it’s also a problem.

From where?
Because we consume too much. There is almost no pure sugar in nature. Even sweet fruits contain a lot of fiber or roughage in addition to sugar. Grains and lentils contain sugars in the form of complex carbohydrates that our bodies are slow to break down. Today, however, the food industry uses our brain’s reward signals to add pure granulated sugar to many processed foods. We become addicted to rewards. But it never lasts long because pure sugar breaks down quickly. In the long run, our reward system becomes dull.

And does this drug make us depressed?
Yes. A reward with sweets only makes sense in the short term. If we constantly eat sweets and snacks, even between meals, the body constantly releases insulin to break down sugar. This is a constant load on our body. And in the long run, we become less and less sensitive to sugar. There is no sense of reward. This can promote depression.

What diet is best for our soul?
Mediterranean cuisine with various and fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s not what we eat, it’s how we eat it. You can see this in Italy. Eating there is very important. You usually cook fresh food every day, usually eat together, not alone. Have three good meals a day and a few snacks in between. Many people live longer than average in Sardinia. Much of this has to do with their diet.