Ways Sugar Affects Mental Health

Consuming foods rich in sugar, fats and processed substances can be linked to the physical health. We all are aware of the fact that too much sugar is bad for our waistlines and heart health, but less attention is paid to the impact of high sugar diet on our mental health.

Too much of sugar intake can actually have a negative biological impact on your mind and emotions. Sugar affects the focus, learning ability, emotional health and a mental balance of a person causing more stress to the mental health. Sugar consumption affects the psychological well-being.

When we consume sugar, it activates the taste receptors of our tongue and it sends signals to the brain, causing a spike in feel-good hormones. It impairs the learning ability and memory if had in excess amounts.

According to a research, there is a strong association between sugar consumption and disorders such as depression or schizophrenia. Sugar consumption triggers the chemical reactions in the body and promotes chronic inflammation. Likewise, there are many ways in which sugar affects our mental health. In this article, we at Boldsky are listing out some of the ways in which sugar affects your mental health. Read on to know more about it.

Focus: A recent study has concluded that sugar forms free radicals in the brain membrane. It causes a foggy feeling. There is an association between the intake of sugar and the way we remember things and process ideas. Sugar also causes addiction that hampers the brain function.

Mood: Sugar is addictive. It causes inflammation that is associated with depression. Consumption of sugar releases opioids and dopamine that affect the function of the brain, similar to other drugs. It also contributes to binge eating, withdrawal symptoms and craving. It causes anxiety and irritability too.

Memory: High sugar intake affects cognitive function and performance. It can even block the memory receptors. High sugar consumption is also linked to Alzheimer's disease and memory loss. It can impair the learning ability too.

Emotional Imbalance: Too much sugar consumption leads to mood swings. It blocks the chromium receptors that are natural emotionally balancing chemicals. This can contribute to irritability, anxiety and an aggressive behaviour.

Stress: Stress is directly linked to the foods that we consume. Consuming foods high in sugar increases anxiety and impairs the body's ability to cope up with stress. Sugar can cause a blurry vision, difficulty in thinking and fatigue.