You Are What You Eat: Harvard Psychiatrist Explains The Dangerous Mental Toll Of Ultra-Processed Foods (Image Credits: iStock)
While many of us turn to comfort food for a quick mood boost, new research suggests that our eating habits may be having a deeper impact on our mental health than we realise. In a recent podcast episode released on April 4, Stanford neurobiology professor Dr. Andrew Huberman spoke with Harvard psychiatrist Dr Chris Palmer about the growing evidence linking diet especially ultra-processed foodsto mental health disorders.
Sharing a clip of their conversation on Instagram, Huberman wrote, “The idea that what we eat can impact our mood and mental health comes as no surprise. However, it's only recently that scientific and clinical studies have begun to establish a powerful relationship between eating highly processed foods and mental health disorders. Alterations in mitochondria likely represent the bridge between these two factors.”
Mitochondria, often described as the energy powerhouses of our cells, play a crucial role in brain function. When they are damaged or not functioning properly—often due to poor diet—it can affect energy levels, brain signalling, and even mood stability.
Dr. Huberman added that while many of the results are correlational, there’s still a strong trend: “There is an abundance of data showing that eating mostly unprocessed or minimally processed foods has a positive effect on mental health.” He also pointed out that lifestyle choices often go hand-in-hand with diet, which could further influence mental well-being.
The Data Behind Ultra-Processed Foods
During the discussion, Dr Palmer explained just how dangerous ultra-processed foods can be—not just physically, but mentally. He cited a large-scale study involving over 300,000 participants that found a direct, linear link between the amount of ultra-processed foods consumed and the likelihood of experiencing poor mental health.
“The more ultra-processed foods you eat, the worse your physical and mental health. It’s linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, mortality, cancer, and a broad range of mental disorders,” Palmer explained.
The numbers were striking: people who consumed ultra-processed foods multiple times daily had a 58% rate of poor mental health, compared to just 18% among those who rarely or never ate them. “It wasn’t a subtle difference,” he said. “It was a threefold difference.”
How to Avoid Ultra-Processed Foods
Given the potential impact of diet on mental health, experts are encouraging people to reduce their intake of ultra-processed foods. Here are a few simple ways to get started:
Read Labels: If an ingredient list is long and filled with unfamiliar names or chemicals, it’s likely ultra-processed. Stick to foods with fewer, recognisable ingredients.
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