Anxiety and depression: avoid these bad habits

---

Extract from the article: Many people believe that a varied, balanced diet is synonymous with, and the result of, a slender, healthy body. However, this is not the only benefit of good eating habits. Eating a balanced diet also helps to maintain a healthier mind. There are...

---

Many people believe that a varied, balanced diet is synonymous with, and the result of, a slender, healthy body. However, this is not the only benefit of good eating habits. Eating a balanced diet also helps to maintain a healthier mind. There are many factors involved when you go through a day feeling really good, energized, positive, connected and in balance. Other days, we may feel slow, tired, sad and unmotivated for no apparent reason. For this reason, we need to be aware of the relationship between eating habits and anxiety and depression.

Caffeine addiction

Caffeine can have very harmful effects on the brain. When caffeine is included on a regular basis and becomes a daily necessity, the body begins to assimilate it as something indispensable to its functioning. Therefore, when there is a lack of caffeine, serotonin is reduced, causing anxiety, irritability and lack of concentration.

 Excess sugar

We consume too many spoonfuls of sugar a day. The main effect is to affect serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is basically a hormone that regulates sleep cycles, pain control, carbohydrate cravings and digestion.

Low levels of this hormone are associated with states of depression, increased blood pressure and problems in the digestive system. There is also a risk of problems with the reproductive system.

Alcohol consumption

As well as being a depressant, alcohol is also a stimulant. This means it simultaneously suppresses glutamate neurotransmissions, thus increasing neurotransmissions of immune system inhibitors. As a result, thoughts, language and movements are slowed down. The more you drink, the greater the sensation of these effects. This is why aggressive or impulsive behavior appears after drinking.

Eating too many fried foods

The most common foods are pizza, sausages, hamburgers, chips and French fries. These fried foods, which are cooked in hydrogenated oils and contain trans fats, harm the body by increasing weight. As such, they are also closely linked with depression.

High salt consumption

Excessive consumption is very bad for your health. Salt increases blood pressure, so the heart has to work much harder than usual. When you eat too much salt, you're likely to develop certain physical and mental problems, including depression, feelings of frustration and fatigue. Limit your salt intake.

Skipping breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When breakfast is skipped, the brain's performance becomes fatigued, as it has to operate on a low level of energy. If we tend to suffer from depression, the brain needs all the energy it can get to keep the body in shape.

Raymond DZAKPATA