Teenagers who eat the standard Western diet found to have increased risk of mental health challenges

( Natural News ) The notion that the Western diet is not ideal is nothing new; the “standard” dietary habits in the U.S. and other westernized nations have been linked to major diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and more. But new research has shown that for teenagers in particular, the average American diet could be an even stronger recipe for disaster – especially when it comes to their mental health. While it’s already been fairly well established that being obese or overweight can increase the risk of depression in teens, budding research from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania has shown that there is a biological pathway linking poor diet and inflammation to depression. This can spell bad news for teenagers. The connection between diet, depression and teens Professor Wendy Oddy, hailing from the Menzies Institute , pioneered this ground-breaking research. Along with her team, they found that diet can influence teens’ risk of depression and other related mental health issues. While past research has shown that having an overweight or obese BMI can increase the risk of depression in youth, this study has highlighted the fact that diet can also play a substantial role in risk. As sources report , the research team found that the typical Western diet – filled with red meats, processed foods and sugar – contributed to depression in more ways than one. While a Western diet can increase the risk of being overweight or obese, and indirectly also increase the risk of depression, the team found that diet’s role in depression can also stem from inflammation. In other words, diet appears to be an independent risk factor for depression, regardless of weight. 100% organic essential oil sets now available for your home and personal care, including […]

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