Senior author, Dr. Bruno Guiard, said, “When treating depression, in general there is no predictor of treatment resistance. So if we consider metabolic disorders as a putative treatment resistance predictor, this should encourage psychiatrists to put in place a personalized treatment with antidepressant drugs that do not further destabilize metabolism.”
When the mice were taken off the high-fat diets the metabolic impairments were completely reversed and their anxiety symptoms lessened. Dr. Guiard added, “This finding reinforcing the idea that the normalization of metabolic parameters may give a better chance of achieving remission, particularly in depressed patients with type 2 diabetes.”
The findings were published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.
High-fat diet and depression
The mice that received the bacteria from the high-fat mice expressed more repetitive behaviors, anxiety and memory impairment. These mice also had increased inflammation and permeability in their intestines.
John Krystal, M.D., editor of Biological Psychiatry, said, “This paper suggests that high-fat diets impair brain health, in part, by disrupting the symbiotic relationship between humans and the microorganisms that occupy our gastrointestinal tracts.”
The findings also suggest that behavioral changes can occur even when the animal is not obese. Unfortunately, how the high-fat diet causes behavioral changes is still largely unknown.
There have been numerous previous research studies linking a connection between gut bacteria and psychological conditions. This latest research further supports what has previously been said.
Both obesity and depression were thought to be caused by genetics, and it’s more common that a depressed individual will consume high-fat foods to feel better. On the other hand, stigma attached to an obese person eating high-fat foods is linked with depression.
The Obesity Action Coalition reported, “One recent study found that overall, obese individuals have a 20 percent elevated risk of depression, and specifically for Caucasian college-educated people with obesity, the depression risk rises to as high as 44 percent.”
These new findings may further tighten the link between obesity and depression.
Fat recommendations: How much fat is good for you?
How much fat you need is dependent on many factors, including age, weight, gender and activity level. The USDA recommends that fat intake should be 20 to 30 percent of your daily caloric intake. Saturated fats should be limited below 10 percent (200 calories based on a 2000 caloric intake) and trans fat should be below one percent (two grams based on a 2000 caloric intake). Keep in mind this fat should come from red meat and not from processed foods.
If you’re unsure how much fat you should be consuming, or want to know what exactly 20 to 30 percent is, speak with your doctor; they can recommend your personalized fat intake based on your needs and health conditions.
How to lower bad fats in your diet
As mentioned, saturated and trans fats are the types of fat known to boost bad cholesterol and contribute to cardiovascular problems. For this reason, it’s important that you minimize or eliminate them from your diet.
The good news is that the FDA has put a ban on trans fat, so in the coming years you won’t have to worry about their presence in foods. However, trans fat are found naturally in products like red meat, so minimizing your intake is a good idea.
Other ways to eliminate trans fat include ceasing consumption of foods like baked goods, fried foods, snack foods, solid fats such as margarine, and pre-mixed products such as cake mix.
Tips to reduce your saturated fat intake include:
- Consume less red meat.
- Stick with white meat.
- Bake, broil or grill instead of frying.
- Remove skin from chicken whenever possible.
- Avoided breaded meats or fried vegetables.
- Choose low-fat milk and low-fat cheeses.
- Use liquid vegetable oils, specifically olive oil.
- Avoid creams and cheese sauces or have them served on the side.
Not only do bad fats contribute to obesity, but they can affect your heart and even your mental health as well. If you want to maintain optimum overall health, you can! Your first move is to reduce your intake of harmful fats and stick to the good ones instead.
Related Reading:
Faulty brain signals causes obesity due to overeating of high-fat diets
Researchers have uncovered that faulty brain signals cause obesity due to overeating high-fat diets. Obesity is a condition affecting more than one-third of American adults. Genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role in obesity; diet is viewed as one of the leading factors. Continue reading…
Mediterranean diet rich in fatty acids promotes healthier gut
A healthy gut consists of essential fatty acids which can be provided by the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet has gained popularity for its health benefits. It consists of plenty of fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes and seeds. Continue reading…
Sources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/42733/20150327/high-fat-diet-bad-mental-health-lead-depression
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/choosing-healthy-fats
http://www.nutritionvista.com/Nutrition/fat-facts