At Biohackr Health, we are focused on brain health. We are here to educate you on how to do that, and many things are not things we “sell.” We value science and education.
This was a study published in June 2024 entitled, “Researchers find poor quality diet may lead to brain changes associated with depression and anxiety.” The study is out of England and the Netherlands, published in Nutritional Neuroscience.
This was a small study of 30 volunteers. They did brain scans and measured neurotransmitters and gray matter volume in people with a poor diet.
- Health diet = Mediterranean diet
- Poor diet = Meals high in sugar and saturated fat
- Poor diet led to lower levels of GABA and higher levels of glutamate.
- Reduced volume of gray matter in the frontal lobe, the part of the brain involved in mental health issues
- Animal studies have showed diet changes GABA and glutamate
- Poor diet changes the gut microbiome, which affects GABA and glutamate levels
- Raises glucose and causes insulin resistance. This increases glutamate in brain and plasma, which reduces GABA production and release
- These transmitter levels may also drive people to make unhealthy food choices, causing a circular relationship
They conclude, “There may be a circular relationship between eating well, having a healthier brain ,and better mental well-being and making better food choices to eat well.”
Our Thoughts?
Diet is important. We carry a probiotic supplement to help with insulin resistance and create a healthier gut. We believe in NAD therapy as well. But you have responsibility in this and must make good choices in what you eat. Obesity and diabetes have skyrocketed in our country. This study is another showing of how important what you consume is, and reinforces the “circular relationship” where eating poorly leads to mental decline and reinforces the desire to eat unhealthy.
