THE FOOD-MOOD CONNECTION

How eating low-carb affects your mental wellbeing

- NICKY PERKS

Feeling foggy-brained, anxious or depressed? You’re not alone! Millions struggle with poor mental health and, sadly, the numbers are increasing. Whereas chemical imbalance was once the go-to explanation, recent research suggests food plays a bigger role than previously thought. Beyond weight loss, low-carb diets are emerging as potential game-changers for addressing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. They might even help some people reduce their reliance on medication. In fact, although people often start eating low-carb for weight loss, many stay for the mental health benefits.

A low-carb, wholefood diet keeps blood sugar and hormones balanced for calmer moods, avoids brain-damaging processed foods, and nourishes gut bacteria that produce feel-good chemicals. It’s a win-win for your body and your brain.

Hormone hero

Every time you eat loads of starchy and sugary foods, your blood sugar level spikes. This triggers the release of insulin to clear the sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cells as quickly as possible. But too many sugar highs can lead to insulin resistance, where your body stops listening to insulin’s messages. This can potentially mess with your mood, energy and brainpower, and have a negative domino effect on other hormones.

Enter cortisol, often referred to as the ‘stress hormone.’ When our bodies experience insulin resistance, cortisol levels rise to compensate and bring blood sugar levels down. Unfortunately, chronically elevated cortisol leads to anxiety, irritability, panic attacks and difficulty sleeping.