New Study Links Reducing Ultra-Processed Foods to Lower Anxiety
A new clinical study published in JAMA Psychiatry reveals that reducing ultra-processed foods significantly decreases depression and anxiety symptoms in adults.
A new clinical study published in the medical journal JAMA Psychiatry reveals that adults dealing with depression experienced a significant decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms when they reduced their consumption of ultra-processed foods. The findings spark interest in the possibility that dietary changes may also contribute to mental health, although researchers emphasize that it is still too premature to draw definitive therapeutic conclusions.
The Link Between Food and Mood
When feeling sad, stressed, or exhausted, people often reach for snacks, sweets, or ready-made meals. Food provides accessible comfort and offers a momentary sense of relief. However, in recent years, the understanding that the connection between food and mood is far more complex has been strengthening: not only does mental state influence food choices, but the food consumed may also affect how people feel.
"In the clinic, I meet more and more patients who describe a change in mood and anxiety after reducing ultra-processed food, and recent studies are beginning to support this feeling: a decrease in the consumption of such items, like industrial snacks, sugary drinks, and processed meats, has been linked to a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety," says Yoav Rodiniki, a clinical psychologist and manager of the children and youth mental health clinic at Meuhedet.
Clinical Study Findings
The new clinical study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) involved 20 adults with an average age of about 44 who were diagnosed with depression, consumed high amounts of ultra-processed food, and suffered from at least one metabolic risk factor. Participants went through two distinct periods: one continuing their regular diet, and another significantly reducing ultra-processed foods.
The results indicated noticeable differences between the two dietary periods. On the PHQ-9 depression severity scale, the average score dropped to 5.53 during the reduced ultra-processed food period, compared to 8.68 during the regular diet period. On the MADRS scale, the average score fell from 18.9 to 8.05. A statistically significant difference was also recorded in the GAD-7 anxiety index, with an average score of 4.63 during the reduced diet compared to 7.37 during the regular diet.
A Supportive Component in Treatment
Experts note that while the study does not prove diet alone is responsible for the improvement, it points to a promising research direction. Psychologists emphasize that dietary intervention should be viewed as a supportive component rather than a replacement for psychotherapy or pharmacological treatment when required.
