Whenever you're feeling down, eating a balanced diet filled with fruits and vegetables might be the last thing on your mind. You might favor your favorite brand of chips over fixing a well-balanced dinner or order takeout yet again after a stressful day at work. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) also tends to worsen around this time of year, as we trade leisurely hot girl walks in the sunshine for time spent cozying up indoors.
Unfortunately, though, falling into consistently poor eating habits could potentially worsen those depressive symptoms. Depression is a common mood disorder that impacts an estimated 8.3 percent of Americans, according to the National Institute of Mental Health 's 2020 data.
Everyone experiences mental health disorders differently, but those with depression might notice sadness, brain fog, fatigue, irritability, and decreased energy. While it's tempting to reach for comfort foods whenever our spirits dip, registered dieticians say those processed ingredients and added sugar might actually worsen mood in the long run. "Whenever you're eating unhealthy food consistently — not just a one-off thing — the breakdown of the food will be more toxic.
It starts to impact the delicate lining of the gut," psychiatrist Uma Naidoo, MD, says. "Healthy eating takes care of the gut and keeps you in a good balance at all times." Bree Philips , MS, RD, is a registered dietician at University of California San Francisco.
Her background includes experience in nutrition.