Click the image to open the article in PDF form.

Excessive sugar consumption has long been considered the enemy by doctors, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals — and that’s not changing, as research increasingly shows that along with your body shape, too much sugar can also have serious negative impacts on our mental health. As an article in UMR’s Healthy You magazine puts it:

Simple sugars cause a sharp spike in blood sugar, making a positive impact on our feelings. But after that peak comes an equally sharp drop in blood glucose levels, which can dramatically affect the mind and body. These peaks and drops in blood glucose can cause irritability and mood swings as your body tries to restore its natural balance.

Noting links between sugar and depression and anxiety, the article adds that sugar also affects our moods by affecting hormone and insulin levels and by causing systemic inflammation throughout our bodies. The article offers some great information about how to break your sugar habit — you can read it as a PDF here!