Sugar increases risk of depression in men, new study finds

Everyone knows too much sugar is bad for your physical health, but new evidence suggests it can also damage your mental wellbeing - especially if you're a man.

Men who ingest too much sugar are 23 per cent more likely than those with a low sugar intake to develop common mental disorders, including anxiety and depression.

This is according to a new study led by University College London's Institute of Epidemiology.

But how much sugar is 'too much' sugar?

67 grams, apparently - almost bang-on the 67.8 grams of sugar that the average UK male consumes per day and around double the recommended amount. In America, the average daily intake for males is 94 grams.

Anika Knüppel, who led the research, said:

There are numerous factors that influence the chance for mood disorders, but having a diet high in sugary foods and drinks might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. 

The study found no link between sugar intake and new mood disorders in women and it is unclear why. 

The 22-year-long study, which tracked 7000 participants, also showed that people with mood disorders were not more likely to eat sugary foods.

The results were independent of factors including overall health behaviours, general diet, weight and socio-demographic status.

HT Big Think

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