According to the Daily Mail, excessive consumption of such foods can lead to unwanted changes in the intestinal microbiome. This is the complex of all the microbes that inhabit the organ and ensure its normal functioning: digestion, maintaining the immune system, synthesis of essential vitamins from food.
It is noted that the components of ultra-processed foods and lack of fiber (healthy plant fibers) in their contents can lead to inflammatory process in the body. There is a correlation between low-grade chronic inflammation and depression (as well as anxiety) due to the presence of a special gut-brain axis in humans.
Also, negative changes in the intestinal microbiome due to the excessive take of fast food, baked goods, chips and chocolate can lead to a decrease in the body's production of natural antidepressants, including serotonin. This factor is also significant in the pathogenesis of mental disorders.
Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are foods produced in factories or fast food establishments from highly purified ingredients with the addition of emulsifiers, thickeners and artificial flavors. These products often contain large amounts of carbohydrates, sugar and fat.
Source: https://www.zakon.kz/sovety/6434110-kakie-produkty-razrushayut-psikhicheskoe-zdorove-detey.html
Photos are from open sources.
