Diet and Depression: Diet Soda Linked to Depression

coca cola 462776 1280Diet and Depression: What You Consume May Be Causing Depression

In today’s culture, we’ll do anything to eliminate calorie and sugar intake. Most food and drinks have ingredient substitutes in them to make them “healthier.” They taste exactly the same but include none of the regrets. There are now diet versions of almost every product. Diet soda, fat free dairy and calorie reduced breads. But what are these substitutes actually doing to our health? A recent article by Psychology Today discusses the correlation between diet and depression.

Research on Diet and Depression

Research has shown that diet and depression are linked. What you consume in diet can drastically effect your chances of depression. Research has also found that diet drinks can have significant effects on depression. Most diet drinks are made from chemicals that are produced in a lab. While these chemicals seem generally safe, they have been recently linked to depression.
Researchers analyzed data from a health study to examine the relationship between depression and sweetened drinks, including fruit drinks, soft drinks, coffee, iced tea and tea. Examples of fruit drinks included Hi-C, Kool-Aid and lemonade.
Researchers found that frequent consumption of soft drinks and fruit drinks containing artificial sweeteners was associated with an increased risk of depression. This increased risk was higher for those who consumed more than one drink a day.

Options to Reduce Depression

Diet and depression are linked based on the chemicals included in the items you consume. While there are organic options available for your diet, many organic options aren’t always chemical free. Being aware of what ingredients are included in the products you buy is an important step to maintaining  a healthy diet.
If you absolutely can’t live without certain foods or drinks that include artificial sweeteners, there are diet options available that can help reduce the risk of depression. Including foods that are high in fiber or complex carbs, protein, and amino acids can improve mood and decrease risks of depression. Incorporating fish and other meats, vegetables and fruits, and whole grains is a great way to achieve “feel-good” neurotransmitters that help decrease feelings of depression.

Trails Carolina Can Help!

 
Trails Carolina is a wilderness therapy program for struggling teens, ages 10-17. Our students commonly deal with issues such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and other behavioral challenges.
For more information about Trails Carolina, please call 800-975-7303 today!
 

Posted in
Avatar of Jeremy Whitworth

Jeremy Whitworth

As Executive Director at Trails Carolina, a leading wilderness therapy program for youth and teens, I oversee operations and collaborate with our leadership team. Since 2022, I've also hosted the Common Ground Podcast for parents: https://trailscarolina.com/common-ground-podcast/ With a background in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education, I've managed adventure-based therapeutic programs across the US and Canada. My experiences in competitive athletics and adventure sports have honed my leadership, risk assessment, and decision-making skills, which I apply to running a successful business like Trails Carolina.

Get started today

Contact us today to learn how Trails Carolina can help your family

Contact Us LP

Trails saved my daughter’s life. Amanda is an amazing human and a brilliant therapist. I am so grateful to her, Science Steve, and the other wonderful people who could reach my daughter at a time when I could not.

Margot Lowman August 2022

Great life changing experience for our son. After becoming addicted to gaming during covid he was very depressed. At Trails he experienced the wilderness, Science Steve, learning survival skills and top notch therapy and support etc… I highly recommend! This gave our son and our family a renewed family bond full of love and excitement about his bright future.

Winnifred Wilson July 2022

 

Outstanding clinical work and superb staff! There’s a great culture at this company and it shows with how they engage with families/clients.

Kristin Brace June 2022

 

Discover If Trails Is The Right Program For Your Child

Take our short online assessment and help us better understand how we can help your family.

A teen stands at the meeting point of two trails in the forest, one leading higher towards the light and one leading down into darkness

Top 5 Common Myths About Wilderness Therapy For Youth: Understanding The History and Today’s Reality

Today, families have access to supportive, safe, and nurturing therapeutic treatment programs. Modern wilderness therapy programs, like Trails Carolina, are far from the punitive boot camps they are often portrayed as. 
A red-headed young woman sits on a hilltop overlooking forested mountains in front of her.

Treatment For Anxiety In Teens: How Wilderness Therapy Can Help

At Trails Carolina, we will give your child the skills to manage anxiety in real-time as soon as they arrive on our campus. They will very quickly gain a sense of belonging at Trails because of the sense of community that naturally occurs with the other students who are dealing with the common struggles of learning to manage adolescent anxiety.
Treating Oppositional Defiant Disorder - A teen boy in a beanie and a sweatshirt glowers at the viewer in the woods.

Dealing with Defiance: Six Tips for Decreasing Defiant Behavior

Most parents know what is like to live with a defiant teenager. Teens often feel inclined to push buttons and test the limits enforced upon them. This can be extremely frustrating for parents and create a constant power struggle within the home. The teenage years are when one is trying to figure out where they…
family reuniting - trails carolina reviews
Trails Carolina’s wilderness camps for troubled teens are dedicated to helping teens work through behavioral or emotional difficulties, build trusting relationships with their family and peers, and achieve academic success.