Day 17, food and mood

I am feeling pretty even-keeled these days. After my horrible day on Monday (day 14), things have gotten easier. It always amazes me when I go without sugar just how stable I feel. No high highs, no low lows. I am prone to depression, and although I am always susceptible to a depressive episode, I find that the deeper aspects of depression don't stick around as long when I'm not eating sugar. And (hold on to your hats) I occasionally feel joy as well, which was something I was sure I'd never feel again when I was at my lowest just a year ago. 

There's a very strong link between food and mood. I have certainly noticed this in my experience, and studies have been conducted that support this. And it makes sense--if what you eat impacts your physical health, how could it not affect mental health? Your mind is part of  your body, afterall! High quality fats, protein, and whole, unrefined carbohydrates literally contain the building blocks for every cell in your body, including the neurons in your brain. Processed and refined foods have been around for a relatively short time evolutionarily speaking, and although our bodies are exquisitely capable of breaking them down and using them to sustain us, the fuel is less than ideal, and in some cases, very damaging. In recent history since these foods have been introduced, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other noncommunicable diseases have taken over as the leading cause of death worldwide (ref). I'd say that's one experiment that is failing, and it's time to return to the unprocessed foods of our ancestors, including a drastic reduction in refined sugar consumption.