Resource type:
Peer review
Link:
This narrative review explores how ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and dementia. UPFs are characterized by high sugar, salt, and fat content, low fiber, and multiple additives. Mechanisms of harm include inflammation, oxidative stress, gut microbiome disruption, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic changes. The review calls for public health policies to reduce UPF consumption and promote whole food-based dietary patterns to mitigate mental health risks.
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