Eating can alter feelings and emotions, and fructose-related symptoms such as starvation or foraging can occur in animals. This is similar to caffeine, for example, which usually helps increase mental alertness in the morning.Foods like pastaor pizza, for example, can be a comforting meal after an emotionally stressful day. And a fresh salad can be just the thing when you're feeling sluggish. A group of researchers at the University of Colorado investigated whether the answer might lie in the evolutionary past.
What can fructose cause symptoms?
Fructose stimulates foraging behavior. The scientists outline this in an article they recently published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior. There the team describes a possible role of fructose. This is a type of sugar found in fruit and honey that increases the likelihood of these neurodevelopmental disorders. Chronic diet can lead to symptoms related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),bipolar disorderand other neurodevelopmental disorders. The downside is that such a diet can negatively affect your mood.
Fructose is primarily a source of energy, but in many animals it also triggers a search for food, similar to starvation. This response is useful for animals building up energy stores before hibernation or long-distance migration. Foraging is a behavior that supports the search for new sources of food and water. These include, for example, risk-taking, impulsivity, increased movement, rapid processing of information with less attention to detail and sometimes aggression. The authors of the new paper write that many of the behaviors observed during foraging are similar to symptoms of ADHD, bipolar disorder and other disorders.
Reducing sugar intake to improve mental health
While fructose is relatively rare in nature, it is very common in modern foods and is found in many processed products and beverages as high levels of refined sugar and corn syrup.According to the study authorsExcessive consumption of fructose can cause symptoms such as mood disorders and even a type of psychosis. Additionally, this can lead to an increase in inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain. However, more research is needed to fully understand the connection between diet and ADHD, bipolar disorder, or aggressive behavior. However, there is already sufficient evidence that reducing sugar intake is good for both general and mental health and behavior, especially for sugary drinks. For some patients, such a diet might be something to consider instead of medication.
