Teenagers are known for their dramatic attitudes and mood swings, but over the last decade, a much more disturbing trend has been increasing: depression.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham discovered that one of the culprits may be a high fast-food, low plant-based diet.
They analyzed urine from a group of middle schoolers and found high levels of sodium and low levels of potassium.
"High sodium, you've got to think of highly processed food," said lead author Sylvie Mrug, chair of the psychology department at UAB. "This includes fast food, frozen meals, and unhealthy snacks."
“Low potassium is an indication of a diet that lacks healthy fruits and vegetables that are rich in potassium, such as beans, sweet potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, bananas, oranges, avocados, yogurt, and even salmon,” Mrug added.
The study also found that higher urine levels of sodium, and potassium at baseline, predicted more signs of depression a year and a half later, even after adjusting for variables such as blood pressure, weight, age, and sex.
Symptoms of depression were gathered on both occasions during interviews with the children and their parents.
"The study could only find an association between sodium and depression, not a cause and effect, and further research is needed," said the lead author.
Prior studies have discovered a similar connection between fast food, processed baked goods, and adult depression.
One study in Spain followed nearly 9,000 people over six years and found a 48% higher risk of depression in those who ate more highly processed foods.
A meta-analysis of research from the United States, Spain, France, Australia, Greece, and Iran also found a "robust association" between diet and depression.
The findings showed people who avoided a highly-processed diet and instead followed a Mediterranean diet – fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and little red meat or processed foods – had reduced risk of depression.
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