Monday, December 4, 2006

Negative effects of sugar

"Results from four out of five placebo-controlled studies in England, as well as a cross-national analysis of schizophrenia outcomes in relation to national dietary practice, all confirm that an excess of sugar and saturated fat in the diet appears to worsen the long-term outcome of schizophrenia."
Consuming high amounts of sugar and fat cause the brain to produce less of the protein product brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF plays an important role in forming new neural growths and synapses.
Dr. Malcolm peet of Swallownest Court Hospital confirms the effects of diet. "It appears that the same dietary factors which are associated with the metabolic syndrome, including high saturated fat, high glycemic load, and low omega-3 PUFA, may also be detrimental to the symptoms of schizophrenia, possibly through a common mechanism involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor."

http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/000623.html