Atkins can cause depression

Eating too much protein and little carbohydrate can affect our mood, new research reveals

The Atkins diet is at the centre of fresh controversy after scientists said it could cause depression and mood swings. Medical experts have found that the diet blocks the brain's ability to produce chemicals that keep us happy.


Nutritionists have called for people to abandon the diet, claiming they could be risking their mental health as well as physical well-being.

The key to the research is serotonin. This is the chemical released in the brain that keeps us relaxed and positive.

The team, led by Dr Judith Wurtman at MIT - one of America's top research universities - discovered that high levels of carbohydrates and low levels of proteins are the key to producing enough serotonin to regulate mood. But this is the opposite of the Atkins diet ideal.

According to Dr Wurtman, lowcarb diets can lead to grumpiness, irritability and even depression. She added that the problem was magnified in women, who have naturally lower levels of serotonin in the brain.

Dr Wurtman said: "Serotonin is involved in keeping our moods stable, making us calm and serene and allowing us to focus and concentrate. When you take away the carbohydrates, it's like taking away water from someone trekking through the desert."

The MIT team studied the levels of serotonin in the brain of 100 volunteers during a 12-week study. Some were given a highcarbohydrate diet and others ate more protein-rich foods.

Those on high carbohydrates produced higher levels of serotonin and were more relaxed. Dr Wurtman said: "If you eat a potato when you are feeling grumpy or angry, you'll be feeling better in 30 to 40 minutes." The study also revealed carbohydrates played a key role in controlling appetite. Dr Wurtman added: "When serotonin is made and becomes active in your brain, its effect on your appetite is to make you feel full before your stomach is stuffed and stretched."

Her research showed how the brain satisfied its need for carbohydrates in some people when serotonin levels were low. "These are the people we call ' carbohydrate cravers', who need a certain amount to keep their moods steady," said Dr Wurtman.

Nutritionist Natalie Savona was not surprised by the research. She said: "The Atkins diet just isn't good. It is far too extreme. In terms of day-to-day moods, diet and carbohydrate levels make a big difference."

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