Shafaqna English- New research reveals that exercise can counteract the negative effects of a Western-style diet on mental health through specific biological mechanisms.
Scientists at University College Cork found that voluntary running reduced depression-like behaviors in rats fed high-fat, high-sugar diets by restoring gut metabolites linked to mood regulation and rebalancing key hormones like insulin and leptin.
The study showed that exercise produced antidepressant effects even when animals continued eating poorly, partially reversing the damaging metabolic changes caused by unhealthy diets. However, researchers discovered one crucial limitation: the poor diet prevented the typical exercise-induced growth of new brain neurons in the hippocampus, suggesting diet quality still matters for achieving full brain benefits.
The findings provide scientific evidence for how physical activity can help protect mental well-being in an era of widespread processed food consumption, offering hope for those who struggle to maintain healthy eating habits.
Source: Genomic Press