Health and Me

Aarushi Bhadury

Running Can Fix The Damage Junk Food Causes Inside Your Brain, Study Shows Running Helps Mood

Researchers at University College Cork, led by Professor <span>Yvonne Nolan</span>, have found key biological reasons why exercise can help protect your <span>mental health</span>, even if you eat a typical Western diet high in fat and sugar. Your diet plays a huge role in keeping your brain healthy. Studies have shown that eating processed foods can increase your chances of developing memory and thinking issues. 

However, this one habit can help you keep these issues at bay, according to researchers. The study, published in the journal Brain Medicine, shows that regular running can reduce symptoms similar to depression that are often caused by unhealthy eating. These protective effects involve changes to your gut and hormones. 

<h2>Can You Eat Junk If You Exercise Enough? </h2>

To figure out how diet and exercise influence the brain, the researchers studied adult male rats for seven and a half weeks. One group of rats ate a standard healthy diet, while the other group ate a rotating "cafeteria diet" of high-fat, high-sugar foods (like ultra-processed meals). 

In both diet groups, half of the animals were given a running wheel to exercise freely. This setup allowed the team to clearly see the separate and combined effects of the poor diet and physical activity on the animals' mood and brain. 

Voluntary running had an antidepressant-like effect on the rats, even those eating the unhealthy cafeteria diet. This suggests that getting regular physical activity can be helpful for a person's mood, even if they struggle to completely change their eating habits. 

While the unhealthy diet didn't severely harm the rats' learning or memory skills, exercise slightly improved their ability to navigate. The researchers also noticed mild anti-anxiety effects from exercise that occurred regardless of what the animals were eating. 

<h2>Can Your Diet Affect Your Mental Capacity? </h2>

The high-fat, high-sugar diet severely messed up the chemicals produced in the gut (called metabolites). The researchers analyzed the contents of the caecum (a part of the large intestine) and found that the unhealthy diet affected 100 out of 175 chemical compounds they checked. 

Exercise helped to restore the balance, particularly increasing three metabolites—anserine, indole-3-carboxylate, and deoxyinosine—that are known to be important for regulating mood. 

The study did find one complex finding related to brain growth. In rats that ate the standard, healthy food, exercise strongly boosted adult hippocampal neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells in the hippocampus, the area linked to memory and emotion). 

However, the cafeteria diet prevented this usual exercise-induced increase in new brain cells. This suggests that while exercise helps mood regardless of diet, a poor diet might actually stop the brain from fully gaining some of the deepest, cellular-level benefits of physical activity.

<h2>Is Exercise Good For Your Mental Health? </h2>

This research has important real-world meaning. As an accompanying editorial noted, the fact that "exercise has an antidepressant-like effect in the wrong dietary context... is good news" for people who find it very hard to switch to a perfect diet. 

The findings give biological proof that exercise can be an effective tool for improving mental well-being even when facing the challenges of modern, processed foods. 

Future research will need to study women and explore longer periods of exercise, but this study provides a strong foundation for using lifestyle changes to support mood and brain function.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

Junk food and mental health

yvonne nolan

mental health

running and junk food

brain health

junk food and brain

Fact Check: Common Myths Around HPV Vaccine And How It Will Prevent Cervical Cancer

Rare Diseases Day: How AI Is Transforming Early Diagnosis

Rare Brain Surgery In 2.5-Year-Old Helps Reverse Devastating Stroke Effects

Fitness

8 Sit-Up Variations to Strengthen Your Core and Build Stability

Benefits Of Ayurvedic Health Supplement Ashwagandha

9 Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Options You Should Try

5 Foods You Should Avoid For PCOS, Says Gynecologist

Love Sitting With Your Legs Crossed? Here’s You Should Avoid It

6 Daily Foods That Are Secretly Increasing Your Calories

9 Brain Boosters You Should Do Everyday

Hip Exercises That Will Keep You Flexible As You Age

9 Leg Exercises Office Workers’ Should Do At Home

Benefits of Having Herbal Tea Every Morning

9 Daily Habits That Boost Your Brain Power

Lower-Body Exercises That Are Game-Changers

How Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Helps You

Aging Myths You Should Never Believe

Superfoods That Support Your Gut Health

What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Instant Noodles Every Day?

Health Issues Premature Babies Often Face

Exercises Office Workers Should Do For Their Heart Health

Reasons Why You Should Add Raw Turmeric To Your Diet

Benefits Of Drinking Milk At Night: Why You Should Do It

Food That Provides Vitamin B12 Naturally In Your Diet

Surprising Health Benefits Of Fenugreek Seeds

9 Superfoods You Should Eat For Your Brain Health

What Does Mental Health Support Look Like At Work?

Long Stretches You Should Do To Unwind From Your Day

Colon Cancer In Young Adults: Early Symptoms You Should Know

Health Benefits Of Eating Dry Fruits Everyday

Are You At Risk For Fried Rice Syndrome?

These Tests Reveal How Well You Are Aging

Lower-Back Exercises You Should Do After A Long-Day's Work

Children’s Diet – What Kids Need To Eat For Immunity Building

Common Diabetes Myths That Could Hurt Your Health

Love Spicy Food? Here’s How It Affects Your Health

Superfood List: Veggies And Fruits You Must Have For Immunity

Foods People With IBS Should Avoid

Exercises To Improve Digestion

Easy Work Lunches You Can Make In The Morning

Hunger Vs Craving: Difference Explained In 60 seconds

These Things Can Cause Your Heart To Age Faster

High Carb Foods That Are Actually Healthy

Researchers at University College Cork, led by Professor Yvonne Nolan, have found key biological reasons why exercise can help protect your mental health, even if you eat a typical Western diet high in fat and sugar. Your diet plays a huge role in keeping your brain healthy. Studies have shown that eating processed foods can increase your chances of developing memory and thinking issues. However, this one habit can help you keep these issues at bay, according to researchers. The study, published in the journal Brain Medicine, shows that regular running can reduce symptoms similar to depression that are often caused by unhealthy eating. These protective effects involve changes to your gut and hormones. Can You Eat Junk If You Exercise Enough? To figure out how diet and exercise influence the brain, the researchers studied adult male rats for seven and a half weeks. One group of rats ate a standard healthy diet, while the other group ate a rotating "cafeteria diet" of high-fat, high-sugar foods (like ultra-processed meals). In both diet groups, half of the animals were given a running wheel to exercise freely. This setup allowed the team to clearly see the separate and combined effects of the poor diet and physical activity on the animals' mood and brain. The main finding was positive Voluntary running had an antidepressant-like effect on the rats, even those eating the unhealthy cafeteria diet. This suggests that getting regular physical activity can be helpful for a person's mood, even if they struggle to completely change their eating habits. Mood and Memory While the unhealthy diet didn't severely harm the rats' learning or memory skills, exercise slightly improved their ability to navigate. The researchers also noticed mild anti-anxiety effects from exercise that occurred regardless of what the animals were eating. Can Your Diet Affect Your Mental Capacity? The high-fat, high-sugar diet severely messed up the chemicals produced in the gut (called metabolites). The researchers analyzed the contents of the caecum (a part of the large intestine) and found that the unhealthy diet affected 100 out of 175 chemical compounds they checked. Exercise helped to restore the balance, particularly increasing three metabolites—anserine, indole-3-carboxylate, and deoxyinosine—that are known to be important for regulating mood. The study did find one complex finding related to brain growth. In rats that ate the standard, healthy food, exercise strongly boosted adult hippocampal neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells in the hippocampus, the area linked to memory and emotion). However, the cafeteria diet prevented this usual exercise-induced increase in new brain cells. This suggests that while exercise helps mood regardless of diet, a poor diet might actually stop the brain from fully gaining some of the deepest, cellular-level benefits of physical activity.Is Exercise Good For Your Mental Health? This research has important real-world meaning. As an accompanying editorial noted, the fact that "exercise has an antidepressant-like effect in the wrong dietary context... is good news" for people who find it very hard to switch to a perfect diet. The findings give biological proof that exercise can be an effective tool for improving mental well-being even when facing the challenges of modern, processed foods. Future research will need to study women and explore longer periods of exercise, but this study provides a strong foundation for using lifestyle changes to support mood and brain function.