Your noodles, soft drinks and chips are ruining your mental health. A new viewpoint article published in the journal Brain Medicine highlights a possible role of microplastics in influencing the association between ultra-processed food intake and mental health adversities.

Ultra-processed foods, such as instant noodles, carbonated drinks, and packaged foods, are industrial formulations made from substances derived from whole foods. These food products contain high amounts of industrial additives and involve sophisticated packaging. The consumption of ultra-processed foods is rapidly increasing worldwide, especially in high-income countries. In the United States, these foods are associated with more than 50% of energy intake. Convenience, affordability, accessibility, aggressive marketing, and lifestyle changes are the major factors driving the global dietary shift from whole foods to ultra-processed foods.

Ultra Processed Food Leading To Depression

According to an umbrella review published in The BMJ and referenced in the viewpoint, people who consume ultra-processed foods have a 22% higher risk of depression, a 48% higher risk of anxiety, and a 41% higher risk of poor sleep outcomes compared to those with lower intake.

Recent observational studies indicate that excessive consumption of ultra-processed food is associated with poor sleep quality, physical health adversities, depression, and anxiety. This evidence is further supported by studies reporting that higher consumption of nutrient-rich, unprocessed foods potentially reduces the risk of mental disorders. Small randomized controlled trials, particularly those examining Mediterranean diet interventions in people with depression, have demonstrated moderate-to-large improvements in depressive symptoms. The findings of recent interventional studies also clearly indicate a link between dietary intake and mental health.

Microplastics as a contributing factor

Mental health adversities associated with ultra-processed food intake might be attributed to their poor nutrient profiles, energy density, and physical or chemical properties related to industrial processing and packaging methods, which introduce bisphenols and microplastics as contaminants.

Similar to ultra-processed foods, microplastics are known to induce oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysfunction, altered metabolism, impaired cell growth and organ development, and carcinogenicity.

Microplastics and nanoplastics can increase the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders by inducing oxidative stress in the brain, causing nerve cell damage, and influencing the functionality of neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and glutamate. However, it is important to note that much of the mechanistic evidence on microplastics and neurological effects comes from animal and cell culture studies, with limited direct human data.

Sources Of Microplastics

Because of processing and packaging methods, ultra-processed foods contain high amounts of microplastics. These foods are often stored and heated in plastic containers, a significant source of microplastics. For example, chicken nuggets can contain 30 times more microplastics per gram than chicken breast, and microwaving some plastic containers may release millions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles within minutes. Besides microplastics, bisphenol A used in plastic production can be released and mixed with ultra-processed foods when plastics degrade. Bisphenol A has been specifically associated with autism and depression in some human studies. These observations clearly indicate that excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods can accumulate microplastics and bisphenol A in the body.

Microplastics in the human brain

Emerging evidence highlights the presence of microplastics in the human brain. These microplastics, mainly polyethylene, are smaller in diameter (less than 200 nanometers) and are 7 to 30 times higher than those found in other organs, such as the liver or kidney. A recent study also found a 50% increase in brain microplastic concentration from 2016 to 2024, paralleling the ongoing rise of ultra-processed foods. One recent study found that people with dementia had three to five times higher levels of brain microplastics, but the authors emphasize this correlation does not imply causation.

Although some human studies have shown a link between bisphenol A exposure and risk of autism, depression, and anxiety, no evidence is currently available linking microplastic exposure to mental health adversities. This gap in knowledge is partly due to the difficulty in quantifying microplastic exposures in the human brain from an observational perspective and the ethical limitations surrounding microplastic exposure in interventional studies.

Implications for dietary intervention

Identifying microplastics in the brain and throughout the body raises significant health concerns. Several studies have highlighted the potential negative impact of microplastics on immune functions, genetic stability, and endocrine functions.

The SMILES trial is the first randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of adjunctive dietary intervention in treating moderate to severe depression. The main aim of the dietary intervention was to replace nutrient-deficient, ultra-processed foods with nutrient-rich, unprocessed foods. The trial findings indicated significant improvement in depression among participants who consumed the intervention diet for 12 weeks. Compared to the 8% control group participants, remission was achieved for 32% of intervention group participants. This means that for approximately every four people who adopted the dietary changes, one additional person experienced remission from depression, compared to the control group (a measure known as the “number needed to treat,” which was 4.1).

Although the trial did not directly measure microplastic accumulation in participants’ bodies, it is imperative to hypothesise that the improvement in depression is associated with a reduction in microplastic exposure due to dietary substitutions. However, this remains a hypothesis requiring further investigation, as microplastic exposure was not directly measured.

The viewpoint notes that it would be valuable to conduct post-hoc analyses in such dietary trials, retrospectively estimating changes in microplastic content due to dietary interventions and their potential effect on mental health outcomes, as more data on microplastic content in foods becomes available.

Need For New Dietary Index

While the paper notes that research quantifying the microplastic content of various ultra-processed food items is becoming increasingly available, it does not state that methods are already well-established for all foods. It would be of prime importance to evaluate the changes in microplastic content due to dietary interventions and their subsequent effect on various mental health outcomes.

Several diet-based risk indices have been developed to assess the long-term impact of dietary exposure on physical and mental health. The Dietary Inflammatory Index has been developed to assess the inflammatory potential of a person’s diet based on the foods they consume. Similarly, the Nova food classification system has been developed to categorise foods based on the extent and purpose of industrial processing.

Given the significant utility of these indices, the authors of this article propose designing a Dietary Microplastic Index to assess the microplastic content and risk of accumulation based on the foods consumed. Currently, no nutritional population-based surveys estimate or track microplastic intake via diet, which precludes robust analysis of long-term microplastic exposure and adverse mental health outcomes. The global rise in the intake of microplastic-enriched ultra-processed foods, together with the simultaneous induction in mental health adversities, highlights the need for more research to investigate this association in humans.

When pain strikes your face like a bolt of lightning, it's not just a headache or a dental issue. It could be Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), a condition so excruciating that it has been dubbed the “suicide disease”. Experts say it’s worse than a migraine, and sadly, most people don’t even know it exists until it hits them.

What makes this pain so cruel?

Dr. Namrata Dabas, HOD and Consultant, Pain and Palliative Care at Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi, explains that the trigeminal nerve is the largest cranial nerve, carrying pain sensations from the face to the brain. “When it gets compressed or irritated, intense, electric shock-like pain is experienced by individuals, often on one side of their face,” she says. This kind of pain isn’t just bad; it’s chronic, and the triggers are disturbingly everyday: “eating, drinking, washing the face, or even a light breeze”.

Dr. Aparna Gupta, Associate Director of Neurology at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, calls this condition “nerve pain of the fifth nerve”, adding that “the pain in this condition is extremely severe and excruciating, mainly in the half of the face.” It’s not just the intensity but the unpredictability: “The pain can be episodic, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes, or it can be chronic… in a waxing, waning manner or at times, it may spike at intervals.”

But what causes it?

While TN has several possible causes, Dr. Dabas says that it’s “mostly caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve by a nearby blood vessel loop.” Other times, it may follow a herpes zoster infection or result from a tumour pressing against the nerve. Still, she says, “TN is considered to be idiopathic, which means that no definite cause can be identified behind it in most situations.” Women and people over 50 are more likely to suffer from it.

Dr. Gupta agrees, adding that in some cases, “we found blood vessels which are surrounding the nerve, just destroying its sheath and causing the pain.” She also lists other causes like “a tumour compressing the nerve or a demyelinating condition called MS”.

When a smile or a sip can set it off

It’s not just the pain; it’s how common daily actions can bring it on. Dr. Gupta points out that activities like “smiling, chewing or brushing or eating very hot or cold food like ice cream or hot coffees… all aggravate the pain.” The randomness and relentlessness of the condition can take a huge toll on mental health.

Managing the unmanageable

“An MRI is used to detect the underlying problem,” says Dr. Dabas. If a tumour or blood vessel compression is spotted, surgery is an option. Initially, doctors often start with neuropathic medications, but these can “cause side effects or stop working over time.” In those cases, she recommends a minimally invasive procedure: radiofrequency ablation of the trigeminal ganglion. “Performed under local anaesthesia, it uses radiofrequency ablation to burn a part of the trigeminal ganglion in a controlled manner,” she says. The relief is often immediate.

Dr. Gupta also lists treatments ranging from “anti-seizure medication” to “a nerve block or a local Botox in the region where the pain occurs”. In cases where a blood vessel is the culprit, “a microdiscectomy is done.” And when it’s due to MS or a tumour, “it requires the primary treatment”.

When 12-year-old Jody started struggling with everyday tasks—tripping over her own feet, fumbling with buttons, losing her balance—her mother, Sarah Levett, chalked it up to anxiety and autism. What they didn’t know at the time was that these small, seemingly unrelated signs were the first red flags of a devastating diagnosis: a fast-growing, aggressive Stage 4 brain tumor.

After a four-year fight, Jody passed away in 2022 at the age of 16. Her loss has left a permanent hole in her family’s life. Now, her mother is sharing Jody’s story, not just as a tribute but as a warning for other parents and caregivers to recognize the signs of brain tumors early—and to push for answers when things don’t feel right.

Jody’s symptoms began innocuously. During the summer holidays of 2018, she started taking longer to get dressed and found it increasingly difficult to do simple things like fasten buttons. At first, doctors attributed these delays to anxiety about returning to school.

But things progressed quickly. Within weeks, Sarah noticed her daughter bumping into objects, walking in a crooked line, and complaining of headaches and nausea. Jody also experienced mood swings, screaming fits, and facial twitching—symptoms that doctors later recognized as classic signs of a brain tumor.

It wasn’t until a second visit to the doctor that Jody was referred for a scan at the Royal Surrey Hospital. That scan revealed a mass in her brain. Within days, she was transferred to St George’s Hospital in London, where surgery removed about 80% of the tumor.

The shock of a cancer diagnosis was compounded by the unknown. Doctors couldn’t identify the exact type of brain tumor Jody had—even after multiple biopsies and surgeries. They could only tell the family that it was fast-growing and aggressive.

Sarah expressed deep frustration about the lack of clarity. “It’s so hard not knowing,” she said. “How can you treat something when you don’t even know what it is?”

This diagnostic uncertainty limited treatment options and made long-term planning nearly impossible. Sarah is now pursuing private testing on Jody’s biopsy samples, hoping they might yield new insights.

After the initial operation, Jody underwent chemotherapy and six weeks of radiotherapy. She missed most of the school year and struggled with common side effects—fatigue, nausea, and hair loss. To ease her discomfort, she shaved her head early and wore bandanas to school when she could attend.

Her resilience stood out. Jody loved school and insisted on staying engaged with her studies whenever possible, even when her body was failing her. Between hospital-based lessons and home tutoring, she did everything she could to stay connected to normal teenage life.

Sarah transferred Jody to a smaller school to better support her medical needs—a move that helped Jody remain involved in learning while managing treatments.

Fifteen months of clear scans gave the family cautious hope—until October, when a routine MRI revealed the tumor had returned. Jody underwent another surgery just before Christmas, followed by another round of radiotherapy and oral chemotherapy.

Then, in July, another tumor appeared. More surgery followed—this time complicated by focal seizures. Despite it all, Jody kept her focus on what mattered most to her: attending school and living life on her own terms.

“She has been through so much,” Sarah said. “But her main concern was whether she’d miss class.”

The emotional toll on the family has been immense. Sarah continues to manage grief, unanswered questions, and the feeling that the healthcare system is under-equipped to deal with rare pediatric cancers.

“There’s just not enough research,” she said. “Not enough awareness. Not enough support for families like ours.”

Subtle Signs of Brain Tumor In Kids

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children and adolescents in many countries, yet they receive disproportionately low research funding. The symptoms can be subtle, dismissed as behavioral issues, migraines, or developmental delays—especially in kids. The early warning signs of brain tumors in children include:

• Headaches (especially in the morning)
• Unexplained vomiting
• Balance and coordination issues
• Vision changes
• Behavioral shifts or mood swings
• Delayed milestones in younger children

Sarah has turned her grief into action. She’s organizing a fundraiser for The Brain Tumour Charity, aiming to raise both money and awareness. She also advocates for stronger mental health support for bereaved families, another glaring gap in the current healthcare landscape.

“The main aim now is to stop this from happening to another family,” she said. “To make sure someone, somewhere, hears our story and recognizes the signs early enough to make a difference.”

Jody’s legacy isn’t just in the fight she endured but in the awareness her story now brings. Her quiet bravery, her love for school, and her unshakeable strength in the face of uncertainty have touched the lives of many—and may help save others.

For Sarah and families like hers, the battle doesn’t end with loss. It continues through every conversation, every campaign, and every effort to improve the system for those who come next. If you suspect something’s wrong with your child’s health—don’t wait. Ask questions, request scans, and push for answers. Early diagnosis saves lives.

Someone close to you seems fine, smiling, showing up for work, posting selfies, maybe even getting compliments like “You look great, have you lost weight?” You wouldn’t suspect they’re battling a serious mental health condition but what if they are? What if their struggle is happening beneath the surface—camouflaged by societal expectations, assumptions, or even praise?

This is exactly the danger when it comes to eating disorders—a class of complex, deeply psychological conditions that too often get misrepresented, misdiagnosed, or completely missed. Many people, including healthcare professionals, still picture eating disorders through one narrow lens: a visibly thin young woman, wasting away. That image is outdated and dangerously incomplete.

“People often suffer in silence simply because they ‘don’t look sick enough’ in the eyes of others,” says Dr. Ria Talwar, Counselling Psychologist & Eating Disorders Specialist at Samarpan Health. “Many individuals living with severe symptoms of an eating disorder fall within what is considered a ‘normal’ or even higher body weight.”

Eating disorders don’t discriminate by gender, age, or size. And they don’t always show up as emaciation or dramatic weight loss. They can look like control, perfectionism, calorie counting masked as ‘health’, or persistent anxiety around meals. If we continue to rely on stereotypes, we miss the very people who most need support.

Common Misconceptions About What A Person With Eating Disorder Looks Like

Assumptions about how eating disorders look are not just incorrect—they’re actively harmful. Dr. Talwar highlights that comments like “You’ve lost weight, you look great” or “You should eat more, you’re disappearing” are often thrown around casually. But these statements can validate disordered behaviors or minimize distress. “They lead to a potential eating disorder being normalised, misunderstood, or even praised,” she says.

More dangerously, they build a mental narrative where people feel they need to appear visibly unwell to be taken seriously. This creates a hierarchy of suffering, where only the physically obvious cases are acknowledged. That mindset delays diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

What’s more, the reality is grim: eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness, both from physical complications and suicide. Every delay in recognition comes at a potentially fatal cost.

Dr. Talwar emphasizes that many clients with long-standing disordered eating go years without anyone noticing—sometimes even themselves. “We regularly see individuals who have lived with a deeply unhealthy relationship with food for years before their struggle is recognized,” she notes.

Why? Because they don’t ‘look the part.’

This is especially true for people living in larger bodies, men, non-binary individuals, or people of color—groups that have been historically excluded from the narrow portrayal of who gets eating disorders.

In many cases, these disorders are a coping mechanism for emotional pain, anxiety, trauma, or a desire for control. Food becomes a way to self-soothe, punish, or numb when feelings become overwhelming. Some people engage in disordered eating as a form of self-harm, especially when traditional outlets like talking or crying aren’t safe or available.

Eating Disorders Are Never Just About Food

Eating disorders are not about vanity or willpower. They are multi-layered mental health disorders, and food is just the symptom. Many times, they coexist with other conditions like:

• Anxiety
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Depression

In fact, perfectionism is a common thread—people set impossibly high standards for themselves, and when they fall short (as humans inevitably do), they use food as a way to regain control or punish themselves.

Dr. Talwar puts it plainly, “Food, weight, and appearance are surface-level expressions of deeper psychological distress.”

Subtle Signs Of Eating Disorder That May Be Easy To Miss

Often, the earliest signs of an eating disorder aren’t physical at all. They show up in behaviors and mood shifts. Teachers, parents, and even close friends may miss them if they’re only looking for weight loss. Dr. Talwar outlines key red flags:

• A sudden obsession with “clean” eating or calorie tracking
• Avoidance of meals or eating in secret
• Anxiety or irritability before and after eating
• Checking the mirror or weighing themselves compulsively
• Social withdrawal, especially around food-related events
• Bathroom visits right after meals

Sometimes, these behaviors are dismissed as “just being healthy” or “dieting.” But the difference is in the distress, rigidity, and secrecy. And often, the individual doesn’t even realize their behavior is harmful.

What helps most? Not confrontation—but compassionate conversation. Create a safe space, without judgment, where someone can speak freely. That’s often the first real step toward healing.

What Role Does Social Media Plays In Detection And Intervention?

In the digital age, social media can make eating disorders both more visible and more dangerous. It's a tool but how we use it matters. “Social media is a powerful force that cuts both ways,” Dr. Talwar says. On one hand, curated fitness journeys, diet fads, and aesthetic 'health' content can subtly glorify disordered eating. Young people are especially vulnerable to these unrealistic comparisons.

On the other hand, the internet has helped destigmatize the conversation. Many people realize they’re struggling when they see others openly share their recovery journeys, therapy tips, or mental health insights. Hashtags like #EDRecovery and #BodyNeutrality have helped people find community and support.

“Monitoring and navigating the medium requires media literacy, critical thinking, and accountability from platforms themselves,” says Dr. Talwar. More education, more empathy, and more intentional content can shift the narrative from comparison to connection.

What Needs to Change?

• Stop assuming you can tell who’s struggling by how they look
• Reframe praise about weight loss—it may reinforce dangerous behaviors
• Start conversations with empathy, not judgment
• Advocate for broader training for healthcare providers, educators, and families to recognize diverse signs of eating disorders
• Hold media accountable for promoting healthy and inclusive representations of bodies and food

Eating disorders don’t need to be visible to be serious. The pain is real—even if the person looks “fine.” Recovery starts with recognizing the truth, eating disorders wear many faces, and all of them deserve support. Let’s stop waiting for someone to look sick before we take their suffering seriously.