A group of scientists believe they have discovered a leading cause of depression that has a much stronger impact on men than women. The data is important because male depression is often an underestimated problem, and the cause of its occurrence, which scientists point to, is even more underestimated. The conducted study indicates that men who often consume sweet products with added sugars face a higher risk of depressive conditions. The data was obtained by a scientific team at the University of London, which tracked the relationship between mental health and the intake of sugary foods among a group of 5,000 men. The large-scale study found a very strong relationship between the two factors. Comparing the emotional health of men who consumed the highest amounts of sugar products and those who consumed them the least, scientists reported a very clear trend. Regular intake of sweets increases the risk of depression and anxiety disorders in men by about 25%. Until now, it was known that increased consumption of trace foods is characteristic of depressed people. However, this relationship is more pronounced in women. In men, the opposite is observed. Thus, scientists now consider regular access to sweets as a risk factor for the development of depression in the stronger sex. And as one of the most underrated causes of men’s mental health issues. NEWS_MORE_BOX The study data adds sugary foods to the long list of factors increasing the risk of depression and anxiety disorders. Regarding the male gender, scientists found that the role of this factor can be further strengthened in the presence of other predisposing factors. It has been found, for example, that the risk of depression is even higher in men who abuse sweets and are also genetically predisposed to problems of a psycho-emotional nature. In them, the probability of manifestation of this hereditary burden almost doubles under the influence of regular consumption of sweet foods. The data from the mentioned study complements the previous information about the negative impact of simple carbohydrates on our health – in a physical, and now also in a mental aspect. And they emphasize the importance of prevention in relation to mental problems in men, especially when such an underestimated factor plays a role in their appearance.