Since January 2023, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been helping people become more active through his newsletter. Concerned with the declining fitness levels of the average person, the seven-time Mr. Olympia set out on a fitness crusade to inspire as many people as possible. Besides providing workout tips, Schwarzenegger also focuses on educating people about their dietary choices. In the most recent edition of Arnold’s Pump Club, the bodybuilding legend highlighted an alarming fact about the average diet.

Like he often does, Arnie quoted a scientific study to highlight a worrying discovery. According to the former Mr. Olympia, the study showed an alarmingly high amount of food to have a link with depression.

Your comfort food might be a Trojan horse

Schwarzenegger wrote about “The Food Linked To Depression,” and just how common they are. The 75-year-old stated that many people dream of being healthy despite consuming their favorite, savory dishes. Many even turn to their comfort food when they feel low. More often than not, such food items are ultra-processed fast or junk food.

However, “recent research found that the more you eat ultra-processed foods, the more likely you are to report feelings of depression or anxiety,” revealed Schwarzenegger. The five-time Mr. Universe described ultra-processed food as the type “engineered” to taste more desirable “by adding salt, sugar, and fat.”

“It’s more than 60 percent of the food found in grocery stores,” revealed Arnie in his daily fitness newsletter. Such food items also contain artificial additives. The Governator quoted another study with 11,000 participants. It found people consuming more than 20% of their calories from ultra-processed food lost 28% of their cognition.

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While the stats might be alarming, Schwarzenegger also had good news for the over 300,000 members of his “village.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger explained how to outsmart cravings

Since processed foods are made to taste more desirable people often ditch a tasty yet healthy dish for junk food. However, he suggested a way to outsmart the craving for ultra-processed foods. Citing another study, the Terminator actor wrote people who balanced their comfort food consumption with “whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish, and other nutritious options,” didn’t experience depression or cognitive decline.

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He also educated his readers on interpreting the studies he often highlights. While important research like this can help inform people, they shouldn’t “assume causation from these studies.” Arnie stated that it could be possible that people who are more depressed “happen to eat more ultra-processed foods.” Hence instead of being scared, people should make an informed choice.