A recent Australian study, led by Professor Margaret Morris at the University if NSW School of Medical Sciences, has revealed that "comfort foods", in other words foods high in fat and sugar, have the same effects as various popular anti-depressants and can help with stress reduction and management. According to the study, these foods have the capability of altering the brain's chemical composition to reduce anxiety.

Laboratory rats, who had been induced with forced trauma early in life, were given an "unlimited access to yummy food", and this seemed to help with the trauma and made the rats less depressed and stressed.

"Implementing that diet reversed their anxiety... it took an animal back to the non-stressed state. We really don't know why that happens but there seems to be a biochemical link", shared Professor Morris.

While Professor Morris did say that the results were not immediately transferable to people, they did support "the therapeutic value of comfort food".

Despite the findings, researchers have been quick to warn that this does not mean that people suffering from anxiety, depression or stress can just go out and gorge on junk food, as everyone knows that it is an unhealthy practice. The results, however, can be used to reduce these groups' dependency on mood-altering drugs.