Carbs and Depression

Carbs And Depression

Refined sugars in white bread, pasta, rice, and soda causes negative health effects due to the surge in insulin production caused by an increase in glucose. But here is another another good reason for women, in particular, to avoid refined carbs: A study performed at Columbia University Medical Center in New York found that a diet high in these foods may increase the risk for depression in post-menopausal women. The team compared the dietary glycemic index and glycemic load of carbs consumed and incidence of depression in data gathered from more than 70,000 women participants in the National Institutes of Health’s Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study. They reported that the higher GI scores and the more sugars and refined grains the women ate, the higher their risk of depression. The study found a lower risk of depression among women who reported eating more whole grains, vegetables and non-juice fruits.

There is no proof that carbs CAUSE depression, but this new research suggests that high glycemic carb intake is linked to feeling blue. It is possible that these foods may also play a role in hormonal imbalances, which has been proven to effect mood.

The researchers wrote that their findings suggest that a glycemic-based dietary approach might help treat and prevent depression, but more study in the broader population is needed to gauge its effectiveness. Whether male or female, intake of low GI carbs will benefit your waistline and attitude–opposed to the more processed junk.