By Kac Young ND, DCH, PhD.
According to recent studies, it’s possible that eating certain foods is associated with depression. Can you get happier then by eating differently? Absolutely!
Refined Grains can be causing your depression: Pasta may be a quick go-to meal for those busy nights when you don’t have a lot of time to prepare involved meals, but it is certainly not a good meal to have every night.
Pasta, white rice and bagels (all refined grains) are foods that have been identified as inflammatory and have been linked to depression in women ages 50 to 77, according to an October 2013 study in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.
In the study, researchers looked at the eating habits of more than 40,000 women, who didn’t have depression at the study’s start. They found that those who consumed inflammatory foods regularly were more likely to suffer from depression by the end of the study.
Soft Drinks can also contribute to depression: It’s all too convenient to grab a “Coke” when you’re rushing around, but the same study in Brain, Behavior and Immunity study indicated that soft drinks as part of a regular diet may also contribute to depression. In the study, men and women who consumed one or more sugar-sweetened sodas per day were 16 percent more likely to have a stroke over a 20- to 30-year period, compared with those who drank no soda.
“Soda remains the largest source of added sugar in the diet,” said researcher Dr. Adam Bernstein, of the Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute. “What we’re beginning to understand is that regular intake of these beverages sets off a chain reaction in the body that can potentially lead to many diseases — including stroke.” (1)
If a soda is your go-to drink when you’re thirsty, it may be time to switch to something healthier like water or unsweetened iced tea. Reduce your sugar intake and you will reduce inflammation in your body and help ward off depression.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this article shortly…..
References:
(1) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/04/inflammation-diet-depression-women-refined-grains-soda_n_4212848.html
(2) http://www.livescience.com/41759-foods-linked-with-depression.html
(3) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/04/inflammation-diet-depression-women-refined-grains-soda_n_4212848.html
(4) ibid
– Kac Young, a former television director and producer, has earned a PhD in Natural Health and is a Doctor of both Clinical Hypnotherapy and Naturopathy. She is the author of 10 books. Heart Easy is a system of nutritionally sound, delicious meals that promote heart health, long life and taste great. In the Heart Easy Cook Book sound nutritional advice is followed by family favorites that have been turned into heart healthy meals anyone can make and everyone will love.