When is too many carbs? Links to Depression in Post Menopausal Women

High-glycemic-index (GI) diets could increase the risk of depression in postmenopausal women, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

James E. Gangwisch, PhD, from Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues assessed the relationship between dietary GI, glycemic load, and other carbohydrate measures with depression in postmenopausal women participating in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (87,618 women at baseline between 1994 and 1998 and 69,954 women at three-year follow-up).

The researchers found that a progressively higher dietary GI was associated with increasing odds of incident depression in fully adjusted models (odds ratio [OR] for the fifth versus first quintile, 1.22). There were also increasing odds of incident depression with progressively higher consumption of dietary added sugars (OR for the fifth versus first quintile, 1.23).

• There were significantly lower odds of incident depression associated with higher consumption of lactose, fiber, nonjuice fruit, and vegetables, while nonwhole/refined-grain consumption was associated with increased odds of depression.

• Diet is way overlooked in American culture, this continues to be a problem. Individual accountability is the best way to ensure your not adding negative influence through your diet. Be aware, and improve your eating habits.

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