How can you be sad while eating pasta? A new study shows that pasta and depression are actually linked.
A 12-year study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, shows that pasta can cause depression. Researched tracked the diet habits and health outcomes of more than 43,000 women in the study. None of them were depressed before the study.
According to MSN, the results showed that women who drink soda, ate fatty red meat, or ate refined grains, like pasta, white bread, crackers or chips every day were 29 to 41 percent more likely to be diagnosed or treated for depression than those who turned to healthier options. Their blood tests showed that women who ate those foods testing much higher for three biomarkers of inflammation.
A certain amount of inflammation is not a bad thing as its needed to fight disease and recover from injuries but several studies show that overboard inflammation can lead to severe illnesses like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. This recent study is the most complete study up to date.
The connection between inflammation and depression is not clear as of yet. However study coauthor Michel Lucas, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health says that there is definitely evidence that some foods tend to increase both inflammation and depression risk, while others lower these risks.
For instance, foods like coffee olive oil, wine and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens tend to reduce inflammation and depression when eaten daily. A good diet to follow is the Mediterranean diet which makes use of olive oil, fish and vegetables.
Pasta and depression isn't just linked to women. Similar studies show that pasta and depression are also linked in men. A study by the University of Eastern Finland shows that the same connection occurs in males.
"The study reinforces the hypothesis that a healthy diet has potential not only in the warding off of depression, but also in its prevention," Anu Ruusunen with the university said.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
