A diet high in refined sugars, that is, white cane sugar, could increase the risk of depression, according to a new American study published in theAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
To arrive at this unexpected correlation, the researchers looked at the glycemic index and the types of carbohydrates consumed by 70,000 postmenopausal women, from an observational study of women’s health. The participants were followed for 4 years, during which time their mental health was regularly measured, as well as all the symptoms attesting to depression (chronic fatigue, mood changes, etc.).
In the end, it turns out that women who frequently consume refined sugars, especially those added to industrial dishes (bread, cereals, sodas, etc.) have a greater risk of depression than the others. Conversely, the high consumption of dietary fiber, seeds, vegetables and whole grains decrease their risk. For researchers, these results suggest that the higher the glycemic index of foods, such as refined sugars, the greater the risk of depression.
If this link remains to be specified and confirmed, the authors of the study stress the importance of a healthy diet in an attempt to limit one’s risk of depression during menopause.
Note that in France, sugar refining only intervenes to transform brown cane sugar into White sugar. White sugar from sugar beets is unrefined. The latter accounts for more than 90% of marketed sugar, against 4% for refined sugar from sugar cane. But it is the white cane sugar that is used the most in industrial products.
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