Squash That Bad Mood
Whether orange, green, or yellow, squash is a fall favorite for many people — and that's great news for those with depression, since it's good for boosting mood, too, says James Gangwisch, PhD, co-author of the AJCN study and assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia University in New York City. Like other vegetables, squash is a low glycemic index (GI) food, which means it affects blood sugar and insulin levels less than high-GI foods such as sugary cakes, baked goods, and other refined sugars.
Eating high-GI foods triggers a hormonal response in your body to lower blood sugar levels, which over time may cause mood changes and other depression symptoms. In his study, Dr. Gangwisch found that a diet of low-GI foods lowers the risk of depression, while a diet of high-GI foods raises the risk.
You can find out what foods are low-, in-between, and high-GI with this reference list from the American Diabetes Association. Whether it's spaghetti squash or baked squash chips, the possibilities of cooking with fall squashes are endless. And sticking to less-processed ways of eating will keep the GI low and healthier, too.
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