Science Says Doing This One Thing Can Lead to Holiday Depression

msn ^ | 12/14/2019 | Diana Bruk

[BenLurkin]

"Alcohol is basically pure calories, pure energy, non-nutritive and super toxic at high doses," study co-author Stephen Ilardi, PhD, an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Kansas, said in a statement. "Sugars are very similar. We're learning when it comes to depression, people who optimize their diet should provide all the nutrients the brain needs and mostly avoid these potential toxins."

This is especially true for those who are prone to seasonal depression, which affects approximately half a million Americans. As with drinking several glasses of wine, eating a box of cookies might provide a temporary feeling of comfort and joy, but can make you feel worse overall if regularly consumed in large quantities.

"When we consume sweets, they act like a drug," Ilardi said. "They have an immediate mood-elevating effect, but in high doses they can also have a paradoxical, pernicious longer-term consequence of making mood worse, reducing well-being, elevating inflammation and causing weight gain."

Ilardi also said that a "large subset of people with depression have high levels of systemic inflammation," and since eating an excessive amount of sugar has been linked to low-grade inflammation, these "inflammatory hormones can directly push the brain into a state of severe depression."

[trisham]

Sugar may not be terrible for most people, but it’s very bad for anyone who may be likely to develop type 2 diabetes. There is also some indication that it may weaken the immune system. We don’t use it, since my husband has type 2.

[fr_freak]

All the computer models agree. Has anyone answered the question why we need to have more than one computer model to get a consensus?

The truth is that computer modeling is only as good as the programmer who programmed it and the data that went into it.

If, for example, a call went out for people to create a computer model that will show how fast a cube of ice will melt in a glass, one group might program the model to calculate that .001 grams of the ice cube will melt every minute for every .5 degree increase in temperature, while someone else will program theirs so that .001 grams of ice will melt every minute for every .6 degree increase. The two models will then, obviously, diverge significantly at some point in time as the models are run.

On top of that, the people tasked with measuring the normal temperature change that occurs in the room where the ice cube is kept might record incorrect data. They might record that from 8:00am to 2:00pm, the temperature rose by .9 degrees every hour, when the real number is .87 degrees every hour. And if there are two separate groups recording data, the first might arrive at .9 degree per hour, and the second at .89 degrees per hour. Now, even if they went back and plugged that data into identical models, they would arrive at different conclusions, but they also have two slightly differing models, as above, and so the divergence is increased even more.

For something like weather or "climate change", the interpretation of how the multitudes of variables will interact with each other can have nearly infinite variation, and then the data gathering can be almost equally problematic.

[centurion316]

After reading this, I am swearing off cookies.

[Truthoverpower]

Snore. X. 1000

[Redwood71]

“Alcohol is basically pure calories, pure energy, non-nutritive and super toxic at high doses,”......

The 6 healthiest alcohols you should be drinking,

Tequila has numerous health benefits (and is lower in calories than Smirnoff vodka). Agavins, the natural sugar found in tequila, are non-digestible (meaning they act like fiber) and won’t raise your blood sugar levels. Furthermore, the sugar is shown to help lower cholesterol and can help you lose weight. Yup, that’s right, tequila can fit in perfectly with a weight loss plan if enjoyed in moderation.

Red wine in particular does have some fantastic health benefits. The active compounds in red wine (polyphenols, resveratrol, and quercetin) have been proven to improve overall heart health. Furthermore, research done at the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that red wine helps slow down the process of glucose hitting the bloodstream, which stops high spikes of insulin.

Rum isn’t a popular liquor among student, but it should be (for its fabulous health benefits, duh). Made from molasses and other sugarcane byproducts, rum has been proven to enhance mental health in many ways. In moderation, a standard serving can reduce anxiety, for example.

One serving of whiskey contains as many antioxidants as a glass of wine. Try taking a shot of whiskey as your next “fighting off/preventing a cold” excuse. Whiskey also contains ellagic acid, which known for fighting off cancer by absorbing rogue cells.

Rosé does more for you than top off a relaxing summer evening with friends. The wine offers a load of health benefits. The polyphenols in rosé have been shown to prevent atherosclerosis, a major contributor to heart disease.

Champagne, the bubbly drink, may possibly enhance memory performance. On top of that, champagne can help enhance the quality of your skin.

Anything that you over indulge in can be, and most often is, unhealthy. Enjoy the holiday, “Skoal!!!”

rwood

[RoosterRedux]

Will check it out next. Still in the middle of Grantchester.

[thesearethetimes...]

Like!

[JayGalt]

Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll try Grantchester next.

[Tax-chick]

Fantastic series. We got the DVDs from our county library. Miss Pierce, the spook, was my favorite character. When she blew herself and her department head up with a grenade, I said, “Damn, I want to be Miss Pierce when I grow up!” and my husband avoided me for several days.

[JayGalt]

Snicker : )

[Tax-chick]

Petite-bourgeoise Southern church ladies can be full of suppressed mayhem.

[Grimmy]

pure energy,

****

Hey now. I could use some o’ that.

[Keyhopper]

I quit drinking because I found out I was allergic to alcohol.
Everytime I got drunk I would break out in handcuffs.

[Sir_Ed]

Enemy At The Door on YouTube is great. It’s old BBC series depicting life in the Channel Islands after they were taken over by the Nazis during WWII, and held for five years.

Interesting portrayal of what life was like for Brits living under Nazi occupation.

[JayGalt]

Thank you.

[trebb]

Amen - stopped 31 years ago....lots of things stopped being so fun/funny, but the important things took on a new life...

[Fightin Whitey]

What does this educated fool think he is going to do that change humanity?

Apply communism.

[Chickensoup]

foyles war is excellent.

[jmcenanly]

The one thing that leads to holiday depression seems to be reading these academic papers on the ills of Christmas.

[NativeSon]

I’ll take up the slack - time for a breakfast bourbon.