Holiday Treats and Depression

It’s something we all do at the holidays, when we’re surrounded by gingerbread men, hot cocoa, fruitcakes, and chocolate candies. Faced with the choice of the sweet treat or healthier alternatives, we remind ourselves the holidays come but once a year, and we all fall into a sugar-laden trap.

Here’s the thing: you may know it’s Christmas or Chanukah, but your cells and your body don’t, and how they’re going to respond to that sugar influx isn’t going to be any different than if you had those cookies in April or September.

With sugar in mind, a new study looked at the depressogenic impact of your food choices. Keep in mind, sugar is known to trigger inflammatory and metabolic changes already, so this was a smart avenue for investigation.

What they found may change how you approach the dessert table at your next party.