Depressed? It might be your pasta

Ladies, your comfort food of choice might be affecting your mood — for the worse.

A new study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, links pasta and other high-carb foods with an increased risk of depression in women.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that woman who consume pasta, bread, chips, red meat and soft drinks — which they refer to as an "inflammatory dietary pattern" — were at a 29 to 41 per cent increased risk of being diagnosed with or receiving treatment for depression than those who committed to a healthier diet.

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The research was conducted over 12 years by a team from the Harvard School of Public Health and included more than 43,000 women between the ages of 50 and 77 with no history of depression.

In addition to comparing the women's diets in relation to depression diagnosis, the researchers also looked at inflammation levels in the participants' blood. Women who ate poorly tested higher for three biomarkers of inflammation than the healthier eaters. While some inflammation is needed to help an individual fight off disease, many studies link out-of-control inflammation to ailments ranging from heart disease to diabetes to cancer, Prevention reports.

This new study suggests depression may also be added to the list of illnesses caused by inflammation. The reason behind the connection remains unknown.

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"Inflammation is the body's natural response to infection or wounding," says Dr. Andrew H. Miller, senior author of a 2012 study linking inflammation with depression. "However when prolonged or excessive, inflammation can damage many parts of the body, including the brain."

The Harvard study's co-author, Michel Lucas, PhD, says that evidence is building toward the conclusion that certain foods increase the risk of inflammation and depression while others decrease these risks.

According to Lucas' research, foods such as olive oil, coffee, wine and certain vegetables can help reduce inflammation and depression. A Mediterranean-style diet — rich in olive oil, fish and veggies — has also been linked to lower rates of depression.

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So if you must have your pasta, maybe eat it with a side of greens — and a glass of wine?