Dr Cory Couillard

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net For many, the upcoming holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year or the most depressing.  Excessive stress is often contagious with the added financial strain of travel, costs of presents, food and/or entertainment.  It is no coincidence that the holidays are the sickest time of the year.  Poor food choices, diminished physical activity levels and excessive levels of stress can be linked to the physical and emotional symptoms of depression.  Highly processed food items are commonly loaded with carbohydrates that are a leading cause of nutritional imbalances.  Nutritional imbalances create deficiencies that interfere with proper brain function and hormone balance that causes poor concentration, feelings of guilt, lack of energy and other symptoms of depression. Sweet desserts and refined carbohydrates cause sharp fluctuations in blood sugar levels.  This rapid fluctuation is known to caus...