Did you know sugar cravings can contribute to or in many cases even cause depression? I’ve been researching this phenomenon for years and in the process found a very helpful book by Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons, Potatoes not Prozac.
The title alone fascinated me because I was a Prozac-taker for two years, starting right after my divorce over ten years ago. I’ll admit, the little pill leveled me out and helped me cope, but the side effects were a big concern (hence my research efforts—“There HAS to be something better than this!” I told myself).
In her book, Dr. DesMaisons (let’s just call her Kathleen) says that if we eat a baked potato three hours after dinner, the potato will not only stimulate the release of insulin needed for tryptophan to cross into the brain, but it will also give us a potassium boost—a nutrient needed for insulin to do its work.
Kathleen explains that potatoes, with their fiber and micronutrient content, also offer a more sustained insulin response than most refined carbohydrates. The only stipulations are that we eat the potato as an evening snack, that we do not eat it with any kind of protein (otherwise, we can top it as we wish), and that we include its skin.
Eating a baked potato in this specific way, three hours after a meal containing protein, is one particular method of reducing cravings and preventing mood swings.
I bought her book, tested her theory, and by golly, it worked for me! It didn’t seem to matter what type of potato I baked, either.
So I thought in case there are any other depression sufferers out there (the Nat’l Institute of Mental Health says approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, struggle with this malady), you might want to know about this approach. We can take heart, it’s baked potatoes to the rescue!
I close with a hot tip: boil the potato (whole, skin and all) for just a few minutes (maybe 6-10) before baking, and you’ll get that restaurant style of baked spud (I’m thinkin’ Texas Roadhouse here).
Contribute to the Cook'n Club!
DVO would love to publish your article, prose, photography and art as well as your cooking, kitchen and nutrition tips, tricks and secrets. Visit the Newsletter Submission / Win Win for All section in our Forum for more information and details.
