Carbohydrates help depression?
 

i'm not saying they do, but it was suggested to me when i've explained to a couple of professionals my cravings at certain times.

i could put this in a few different forums (depression, weight) but i wanted to put it here because i'm looking for good alternatives to feed in a healthy way what my body seems to be craving.

i've ALWAYS craved carbs...an unnatural craving from my soul almost...so much so that i panic if i don't have soft pretzels or bread in the house. i remember being a little girl and getting 6 slices of bread at one time, balling it into a dough ball and eating it. anyhow, i'm doing it again, and have many, many times in my life.

it's to the point that it's all i want to eat. i was told before that it was odd how my body was telling me i was depressed and how to fix it. carbs are a natural antidepressant...with potentially bad side effects though...namely obesity

anyhow, i was reading and it appears true. it helps in the release of seretonin, but it's short lived and body craves more leading to full fledged addiction. i was shocked to read about it. i'm honestly NO DOUBT a carb addict...because the payoff in my brain and with mood

they suggested some good alternatives...omega3 fish fats and a couple of b vitamins. i need to read more. it answers so much for me.

seriously, the other night i had no pretzels and felt i could cry...confused by that...going to anything in the kitchen that might make up for them...eating several things then. it's a drive coming from i don't know where, that i rarely think about when acting upon...until recently, that is.

any information or relation is greatly appreciated. :)

KD

yes, this is true.
 

The drug Redux was developed by a biochemist who published the carb/serotonin link. His wife used to counsel patients to have some sweet before bed and it will help you sleep. The old milk/cookies = serotonin boost and tryptophan. Redux was recalled for affecting heart valves. But that story is true.

You can release serotonin by chewing also. Gum or anything crunchy is more satisfying for that reason.

The things that help depression:
chewing
sweets/carbs
DHA found in fish oil
B6 which is needed to make serotonin
magnesium which helps metabolize good fats
Proper light exposure for SAD
tryptophan or 5-HTP
folate (low folate has been shown to cause depression)

I was just reading up on the boards here about what I missed while on my summer break. And I saw a post of yours, Kimmy, that you are in "pain management". Drugs can cause depression, and if you are on opiates orally, they can depress the pituitary axis and change hormone ratios. Some drugs deplete nutrients just by their nature. If you want to PM me or email me for privacy I can look at that for you.

Eating carbs can affect insulin levels. About 1/4 of people in this country, can eat carbs/sugar and show no negative metabolic effects and remain slim.
But most others gain weight, and become insulin resistant and eventually may develop Type II diabetes.

There is some evidence that what you crave you are intolerant of. There is a very good doctor with a book and online site that explains this. I really think she is the closest to the truth I have seen yet.
Dr. Kittley (Jensen) at www.obesitysanswer.com
Her elimination diet reveals if you are intolerant to something, and if it is controlling your health. I have her book too.

The brain uses glucose only for energy. So carbs (high glycemic carbs) and sugar give instant gratification. The supplement inositol helps with metabolizing carbs in the brain-- it helps insulin. So Dr. Kittley suggests it in addition to the amino acid taurine to help with cravings.

So your seemingly simple question, is not so simple after all!

I am just starting tryptophan myself, and hope to find some good effects in this same area of appetite control. (serotonin is involved with appetite and some diet drugs were designed for this effect --Redux and Meridia. Unfortunately they affect heart valves and pulmonary artery blood pressure so have been discarded).

Thank you so much, mrsD!!! You are such a wealth of information, and your caring to share is so kind.

This just makes so much sense to me.

I was an overweight child (tho not obese), more "husky" and was that way until my second child. Not long after, over medication led to obesity and I lost 87 lbs. I've kept most of it off but claim to listen to my body now to do so. However, in doing so, have I developed a bad cycle when my body was attempting to fight off depression that it had known in the past, boost energy and mood to stave that off, or craving something I'm intolerant of?

I'm listening to my body alright. ;) Too much so. In fact, I don't eat often enough, as much as I should, or what I should so that I can have those carbs I crave and not gain weight. It's now to the point that it's past conscious choice. It's habit and now my body doesn't tolerate well deviating from that schedule I've created for myself.

I'm not getting any younger and feeling the effects of this now.

I can look at myself honestly and see my going in for my "fixes" when needed. It's really wild to see actually. I'm glad I've not gained weight, but what price am I paying to continue?

I find the intolerant statement VERY interesting because this is something that I can date back to almost a toddler, so... Also, my mother is the same, but her's is more with sweets and sugars.

Thank you so much for the alternatives becasue I'm going to work very hard to get this under control. Yes, I've been through alot in the last year and I think anyone would be tired, but I'm pulling out of complete exhaustion.

I really am interested in the narcotic information as well even though I'm told what I take is very mild in comparison. Mild or no, it doesn't mean that it's not a med that might cause unwanted effects, yes? I will say that I don't "feel" depressed. I do wonder if I am due to the exhaustion, but I feel optomistic, even happy or elated lately. So I'm thinking that the carbs are giving me the energy to fight depression due to the long-lasting struggles of late? Also, I fought definite depressions prior to pain management...depressions I've not seen since.

I went into therapy at the same time that I went into pain management (I've not changed meds since - 6 yrs ago) and we discussed all the possible effects and watched for depression, etc. I only improved, and continued to. I seemed to reach a peak and have pretty much stayed there since.

I wonder if the instant gratification for me is the "boost" in mood and energy and that is fighting off what might otherwise become depression without it due to the last year of crisis IRL?

So interesting and I'm thrilled to have your information.

Thank you so much!

KD

Well, Kimmy...
 

I didn't expect to be "thrilling" LOL

I forgot something for the list.
Some people use SAMe for depression. I had that vacant moment, because I have been using SAMe since 1999 for arthritis, and I still succumbed to my winter depression last year! So I don't really think it works for me that way.
It does make me more alert however (so I don't need caffeine).

SAM is made in the body from B6, folic acid and B12 working on converting homocysteine to SAM. SAM then carries the methyl groups around the body to
repair things and make things (including neurotransmitters).

There is also in the research articles beginning to appear about food/addiction.
This is a stress cycle, and involves cortisol.
This is a really good explanation of it:
http://www.beyondchange-obesity.com/...Addiction.html

Increased stress does lead to depression, and alters neurotransmitters in the brain.
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/180/2/99

So I have been thinking about your question yesterday in more global terms.
I understand this cortisol link, because I have that response myself to stress.
I unfortunately learned it from an abusive childhood, and I can't seem to shake it myself.

I hope this helps you understand at least the chemistries, behind it all.
It is really a complex dynamic.

Thank you so much!

I'm learning about my unconscious actions and this is one of them. It took something really out of the norm to even be aware of it, and now that I am and there's explanation that fits me to the "T", I think it's wild.

Yes to the abusive childhood and I've found that to potentially be a link in others as well... I think there's a deep psychological "feel good" there in that a desperate child found that as a comfort...

Thank you for explaing re: SAM! I didn't know that...of course, that doesn't say much because I know next to nothing of these things...lol. It just makes really good sense in application to me, ya know? I feel that acute, prolonged stress started at a young age can and does change one's body and mind in several ways...

Thank you so much!

KD

Hi KimmyDawn,

Carbs are so useful, they also help us (me, at least, that's for sure) go to sleep.

A few years ago a woman who had been a chemist visted my web site and then wrote to thank me for the B12 information because it had been useful to her. She told me about the Eat Right for Your Blood Type Diet, and I looked into it.

Basically, since I didn't know my blood type, I found foods that were either neutral or benficial for all, and one of them was brown rice.

So I started eating that.

The woman who told me about it said that I could eat all the brown rice I wanted. (By then we were emailing)

So I began doing that, eating a LOT of it when I had a craving, and I did lose weight. She had said she had and that I would.

Recently when I didn't have electric I was reading an old Women's Health book that I have, and in it there was an explanation for why brown rice does that, but without my computer running, I failed to make note of where in the book the explanation was.

When I have had a lot of stress, like last year after I learned my condo had been foreclosed and sold without any hearing, I had huge bowls of brown rice several times a day, and yes... I continued to lose weight.

At that time, the Adult Protective Services people went to the store to get it for me, since then as now I couldn't drive. I had explained to them how upset I was and how I needed the brown rice to help me handle the stress.

Interestingly enough, there are B vitamins in brown rice, so that may be one reason it works so well for me. And, it gets rid of diarrhea, which many people with low B12 suffer from. Low B12 is associated with depression.

I write about the brown rice phenomenon on my page about how I lost 10 inches.

I have some brown rice on my candle right now. :)

Brown rice does not contain B12
 

B12 is from animal products.

Unless B12 has been added to another type of food, that food is not a source of B12.

rose

That's right. That's why I have a page on my site about the foods containing B12.

The fact is, however, that brown rice does contain B vitamins. I became aware of this when I tried chia seeds and got very sick. After that I found a good site which showed that brown rice has B vitamins, while chia seeds do not. For me, chia seeds did not work at all well, and I think that may be because I have some sort of celiac problem... which may be common in people with low B12 since the one doctor I saw and complained to about my diarrhea said it was just something people with low B12 had to learn to live with. But, once I went to eating brown rice instead of potatoes, the diarrhea went away, which was sooooo a miracle.

I agree that brown rice is a great food. Just wanted to make sure people did not misunderstand and think that brown rice contains B12.

rose

Oh, yes. Exactly.

I went back to see if I could write that bit more clearly, but I didn't see how without it getting awfully long.

So it's a good thing you drew attention. :)

Actually, I find it to be quite the opposite.

Grains actually make me dopey and if I eat too many, I will get a kind of 'mood crash'.

It seems similar to what the guy said on, "Supersize Me". How, if he didn't eat for a while, there would be 'withdrawal symptoms', like headache, a downswing and cravings for the causative food.

My son also is affected by grain this way... so I'm thinking it's a genetic thing.

Oddly, though the world seems to really promote wholegrains, we've found that they are the worst culprits for causing depression. (Gluten grains are an absolute 'no' for us but even wholegrain rice that can cause carsickness in my son, can also bring us down a notch or two in energy, brain-function and mood.)

We have not noticed the same with fruit or veggies... so I don't think it's a 'carb' thing so much with us as a 'grain/starch' thing. (Potatoes can make us headachey and have joint pain too.)

Hi KimS,
Are you including rice when you say, "grain"?

I have a similar reaction when I eat corn... I forget what else.

But brown rice has been just a wonderful find for my health.

Yes, any grain can affect us. It is especially noticeable in my one son and myself.

That's interesting. From reading on Celiac and Gluten forums I was under the impression that others as well as myself could eat rice without the reactions associated with other grains, like wheat.

Thanks for relating your experience.

I'd just like to add....
 

There are many people who have depressive issues/stressors...and they typically crave carbohydrates. Even Oprah (who I don't like to quote really) says mashed potatoes are one of hers.

That is one issue.

Then there is the issue of consuming a large % of calories at one meal only in carbs. Statistics show that only about 25% of people can handle this. Have stable insulin responses. 75% cannot. I'll never forget the day my son's roommate came on vacation with us for 2 wks. For breakfast he ate 1/2 box of cereal. ( I was not prepared for this on an island 13 miles from a mom and pop grocery). And he was THIN...and we just stared at him:eek: A box of GF cereal lasts me a month sometimes. In fact if I can't sleep, I'll have some at 2am and it is guaranteed to put me back "out". We eat protein for breakfast in contrast. But this response is not the same as the depression question posed here.

A large carbo meal (pasta, grains, sugar) will sedate most Americans. This is because a huge insulin spike occurs and that leads to sleepiness.
Being sleepy is not the same as being "depressed".

One side effect of the Atkins diet...high protein/high fat was to create an alert response. In fact it made some people downright mean!

MrsD is right, sleepy/dopey is a different thing. The depression sets in is a feeling of being a useless human being. For us it starts with a sleepy/dopey feeling and then can be followed by a 'useless human being not worth being loved' feeling. It takes only molecular levels of gluten for this to happen. However, large quantities of grain being ingested can steer the mood in this direction... just not to the same degree (in our case).

Gluten grains are the worst and if anyone reads at a celiac site about one of the symptoms that many people use to know they've been glutened, it's that an unexplained sadness sets in. For us, it is very clearly a brain chemistry thing that really goes downhill fast and is quite bad (and seemingly unexplainable). However, we now know that we have to be absolutely vigilant about even the tiniest levels of gluten because it can change our whole day in a matter of 1/2 an hour. I know other people who have to check back on their food for the previous 48 hours though.

People with gluten intolerance often have mood issues, we are told, because gluten causes malabsorption and therefore our vitamin and mineral levels are not great. I am not so quick to adopt that theory though because we react so quickly to it.

Other grains, like brown rice, etc. do not seem to cause as 'sharp' a downswing in mood... nowhere near it actually... But it still does cause a small downswing. Often if I run into a person who is fairly *religious* about their paleo diet, I like to ask why they gave up grain. The general answer is that it made them feel "really bad". This makes me think that my son and I are not as odd as I first thought we were. ;)

That's really interesting. I have some similar feelings when I'm low on B12, and stress can lower my B12 level quite significantly.

When you say, Gluten grains, what do you mean? Do you know anything about chia seeds, and where they fit in? (I got pretty sick last summer as a result of eating them.) For me, brown rice is a life saver.

I forgot to ask: is "paleo diet" related to a time long ago?

Jumping in--
 

hope you don't mind;). If you stir fry some veggies- I like to use fresh spinach, peppers, onion, mushroom and season salt, put this over the brown rice and sprinkle with some of your favorite cheese you have a healthy meal. This cuts down on the amount of carbs and adds some protein. When possible carbs and protein should be eaten together.:hug:Carose

I just scrounged up a book I had misplaced....
 

(I must confess I am organizing my life here a bit now, since I have retired..)

And I am rereading it because of this thread. It is just excellent and explains how low serotonin levels lead to carb cravings. And how amino acids get into the brain to make the various neurotransmitters, etc.

Title:
Food & Mood: The Complete Guide to Eating Well and Feeling Your Best, Second Edition (Paperback)
by Elizabeth Somer (Author) M.A. R.D, Nancy Snyderman (Preface) "What a miracle you are!..."

It is available on Amazon used starting at $3.18..and up.
$12.92 new

It is designed for the layman, easy language, many easy to read graphs and tables. It is over 400 pgs long, with a good bibliography.
It goes into carbs, proteins, nutrients, and how to balance them for desired mood control, and energy.
There is a list 3 pages long on all the hormones and peptides in the body and how they influence hunger/satiety. It's the most complete list I have ever seen!

So Kimmy and others here I strongly recommend you check it out of the library if yours has it, or order whichever version you can afford.
It has all the vitamins in it and other supplements (like Omega-3s), and some other surprises in it, including food choices.
Mine is the Second edition. (which is completely revised and updated)

You can read more about the book at Amazon.com
All of the reviews by others who have shared their opinions on the website, are all very favorable.

Gluten grains include, wheat, rye, barley and oats.

Chia seeds are gluten free.

The paleo. diet is a 'living off the land' type of diet and many people think it is the way humans "originally" ate.

Brown rice is great for some people. I have heard that many times.

There are people who do not do well with *any* wholegrains though (no one seems to really know why)... and wholegrains are often not even considered to be a possible culprit with problems like headaches and depression. That's why I like to mention them to be involved that way with us.

For 35 years, I suffered headaches/migraines and muscle spasms. I spent thousands of dollars on chiropractors, drugs, physiotherapy (some doctors believed it was stress) and one psychiatrist. These were all good people who helped me the only way they knew how to. Some achieved temporary results which were a relief but it meant that I was looking at a lifetime of therapy.

Then, something else happened in my life and I decided to do an elimination diet. I was like a new person, with a new lease on life!!! Grains were my biggest offender. Now, no therapy, no headaches, no muscle spasms, etc.

Most books promote wholegrains, even if they're gluten free. Wholegrains really just don't work well for some people though.

It's been six years for me, and I'll never look back. I'm in better shape over 40 than I was at 30!

I'll be looking into getting that book MrsD. It sounds really interesting! Thanks for the reference.

yes, Kim...
 

I know you'd groove on this book.

It doesn't matter what anyone's "problem" is... the basics covered in this book appear to me to be able to help Gluten intolerant, or diabetics or anyone.

It basically explains how the hunger/satiety reflex is driven, and how to balance carbs and proteins at certain times to facilitate neurotransmitter synthesis.

It explains the serotonin/carb cycle very well. And others.

And of course it is simply presented and easy to understand...which is really important, because the subject matter is complex and confusing!

Mrs D? You got a lot of info ....
 

packed into one small 'capsule'?
I got onto the 5-HTP stuffs because I was becoming estrogen deprived [due to my going off HRT, having BC and subsequent surgeries, then going on an Aramotase Inhibitor - Arimidex...At the time I started on the AI...A family member died and I had all these hormones blocked and that old STRESS factor was super high...My local vitamin shop has a very knowledgeable former RN, Midwife, and background in something like physiological biology and suggested I try the HTP...Reading and comparing the s/e's from that and what the ocon had prescribed [effexor] I went with the former rather than the latter... I believe that if a person has any sorts of heart issues, it'd be a devil you know vs. not issue...I chose the pseudo herbal route, as I knew Effexor had NOT been tested with any of my other medications and Upon calling each med company I got more and more red flags...
I usually do not take well at ALL to any Serontonin meds...this one, I guess because it's gone thru one stage of 'processing'? I Tolerated far better than when I'd tried the Carnitines...Those made my heart RACE, the HTP only on occasion...
I have to say that the HTP is kind of well, 'inert' and that is delightful? I've weaned myself off of it, [due to availability] and I do find myself more well, 'edgy'. Side effects? the racy heart, rare but disturbing, and lots of sleepiness! But other Serotonin meds really put me into outer space and maybe on another planet....so what s/e's I've encountered are pretty 'tame'?
Coming off the stuff? I have to say that in some aspects, my overall issues are improved [vascular in particular?-I'm sweating!?] but that 'edginess' affects/effects all that I say and do.
I'm beginning to find it hard to get 5HTP anywhere - I'd ordered it on-line and that one thing wasn't even listed as 'ordered'. It's not in the stores either...I'm beginning to shop around and on the verge of getting what's available...for the future 'just' in case scenario...My three cravings are purely diet/metabolism wise...they are CARBS, RED MEAT and to a lesser degree sugars...I am and have not had any diagnostician counter my borderline -hypoglycemic diagnosis of over 30+ years ago. Honestly I don't think anyone in the medical profession even considers it. Scary thoughts ..
Kimmie Dawn...being a glutton for carbs on occasions...and at times only very particular and specific kinds of carbs? maybe you should look at what all else in in those breads? Like yeasts, milks,bicarbonates...certain fats...whatever...Those that satisfy YOU the quickest must have something 'essential' to your needs in them/it? It IS a frustrating process of either 'eliminations' or 'inclusions' But the sooner you KNOW, the happier you will be overall...I mean, it's truly worth the shot! Give it a month or so and then find out what you can live with and without...[my down fall currently are 'Bisquick' biscuits -theres something sweet/salty/yeasty in them that is IT!- for that food-itch]
Mrs D - good site to read again.. Kimmie Dawn - Honestly, we learn best from our mistakes...Wish it were simpler?

HEAPS AND HEAPS OF :hug:'s to you all! - j

Thank you so much for the reference, MrsD. :)

Thanks everyone for sharing as well.

Kim, I find it particularly interesting what you've said about the spasms, headaches, etc. I've used caffiene to ward off my vascular headaches and still get the aura of a migraine without the migraine. Very interesting indeed.

I MUST get on omega3 soon. Can anyone recommend a brand (there's so many)? I'm concerned about the brand or type? Also, I'm peri-menopausal and I think that's increasing this drive for carbs. I've read good an bad about the black cohosh. Any suggestions there?

Thank you!

KD

menopause is tough...
 

And I think it is different for each woman.

I didn't have many night sweats...but I did have terrible time sleeping for a while.

Some women have the sweating very badly. I think these women probably have the highest estrogen levels to begin with.

To help reduce sweating... there are triggers and you need to ID them for yourself. For me for example, caffeine and sugar are main ones.
I choose specific fabrics now for sleeping. I choose those that breathe, and do not trap air under them. Gone is flannel and sweat shirt fabric for me.
Instead I use cotton, and that with a waffle weave. I also gave up the top sheet. I get way too hot under one of those. I wear cotton loose long pants to bed now. I have a cotton blend thin comforter for cold times. And yes, even sleeping in the buff....LOL esp on top where it seems a sweat begins! :o

I have never used hormones and now I am well past menopause. And I do think attention to the Omegas is very important, and for menopause I'd add evening primrose too. The sweating is a vasomotor response, and essential fatty acids help with circulation. I don't need the primrose anymore, but I used to take it with the flax and fish oil.

Now there are many foods with good fats added.
The Smart Balance peanut butter has a gram (equal to one capsule) of flax oil in each tablespoon. There are omega 3 eggs, Smart Balance Mayo and for butter subsititutes..Smart Balance and Olivio. So one can get a good amount in food now. They all taste fine.
B6 and magnesium are needed to metabolize fats properly.
Also B12 is critical as we age, and anyone with neuro issues should take it "just because" 9 cents a day is a very small price to pay for a very complex and needed substance.

I have mixed feelings about cohosh. I think it is a strong estrogen mimic. I didn't like it myself. But I know women who liked it and used it. You'll just have to try it to see.

Alot can be done with food choices and some supplements. I believe that can take the edge of much of menopause.

Food and Mood: Is There a Connection?
by Robin Brett Parnes, MS, MPH


Whether eating certain foods affects your mood or there’s a physiologic basis for cravings remains controversial. Some experts believe you choose particular foods for a reason and that eating those foods can change how you’re feeling. Others contend that cravings are simply about the desire to feel good and it is only by leading a healthful lifestyle, and not by eating specific foods that, in general, will you be in a better mood. Here’s what the latest research shows.

Can The Foods You Eat Affect Your Mood?
It is clear that the nutrients we obtain from food enable us to function. But because it is difficult to quantify and measure people’s behavior and feelings in response to specific nutrients, researchers are not sure what effects different nutrients might have on our brains.

Carbohydrates (like bread and pasta) and proteins which contain the amino acid tryptophan (like milk and turkey) are thought to have a calming effect because they stimulate the synthesis of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is involved in a large number of body functions, including sleep, appetite, learning, hormonal secretions, and immune activity. But, experts argue, the effect these foods have is small, particularly in comparison to the potent drugs that enhance serotonin function in the brain. What science does indicate is that a carbohydrate meal in its simplest form, such as a baked potato or a piece of bread, can have a mild sedative effect on people.

The amino acid tyrosine, on the other hand, may in fact alter mood by improving cognition and performance. Tyrosine is found in protein-rich foods like eggs, beans, and nuts, as well as meat, fish, and dairy products. It is a precursor to the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (adrenaline), which affect brain cells by making you alert and getting you going.

As for why you feel drowsy after Thanksgiving dinner or other such meals, it’s because consuming a lot of calories (of any kind) has a hypnotic effect. Less blood (and therefore, less oxygen) reaches the brain as more blood flows to your stomach and intestines (to aid in digestion).

And, what about fat? Some experts think eating fat releases morphine-like chemicals called endorphins that induce a sense of euphoria. However, the extent to which any differences in behavior or cognition occur with different types of fat from your diet remains a topic of debate.

Cravings: What Do They Mean?
Food cravings, or the strong desire to eat certain foods, are both normal and common. While they vary by culture and individual, generally women tend to crave chocolate, cookies, ice cream, and other sweets, while men prefer salty or meat treats like chips, burgers, french fries, or pizza.

According to some studies, there is a physiologic (versus psychological) basis for cravings. Scientists aren’t sure why, but the fact that women report intense cravings during pre-menstruation suggests that hormones may play a role. Negative feelings, researchers also say, may be relieved by certain foods. Still others argue that having low blood sugar or a nutritional deficiency explains cravings. In addition, some researchers suggest that we are hardwired to seek calorie-dense foods as a survival mechanism (that is, our affinity for high calorie foods comes from an instinct inherited from our ancestors, who needed to store fat so that when food became scarce, they had their bodily stores to live off of).

But, as mentioned above, it is not clear that eating certain foods will improve mood. Also, thoughts and attitudes related to food are influenced not just by the urge to eat certain foods but by many other factors, such as feelings about relationships or work. And, it doesn’t follow that cravings stem from nutritional deficiencies. For example, while chocolate may be a good source of magnesium (a mineral of which many Americans do not consume the recommended daily amounts), other foods like avocados and spinach are better sources and you don’t tend to hear about people craving these foods. Moreover, some self-reported chocolate addicts feel not just pleasure, but guilt after eating chocolate. And of course, some people experience no cravings as all.

To control cravings, don’t deny yourself the foods you wish to eat. Remember, all foods eaten in moderation can fit into a healthful diet.

The Bottom Line
Foods can affect the way we feel, but many factors beyond nutrition play a role in mood. Thus, there’s no need to focus on one type of food versus another. In fact, at most meals, you probably eat a combination of carbohydrate, protein, and fat anyway. And, regardless of how one type of food can affect your mood, chances are if you eating a well-balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising, you’ll feel better.

RESOURCES:

American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org

Nutrition Navigator
http://navigator.tufts.edu

American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org


This came from Beliefnet

Hey

I've got some catching up to do on all this. You all are way ahead of the game on this.

BTW, I love the carb balls, Kimmy. I did that too. :hug:

Mrs. D....
The learned response from childhood may have something to do with "hypervigilance." It is almost a form of PTSD. If you google it...you will read much info. Some of the writings (even quotes) of Vicktor Frankel can be helpful.

BTW, are we talking about the Food & Mood book again? I reaaaallly like that book as well. A keeper!

Can you be much more specific about the primrose...the night sweats are a big concern over here! HELP!

thanks.

I've read one of Viktor Frankl's books. He lived in Michigan near me for a while. I think it is the same person! Holocaust counselor and all?

I was always taken with a quote from the book I read...
He stated that he believed that humanity would have never progressed had it not been for alcohol! I was amazed at that one!

Hmmm..if you are right...a concern for sure. Progressed????

Well, my guess is that it (the quote) could be about any number of things. Coming to my mind first and foremost is the notion that great and positive changes often don't occur in our world w/o great courage/bravado. Isn't that what your quote at the bottom of your post (is it still there???) is all about? Who is it that said that science only "progesses" funeral by funeral????


He talks about making a choice between stimulus and response. Now, sometimes biology gets in the way. This is why we have supplements and medication.

However, there are cognitive things that can be done that make a huge difference as well.

Here is a Frankl quote that I like:

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. "

yes, alcohol is a social lubricant, and pain reliever. For most of humanity's history, pain, and strife were very high and mortality also. The use of alcohol in a non-abusive way, enabled people to find some comfort during the pain/strife, improving survival.
I agree it is a bold statement, but it does make sense.

In some cultures today wine remains a huge part of their daily routine (France/Spain are examples). Even children drink wine in France!

I have my concerns re: alcohol, in fact, I am working right now (new gig..I'm in the learning stages myself) counseling those with problems in this area.

Very interesting point about how in some cultures they use wine (a small amount???) as a social lubricant. As you say, in an "non-abusive" way. A good point and one perhaps Frankl was getting at.

We know there are those who have inherit problem/addiction tendencies in this area. So much sadness here.

Anyway, whatever our burdens might be...light...heavy or something in between....I do believe choice (s) play (s) a role.

As always, thank you for your thought, wisdom and insight.

:Tip-Hat:

seratonin
 

plain and simple PLEASE.. how do i raise my levels of seretonin?

l-tryptophan + B6

or

5-HTP

The first is gentler and takes more time.
The 5-HTP may have more side effects but is faster.

What I have noticed lately with Carbohydrates is that they give me the sustained energy I need throughout the day and give me an extra boost of energy. Carbohydrates are an essential part of any daily diet. Gotta love the sweets too.

If you've already covered food addiction in this conversation, please ignore this post. But I'm going to toss in my 'terminology rant' just in case no one else has mentioned it yet... ;)

I really abhor the term 'carbohydrates'. It's FAR too general.

It's not the fault of the general public but this is what all the advertising and diet hype promotes. People who write diet/cook books should know better than to lump grain in with vegetables. They are NOT the same but they ARE valid carb suppliers.

When people talk about carb cravings - really they're only talking about grain. You never hear them talk about carrots or squash.

"Oh I just had to eat that huge plate of squash today!"

The difference between a carb from a fruit/vegetable and from a grain are worlds apart.

Gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats) has been noted to have a systemic response in the brain that is very close to opium. (check out pubmed)

Yes, foods can be addictive. We don't really need science to tell us this though. Look at what manufacturers are putting in their 'recipes'. They test and retest to see what will make us want to eat more of their product.

Any addiction has a 'got to have it' and a depression that follows when the brain synapses empty out.

We recognize this cerebral response in smoking, drinking, drug use but we currently do not give much validity to the same response with food. Some people claim it is the power of the food boards (wheat board, etc.). That may or may not be. I think that it's just so widespread that people accept it as a 'normal' part of life and are taught not to question it.

Okay... I'm done now. :)

Hey MrsD. I always thought this too. And I'm not sure if this used to be true. However it is not true today.

We've been bringing in students from France and Spain for the last three years. I've always made a point of asking them if their parents allow them to drink wine. Not one student is allowed to drink wine regularly. Special occasions only and then only 1/4 to 1/2 a glass.

Sometimes, I think in N.A. we use these misconceptions to give ourselves more allowances/permission.


K:)

Again... not vegetable but grain...

Breaking the Vicious Cycle, by Elaine Gottschall is a book based on replacing grains with nuts and has had tremendous success in people with celiac disease, crohn's, unidentified gluten sensitivity, autism, etc.

I did the diet myself several years ago and though it was difficult, expensive and time consuming, I never felt better.

Now, I do consume grain - mostly white rice but some others mixed in (sorghum, amaranth, etc.) - but every time I try and bring whole grains back in, I start getting achy etc.

I can't speak to anxiety though. Gluten does that to me and it only takes surprising minute amounts to send me on a downward swing with my mood.

My children, if they seem to consume too much sugar, will tell me they need to cut back. Of course in our house, everyone is VERY aware of the connection between food and mood because of our severe gluten reactions... so this might be unusual.

The definition of a complex and simple carb change depending upon the professional you speak to. People like E. Gottschall considered jam to be complex because of the refined sugar in it. Personal Trainers are trained to view jam as a simple carb.

It makes life confusing for the basic consumer who is trying to figure out what they need to do for themselves.