[hamster-bamster]

This is what I know about nutrition and bipolar:
- high protein diet, protein throughout the day
- fish oil
- regular meal times
- low glycemic index foods to avoid sugar spikes (I use Xylitol in tea in place of honey)

What else can be regulated via food?

I think too much is made about food. I think everything is okay if you're smart about it and make sure to exercise later. Good exercise is better than any diet.

I think I may have mentioned this, but 17 months ago, I was 230+ lbs. I started eating oatmeal and changing my diet to healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables. I noticed that eating oatmeal in the morning with juice made a HUGE difference for 2-3 hours as I eased into lunchtime.

However, nothing about my diet after that had any effect. Then I started running after I got back from work and doing regular exercise routines. I should preface I am a lazy person and I only push myself WHILE I am running, but I never get to the point where I am out-of-breath or keeling over.

After doing that, I noticed significant improvement on my outlook after I came home. Obviously, it doesn't fix everything

But it was very, very noticeable and still is. Today, I am 177 lbs with what I consider a marginal exercise routine.

[argv]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

This is what I know about nutrition and bipolar:
- high protein diet, protein throughout the day
- fish oil
- regular meal times
- low glycemic index foods to avoid sugar spikes (I use Xylitol in tea in place of honey)

What else can be regulated via food?

I have this liquid multivitamin supplement, and I seem to notice a pretty good change in my mood if I remember to take it (which I rarely remember). But this post just reminded me that I should take it.

High protien diet, interesting. Have you noticed a difference with this ? I'm asking because I tend to eat little protien, and little carbs. I know I should be eating more protien but I'm just curious if it has helped.

I take fish oil, multi vitamins, calcium, magnesium, a b-complex, vitamin D, and liquid iron ( sooo gross ).
I haven't noticed any improvements with this in my Bipolar symptoms. I am also dealing with anorexia, and when my weight drops significantly I definitely have more serious bipolar symptoms. So I'd think that starvation of the body does effect the mind. Also I've been told by my psychiatrist and dietician that it also affects my bodies ability to metabolize my medications properly.

I know you are not talking about anorexia here, but I am curious as well.

[hamster-bamster]

Anika,

On another thread I asked how to get up in the morning. One of the poster recommended protein shakes, even a bit, which reminded me that I was not eating anything in the morning, did not feel like it, and obviously missing out on protein. I started eating protein first thing in the morning (meat or dairy or eggs) and for the last several days I am up and moving in the morning much more easily. So yes, it seems to stabilize the intra-day fluctuation and give some positive outlook on the day, which I lacked before.

Sorry to hear about your anorexia.

But I can see how exercise would be more important. I am just a lazy one at weight=189 and a petite frame to go with that.

Thanks Hampster-Bamster,

I don't normally eat breakfast or lunch, it's bad I know. I usually eat one meal around 5 pm. A protien drink is a good idea, easier to drink than to eat a meal I think, when you are not hungry. I get a lot if physical exercise and I must say, if I slack off or miss out on it. I can definilty tell mood wise. It makes a big difference. But it has to be exercise that I actually enjoy doing. Not the " forcing" myself to so this awful activity kind.

Do you have anything physical that you really enjoy?

[hamster-bamster]

Anika, good question, thanks for asking. I enjoy exercise that is sort of meditative and repetitive - swimming, walking, rowing on a machine. I also enjoy very gentle forms of yoga - you know, yoga where all poses are on the floor. I used to like vigorous yoga but I have neither strength nor flexibility for it. Maybe I should resume swimming - I have a pass for an outdoors, heated community pool and it only takes one minute of courage to run to and from the locker room, in the cold. I swim slowly and I know I cannot lose weight with that but I am sure it will help with mood stability. So thanks for reminding that there ARE things I do enjoy!

On liquid foods: I have a problem eating when in complete distress and decompensating and in anxiety and what not. Sometimes, I can keep down liquid foods but I cannot make myself chew foods. So I keep milk and kefir (plain unsweetened low fat kefir with a tangy taste I like). Come to think of it, I should also stock up on choco milk, just in case.

I do not do it now because I do not have a car and cannot drive to the store that sells cheap frozen berries but before I used to make very yummy smoothies: 1/2 c frozen banana (you take really ripe banana, cut it up and put in the fridge on a piece of foil), 1 c frozen berries, 1/2 c kefir, 1/4 c ***vanilla*** yogurt. It is a thick smoothie and if you like it more liquidy, increase kefir. You need a blender, I forgot to say that. It is much less expensive and sugary than store-bought smoothies.

I would say, whatever it takes - liquid food, very small quantity of food in the morning - will make it a little better, with regard to both moods and combating anorexia.

[grandmaof3]

I'm on a high protein low carb diet and I swim nearly everyday, I've lost 20 lbs in the last 2 months but I need to lose 70 more to get to my ideal weight. I'm diabetic so I have to eat regularly..though this is hard when I'm manic I don't take time out to eat and I'm usually not hungary. I did notice an improvement in my moods when I started exercising. I would feel so much better about myself if I could lose this weight

[AniManiac]

High protein is a good idea because proteins break down more slowly in the body, so that also helps avoid sugar spikes and related mood fluctuations. I do much better with a high protein diet, but it's hard to pull off because my husband is mostly vegetarian but we don't eat soy because there are health issues related to that too.

[hamster-bamster]

I started swimming when it is not too cold and I upped the protein intake - one tub of greek yogurt has 24 g of protein. I eat one in the morning. That is a lot of protein.

I see improvement but since I changed two things, I do not know where it is coming from.

Cool Hamster!!

I would think it might be a bit of both. I don't know tho. I haven't tried more protien yet. But I'm really glad you are seeing some improvements! That's exciting.

This might be tmi but I've noticed during birkram that my once non smelly sweat now reaks like ammonia. I read that it is due to not enough carbs and that you start burning protien. Ohh that's not good since I know I already lack protien. Plus I don't want every one at yoga to move to the other side of the room cause I stink.

Thanks tho this reminded me once again. I hope you continue to feel improvements tho!! Yay for that.

[Confusedinomicon]

This thread reminded me I have oatmeal...n.n!!!