[ducky2030]

Im curious how many people with bipolar can manage moods by eating healthy food, as in fresh fruits and veggies and Little to NO SUGAR while being medication free. I know eating healthy plays a huge role in mental health!
Would anyone like to share?

[Mrs. Mania]

When I was stable and w/out meds for six years I was also a vegetarian. Weird that I never realized that they coincided w/each other. Not sure there was a correlation, but interesting none the less.

[zijax]

I eat veggies, fruit, no sugars and limited carbs and I'm completely unstable 'with' meds. Diet alone does not work for me and neither does being on the wrong meds.

[BastetsMuse]

the only thing I know about bipolar and food is that you have to take your medications with certain amounts of calories to get them to work optimally, which is not what you're talking about. However, I am sure that the less sugar and processed food you have in your diet the better off your brain is!

My relationship with food is entirely dictated by the medication I take. Before Christmas I was at a very healthy weight. I had a very nutricious diet; but, I wasn't emotionally stable. I was prescribed an additional medication and that threw my eating out of wack. I may have found stability but it has come at the cost of weight gain. Simply put, I crave food. It is still healthy food but the quantity is ridiculous.

[gina_re]

All I can say is for me "you are what you eat."
You eat junk food, you feel like junk
You eat healthy, you feel healthy.
It's hard for me to get the ball rolling sometimes, but I do notice the difference when I stop eating the junk food (usually from depression) and eat better. Although better for me might still be junk for some.

When I was eating healthy, limiting sugars/carbs, taking vitamins and fish oil supplements, while also getting exercise, I felt better mentally. I wasn't managing my illness completely (not by a long shot), partially because I didn't understand the illness very well. My goal and hope is to get to a place where I can manage my illness through more natural means than medication, but I'm not sure if it will be possible for me. Any little bit helps though.

Originally Posted by artsygirl88

Im curious how many people with bipolar can manage moods by eating healthy food, as in fresh fruits and veggies and Little to NO SUGAR while being medication free. I know eating healthy plays a huge role in mental health!
Would anyone like to share?

i am the most unhealthy person when it comes to food

seriously.. even the fruit i used to eat for breakfast i don't anymore (i did today, because their was nothing else around), but me and healthy food don't mix

[zepchic]

I wish it were something that could be solved by food choices. So, there is some suggestion of the connection between the gut and the brain. Perhaps you have heard about autism improving with gluten-free/casein-free diet. I have read about connections between leaky gut and bipolar, but I have healed my gut partially and haven't had improvement in my bipolar. Also, I have had bipolar since I was a child (IMO) and I don't think I had leaky gut to begin with. Anyway, I think that obviously sugar and carbs can affect your blood sugar which can affect your mood. I also think if you have any food allergies (known or unknown) that those can affect your mood. I did a whole30 to pinpoint some of my allergens, if you are into that sort of thing. It's an elimination diet. There is also the GAPS diet (Gut And Psychology Syndrome) that focuses on healing the intestinal lining. I could go on an on or offer more tips if you are interested, but those are the major things I have gleaned in my research.

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

i am the most unhealthy person when it comes to food

seriously.. even the fruit i used to eat for breakfast i don't anymore (i did today, because their was nothing else around), but me and healthy food don't mix

That makes two of us. It's bad. I refuse to eat veggies. It's why my nephew likes coming over, pizza, french fries, ice cream galore! But then he told me that I never have food in my fridge. Kids at that age, they tell the TRUTH!

[pirilin]

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