[kimmydawn]

Guys,

I've been told by three professionals that carbs can naturally fight depression especially, and that's it's proven. That was only told to me after I explained the extreme cravings for carbs that I have at times.

Well, I'm there again...craving soft breads, peanut butter etc., to the point where it's about all I want to eat.

Does anyone have information on exactly how it helps, because I'm here to tell you that I've done this since I was about 20 and notice that the cravings that seem to come from my soul literally coincide with high ongoing stress, anxiety then the subsequent depression that can accompany those.

Another thing...during the times of these wild cravings, I won't gain a pound when I'd pack them on if I were to eat that way at any other time.

Thanks!

KD

[wickedwings]

fascinating. thanks for the tip!

[kimmydawn]

Oh, wow! I've been reading and carbs really do appear to help depression, but can also become an addiction and a bad one...

Have I not been just craving carbs because my body knows they help me feel better, but have I become addicted to them because of it? I'll never forget telling my old t that I'd run out of soft pretzels and literally felt like I might cry one night, then went through the entire kitchen eating several things to try to make up for them not being there.

Wow, I had no clue. The stuff I'm reading sounds like me...

So, there is a payoff for the carbs and it's almost a natural AD, but it can also be a bad thing...

Hmm, it gives alternatives to the carbs. I need to check into that as well. If I don't have the carbs when my body's craving them, I don't do nearly as well because (like I just read), there's an almost immediate reward mood-wise.

I've done this my entire life. I remember being a little girl and getting bread (1/4 loaf at a time) and balling it up into dough balls and eating it...HAD to have it. This has been a life-long craving in my body.

Wow, and wow. I had no idea but have become acutely aware of this in the last 8 years or so. I have to find out more.

KD

[kebsfroggy]

I'm a little confused but interested at the same time.

Because of hubby's health problems we have to avoid carbs like the plague. I haven't had a loaf of bread in my house in over a year.

But I due get those carb cravings you talk about. Sometimes I could kill for a pastry or pbj sandwich. It does seem to be a times of high anxiety.

Can you imagine the look on my pdoc's face when I tell him I found the cure for my depression. It's called the donuts and pizza diet.

[wickedwings]

lol, kebs. i'd like to see your pdoc's face, too!

[kimmydawn]

lol, me too.

it's all still new and confusing for me, but fits me, ya know?

i'm trying ot find out more and will post it as i do!

thanks for the responses.

KD

[MyBestKids2]

Oh my, KD, you said dough balls, and reality hit me in the face HARD!

I have been making dough balls (5 at a time) since I was young. My mothers addiction didn't allow her to cook for us, so I would always go in the kitchen (quiet as a church mouse) and grab bread by the handful, run to my room, close the door, cry, and eat my dough balls.

I haven't cried for almost 7 years, but when the big D hits, me and my dough balls have a family reunion!

Dee

[kimmydawn]

oh ((((((((( dee ))))))))))))) i'm not alone, am i?

I'm glad you understand, and glad our dough is there for us, but sad too, ya know?

I've found a great replacement for the dough balls (other than baking a good, heavy, doughy bread)...hot pretzels. I eat two at a time once or twice daily...depending on energy levels, stress, how busy I am, etc.

I'm almost ritualistic in my making and eating of them, though...just like i was in the making of the dough balls, then eating them as a kid...interesting.

KD

[SweetSunshine]

KD them pounds your not gaining your sending up here to me!! Stop dat!! LOL... I try to stay away from the carbs cause I do gain the weight.. It would be nice to be able to eat them though... I like that stuff. I remember working in the mall at Regis and going down the the Sams Soft Pretzels thingy and getting a soft pretzel for lunch or supper if work was really busy. SUCH GOOD THINGS!!! YUMMO!

[Fuzzybear]

Wow, not gaining a pound... nope I can never relate to that part. But thanks for the informative thread. I can certainly relate to more cravings for carbs when more depressed. And more anxious.




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[kebsfroggy]

I never thought about soft pretzels, great idea. Probably a lot less calories than donuts and pastry. Love the ones they make fresh at the mall.

Unfortunately a daily road trip to the mall isn't in the budget. Do you know if they have soft pretzels in the freezer section of the grocery store? So my freezer is full of pretzels instead of food, deal with it.

The fact that we crave carbs as opposed to veggies or fish, I think is interesting. To find out I'm not the only one is priceless.

[bluevixen]

i read your post's kimmy and i can't relate..i keep peanut butter in the house all the time..i am addicted..and i love bread..i gotta have it...i'm so glad you said something..i used to ball up bread too..this is so funny..you are a woman after my own heart..bluevixen

[kimmydawn]

wow, guys, we could have our own support group on this!!! and to think that none of us thought anyone could relate!!!

I'm eating a soft pretzel now...lol. I buy them in the freezer section at the grocery and put them in the micro for 30 seconds or so. Soft, yummy, doughy. I think they're called "super pretzel" Yes, less calories than alot of other starches and carbs.

They really satisfy the carb, dough craving. Oh and get this...only 160 calories and only 1 gram fat. I just checked and didn't know that! Maybe that's why I don't gain weight then???

Another thing when i'm craving the sweet is...i sit and much on sugar-sweetened cereal with no milk (i eat it like popcorn...lol)...it gives the wheat, the sugar AND the crunch...no fat.

The not gaining weight might not be a good thing...and that's not to say i'm slim. i'm not. it's to say that during these times i don't eat good. i'll forego meals to have the carbs...

KD

[kebsfroggy]

Not to feed the sweet bread dough thing......since WE know its not calorie free but...

When I was a kid we would make fried dough....chunks of bread dough formed into balls and deep fried then rolled in cinnamon/sugar.

Please be gentle when you throw the rotten apples my direction.

Never thought about the cereal either. Bet that will put on the pounds. I'm the type that looks at something sweet and gains 25 lbs. Not a pretty sight.

[bandjelly]

Hi kimmydawn,

I was reading your post about the carb thing and I have a question. What kind of professionals told you about the benefits of carbs? What kind of doctors or medical license do they have?

Just curious,
bandjelly

[Perna]

Biopsychiatry says. . . (I have no clue what it says, too technical; didn't even know there was such a field LOL :-)

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/sersadcarb.htm

[(JD)]

IN defense of KD... </font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Serotonin is the brain chemical which helps us stay happy. Eating carbohydrates helps to increase serotonin levels and may explain why we sometimes crave these foods. So if you suffer from depression, do not follow a carb-restricted or low-carb eating plan, although it is very important to eat 'good' carbs and avoid refined carbs. A GI Diet is ideal for anyone who wants to eat only the healthiest carbs. Good carbohydrates include foods like oats, whole wheat bread, pasta, basmati or wholegrain rice, and beans/legumes.


</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I use cinnamon to help curb the cravings... it works wonders!

[bandjelly]

I guess what I'm wondering is there may be both psychiatric reasons and physical reasons to the carbs issue...

I'm wondering medically how this affects the body as a whole.

[Perna]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
_Sky said:
I use cinnamon to help curb the cravings... it works wonders!

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

That's interesting, Sky. I read somewhere that pickles will help with sugar cravings and olives will help with salt cravings. I already know to eat an apple or bagel before I go to bed because I apparently grind my teeth (my dentist said, I didn't believe her :-) and bruxism is often kind of like the brain "twiddling its fingers" in boredom or whatever, trying to get rid of excess energy and the apple or bagel will do that since they require so much chewing, so one can sleep better.

[kebsfroggy]

Didn't know about the bagel/apple trick. I'm heading for the grocery store first thing in the morning (it's raining or I would go now).

Thanks for the tip Perna.

[kimmydawn]

Thanks!

The professionals that told me there's something to it, or proven that it can help depression were a PhD in psychology and an MD.

They did NOT suggest that it was good for me on the whole, though. I just wanted to clear that up. They just said there have been studies that show that it can help when I talked about the extreme cravings coinciding with anxiety (extreme) and light to moderate depression (usually after and because of prolonged periods of high anxiety)...

That said, I have no idea how it can harm/help the body as a whole...whew. That's the whole reason for this. One thing I'm relatively sure of...it can certainly become habit-forming, both psychologically and physically...but that statement is on personal experience and some of the things I've read...opinion only.