[skeeweeaka]

Hello All,

I was wondering if anyone has made any dietary changes that seem to help them cope better or even alleviate symptoms. Some of the things that I have done which helps it to stop eating bad carbs which for me is anything packaged....or white foods as some other people refer to them such as sugar, flour, potatoes, rice, etc. This has helped me to decrease my insulin resistance which has helped with my moods somewhat, mostly though prior to my menstral cycle... Another thing that I do is drink Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 T. a day to help balance my blood sugar.

I've found that refined foods only elevate my insulin levels and make my bipolar/depression/anxiety worse

I also stay away from artificial sweeteners because they also make it worse... If I do use them, I use them while eating food and stop drinking when I have completed my meal..

Another thing that I just started was exercising...this is my fourth week of exercising three days a week and it seems to be helping me to sleep better. At night i have a horrible time sleeping and not ruminating, the exercise is definitely helping on the days that I do walk.

Anyone else have any suggestions for things that have worked for them in terms of diet...or others...in trying to manage their illness.

TJ

[pachyderm]

Eating better makes me feel virtuous; whether it helps otherwise I don't know.

I have found that eating nothing but fruits, veggies, beans, and nuts seems to really help my anxiety. No sugar, refined carbs, etc. Plus exercise - especially hikes outside in the woods.

BUT the problem is, I lose weight, and then another set of issues related to my ED kicks in (working on this in T!!)

But yes, eating healthier does make a huge positive difference in my anxiety levels.

[pachyderm]

[ocdchick]

I read on webmd.com-"Good Mood Diet" where carbs/chocolate give you good brain chemicals. So don't feel bad about eating that chocolate chip cookie!

ocdchick

[lauren_helene]

Originally Posted by skeeweeaka

Hello All,

I was wondering if anyone has made any dietary changes that seem to help them cope better or even alleviate symptoms. Some of the things that I have done which helps it to stop eating bad carbs which for me is anything packaged....or white foods as some other people refer to them such as sugar, flour, potatoes, rice, etc. This has helped me to decrease my insulin resistance which has helped with my moods somewhat, mostly though prior to my menstral cycle... Another thing that I do is drink Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 T. a day to help balance my blood sugar.

I've found that refined foods only elevate my insulin levels and make my bipolar/depression/anxiety worse

I also stay away from artificial sweeteners because they also make it worse... If I do use them, I use them while eating food and stop drinking when I have completed my meal..

Another thing that I just started was exercising...this is my fourth week of exercising three days a week and it seems to be helping me to sleep better. At night i have a horrible time sleeping and not ruminating, the exercise is definitely helping on the days that I do walk.

Anyone else have any suggestions for things that have worked for them in terms of diet...or others...in trying to manage their illness.

TJ

Yes! I started a protein diet, very minimal carbs and sweets and I feel much better already. also, I was on 60 mg of Prozac and went off a week ago after three years. it isn't affecting me badly in fact I feel better off of it so far.

I do have vyvanse and lamictal still. Might be all I need. Try protein shakes w/skim milk in the morning, that gives me a lift mentally

[skeeweeaka]

Originally Posted by lauren_helene

Yes! I started a protein diet, very minimal carbs and sweets and I feel much better already. also, I was on 60 mg of Prozac and went off a week ago after three years. it isn't affecting me badly in fact I feel better off of it so far.

I do have vyvanse and lamictal still. Might be all I need. Try protein shakes w/skim milk in the morning, that gives me a lift mentally

That is fantastic! Things have improved for me as well...it is still a challenge...but low carb has helped me...and higher fat...good fats!

TJ

[Perna]

Eating well is good but so is exercise. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dep...ercise/MH00043

[skeeweeaka]

Originally Posted by Perna

Eating well is good but so is exercise. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dep...ercise/MH00043

Exercise is good for everyone's health, that I agree. However, with me it doesn't have an impact on my depression. It does, however, help me to deal with the stress of the illness and the other stress in my life. Just getting outside in the sun for a walk or a jog, when I feel up to that, helps me to cope...

TJ

[birdonthewire2008]

I recently found out that I was extremely deficient in Vitamin D. Interestingly now that I am taking a large daily dose (10,000 units/day), I'm feeling a bit clearer.

I've also pretty much weaned myself from white sugar and most white flour and am trying to eat more fiber and less red meat. I use a cool website called The Daily Plate to educate myself about what I eat. It breaks down foods into calories, carbs, fats, fiber, etc.

[skeeweeaka]

Originally Posted by birdonthewire2008

I recently found out that I was extremely deficient in Vitamin D. Interestingly now that I am taking a large daily dose (10,000 units/day), I'm feeling a bit clearer.

I've also pretty much weaned myself from white sugar and most white flour and am trying to eat more fiber and less red meat. I use a cool website called The Daily Plate to educate myself about what I eat. It breaks down foods into calories, carbs, fats, fiber, etc.

I supplement with vitamin D, D3. Right now I am taking in about 5000 iu's a day.... Happy to hear that it is workign for you...

Right now I'm reading a book called The Diet Cure. It has a lot of fascinating information about it, particularly the first chapter which relates to the brain and improving it's function... She suggests amino acids as the answer and I'm thinking about ordering some and trying them...especially the Tryptophan...

She also suggest that hormones, thyroid, and adrenals could be contributing to many of the symptoms that we experience with mental illness... I'm having some testing done within the next month to try to get a better picture of where I stand as far as those are concerned.

TJ

[birdonthewire2008]

Thanks for the referral to the book The Diet Cure. I'll check it out.

The 10,000 units of D are for a month, and then I'll go to 5,000 units a day. My bloodwork showed a level of 11 for Vit.D, which is why she started me so high. (Normal starts at around 30)

For the record, I'm also taking supplements for adrenal support. My new physican is a Naturopath (ND) and I really feel she's giving help in ways that standard allopathic medical types have never offered. I've even been able to halve the amount of Provigil I take for my CFS.

This is a good thing. Or many good things. =)

[skeeweeaka]

I just added Cod Liver Oil to my regimen and it helps me feel more alert... I notice if I don't take my Fish Oil or Cod Liver Oil that my head just feels vacant, empty...that might have something to do with the seizures that I have though... My cognitive abilities are worse also...if I don't take them!

I also noticed that adding a few carbs back to my diet seems to help calm me somewhat...although I still have that jittery feeling inside...that shaking feeling! I read some articles that said some people can't do really low carb because they need the additional serotonin that carbs provide...good complex carbs though!

TJ

[skeeweeaka]

[nightbird]

Hi,

The best thing we can do for ourselves, nutritionally, is to get off sugar wherever and whenever possible.

Fruits are great, but sugar and fructose corn syrup and the like are bad for everything from our knees to our skin and down to our cells.

If only we could all go back to the basics, you know, the foods our great grandparents ate and such.... and we can attempt this by cutting back on processed foods, and buying fresh food that we prepare ourselves... and organics, if we really want to get serious, when possible and we can afford to spend a few dollars more - and we can because we can cut back on the processed junk, and give our nutrition a serious consideration.

If one doesn't have a juicer, than a blender will do for making smoothies with fresh fruit and a GOOD protein powder that is right for us, as individuals.

Make sure we get our omegas, eat white fish and wild salmon, and those veggies and fruits, and some nuts, etc... and supplement here and there, where needed, and once in awhile we can afford to treat ourselves to other stuff... because moderation is key.

They say the best diet is a Mediterranean one .. and I believe it.

This is the best time ever to go to bookstore or go online to one you like, and view the selection of cookbooks and actually get one... not a diet book, but a book that shows you the pictures of the good dishes, as well as how easy to prepare them, and what to buy.

You can choose from organic, to almost anything that fits your lifestyle.

The best ones are filled with nutritional info, so, I hope you all get a new one just for your health.

I'm doing 'one bite at a time' but that one is for cancer survivors, and adding an anti-cancer diet to my lifestyle.

If that is something you need to do, there is so much good info out there, you will be successful.

If it's getting off sugar, there are lots of books to help make better decisions and recipes to help that too.

If your generally healthy, there are tons of mediterranean diet books out now, because the demand to go back to basics and healthy eating is high right now... it also cuts stress on our bodies and weight too... ( ;

If it's Italian, or wherever our ancestors are from, it's probably a good idea to add some of their nutritional habits and choices into our daily lives because of the inherent ability to metabolize certain foods.

Anyway, it's so interesting when you view food from a health standpoint, as there are no pat answers for everyone... just cut down the sugar for sure, as that feeds the dangerous cells in our bodies anaebolically, and who needs serious illnesses or to feed renegade cells anyway?

Take care...

Peace and Health,
night

xoxo

p.s. remember to move... add some kind of exercise or dance or something to your lifestyle, walking, a swim, heck, a marshall art... anything physical that is not going to hurt you, but heal you rather.

[skeeweeaka]

Originally Posted by nightbird

Hi,

The best thing we can do for ourselves, nutritionally, is to get off sugar wherever and whenever possible.

Fruits are great, but sugar and fructose corn syrup and the like are bad for everything from our knees to our skin and down to our cells.

If only we could all go back to the basics, you know, the foods our great grandparents ate and such.... and we can attempt this by cutting back on processed foods, and buying fresh food that we prepare ourselves... and organics, if we really want to get serious, when possible and we can afford to spend a few dollars more - and we can because we can cut back on the processed junk, and give our nutrition a serious consideration.

If one doesn't have a juicer, than a blender will do for making smoothies with fresh fruit and a GOOD protein powder that is right for us, as individuals.

Make sure we get our omegas, eat white fish and wild salmon, and those veggies and fruits, and some nuts, etc... and supplement here and there, where needed, and once in awhile we can afford to treat ourselves to other stuff... because moderation is key.

They say the best diet is a Mediterranean one .. and I believe it.

This is the best time ever to go to bookstore or go online to one you like, and view the selection of cookbooks and actually get one... not a diet book, but a book that shows you the pictures of the good dishes, as well as how easy to prepare them, and what to buy.

You can choose from organic, to almost anything that fits your lifestyle.

The best ones are filled with nutritional info, so, I hope you all get a new one just for your health.

I'm doing 'one bite at a time' but that one is for cancer survivors, and adding an anti-cancer diet to my lifestyle.

If that is something you need to do, there is so much good info out there, you will be successful.

If it's getting off sugar, there are lots of books to help make better decisions and recipes to help that too.

If your generally healthy, there are tons of mediterranean diet books out now, because the demand to go back to basics and healthy eating is high right now... it also cuts stress on our bodies and weight too... ( ;

If it's Italian, or wherever our ancestors are from, it's probably a good idea to add some of their nutritional habits and choices into our daily lives because of the inherent ability to metabolize certain foods.

Anyway, it's so interesting when you view food from a health standpoint, as there are no pat answers for everyone... just cut down the sugar for sure, as that feeds the dangerous cells in our bodies anaebolically, and who needs serious illnesses or to feed renegade cells anyway?

Take care...

Peace and Health,
night

xoxo

p.s. remember to move... add some kind of exercise or dance or something to your lifestyle, walking, a swim, heck, a marshall art... anything physical that is not going to hurt you, but heal you rather.

Thank you, you are so right Nightbird... Stop as much processed food as possible...sugar...any kind makes me manic!

TJ