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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sunnydays on June 27, 2007, at 21:59:06
Anyone know of any foods that contribute to anxiety, or ones that particularly help? I know the obvious ones like sugar that contribute, but I've heard rumors about gluten. Anyone know anything scientific about what helps or contributes to anxiety?
Thanks!
sunnydays
Posted by jessers11581 on July 3, 2007, at 11:41:18
In reply to question about nutrition and anxiety, posted by sunnydays on June 27, 2007, at 21:59:06
Hi there! Sugar is by far the biggest contributor to my anxiety (and unfortunately, I'm addicted to it!). I also notice that if I get plenty of protein with each meal/snack, I am way more level in terms of emotions/anxiety. Protein contains all the essential amino acids that your body needs to manufacture your "feel-good" chemicals (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, etc.), and it keeps your blood sugar stable. Additionally, I believe that certain food sensitivities (especially wheat gluten and dairy proteins) can contribute to anxiety. I tried cutting out all wheat, dariy, and sugar for about 3 months, and it worked wonders for me. Unfortunately, this is a very hard diet to maintain because these three foods are in everything, pretty much. I'm still trying to get back to it. You should check out this book: "The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program" by Kathleen Des Maisons. It's an amazing resource for those who suffer from sugar addiction and/or anxiety related to food.
> Anyone know of any foods that contribute to anxiety, or ones that particularly help? I know the obvious ones like sugar that contribute, but I've heard rumors about gluten. Anyone know anything scientific about what helps or contributes to anxiety?
>
> Thanks!
> sunnydays
Posted by saturn on July 3, 2007, at 21:18:15
In reply to question about nutrition and anxiety, posted by sunnydays on June 27, 2007, at 21:59:06
All I can say is that from experience almonds have consistently been the best food for my anxiety. Not a cure-all by far but I think on the whole they're helpful. Perhaps related to magnesium and/or tyrosine or copper.
Posted by nolvas on July 10, 2007, at 18:08:23
In reply to Re: question about nutrition and anxiety, posted by jessers11581 on July 3, 2007, at 11:41:18
Sugar should not be supplemented to the diet. Sorry to hear you are addicted to it. Normal blood sugar levels in humans are around 70mg-100mg/100l. Once the blood sugar goes above the upper limit, then sugar molecules bond to proteins without the controlling factor of an enzyme. The proteins get damaged as there is no control as to where the sugar molecules bond to the proteins. So you are left with non functional proteins. So any wasted proteins can’t be used for enzymatic activity and this adversely affects the body’s metabolism. The natural normal bonding of sugar to proteins is called glycosylation and is enzyme controlled.
Basically there's no need to add sugar to the diet, you get all the carbohydrates you require in a balanced diet. Sugar doesn't contain any mineral or vitamins as well, so once you consume the sugar you are in debt to your body to the tune of some minerals and vitamins.
Added sugar messes up blood sugar control as well and this can lead to hypoglycemia, which has plenty of unwanted symptoms which can include anxiety, and phobias etc.
Sugar is bad, don't add it to your diet :)
Posted by Wolf Dreamer on July 27, 2007, at 12:57:42
In reply to question about nutrition and anxiety, posted by sunnydays on June 27, 2007, at 21:59:06
Sometimes you don't get a delayed reaction to certain foods. Also, some foods eat up more vitamins. You have to make certain you are not deficient in anything your body needs.Anxiety can be caused by many things, from lack of something your body needs, or from exposure to something it can't handle.
I make the mistake of eating some chocolate chip and M&M cookies recently, and my anxiety was raging none stop. Then after I finished all of them off, and let it pass through my system, I was much calmer again.
I gave up bread, because it had a negative effect on me. Gluten, or whatever.
I've been eating chicken I get from Sam's Wholesale club that is low in calories and the bad stuff, and gives me plenty of protein.
I used to crave chocolate and some diary products to an insane degree, but after eliminating them from my diet for a time, making sure none were left in the house, the cravings vanish.
I think thats because sugar, alcohol, and starch feed candida. I don't drink alcohol, but I'm sure its the same thing alcoholics feel. I gave up orange juice because I was craving the sugar in it.
If you want to get better, you have to start taking the time to read all the ingrediants, and looking up what to avoid. A lot of products out there have way too many ingrediants in them, and by default I just avoid them. Too hard to keep track of what every ingrediant is, and if it has a few dozen, or a few hundred in it, then some of them are surely going to be bad.
Good luck. And remember, selectively remove things from your diet, to test out any food allergies as well.
Posted by ClearSkies on July 28, 2007, at 20:24:52
In reply to Re: question about nutrition and anxiety, posted by saturn on July 3, 2007, at 21:18:15
> All I can say is that from experience almonds have consistently been the best food for my anxiety. Not a cure-all by far but I think on the whole they're helpful. Perhaps related to magnesium and/or tyrosine or copper.
Yes!!! Almonds must be one of those "wonder foods". I try to eat a small handful of almonds every day because everything in my body seems to work better when I do. Of course, I'd rather that they were in a Snickers bar, but I don't do that but a couple of times a year (naughty me). I also take a chelated magnesium supplement that helps with my anxiety.
ClearSkies
Posted by LOOPS on August 13, 2007, at 10:23:27
In reply to Re: question about nutrition and anxiety » saturn, posted by ClearSkies on July 28, 2007, at 20:24:52
yes definitely. I eat tons of animal fat and protein and next no carbs - have done for several years now. My skin cleared up (eczema and acne) and my weight went down but more importantly my eating disorder also cleared up and I have less anxiety and depression. I still have to supplement though to feel really good. I also notice I fall asleep very early - usually when it gets dark. When I ate too many carbs before I used to have to take something to make me go to sleep or I'd be up all night.
I still eat vegetables, just not potatoes or anything like that.
Without a suitable diet my supplements didn't really work very well before.
Loops
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