As some of you know, I've started the Atkin's diet recently (to, you know, lose weight). Which means I'm eating a lot more meat nowadays (and eggs, green vegetables, cheese, etc...).
Anyhow, about half a week to a week after starting the diet, I found that I had to cut my antidepressants dose in half. (For those interested, I knew to do this because I began to have hypomanic levels of energy and self-esteem, which, for a bipole, is a sure sign that one has too high a dosage of antidepressants). So far, so good...I've had no ill effects from cutting back on my antidepressants, and indeed may need to go off them completely.
It occurred to me today that there might be a link between the diet and my overall increased mood. So I went about to see if I could find some information online, and came up with the following:
"The safe way to build up the serotonin level (a way to treat depression) is to enable the body to manufacture its own serotonin by taking the immediate precursor to serotonin [tryptophan ("Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is found in a variety of high-protein foods...including beef, chicken, fish" [http://www.whyvitamins.com/others/amino-acids-tryptophan-5-htp.html])]...Other natural substances for depression include N-acetyl tyrosine ("An amino acid present in dietary proteins" [http://www.fsinutrition.com/products/neuro.htm]), S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) ("SAMe (S-adenosyl- methionine) is a synthetic replication of a compound that the body makes naturally from methionine, an amino acid found in protein-rich foods." [http://www.alzheimersupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/250/T/Both/]), acetyl L-carnitine ("Carnitine, or L-carnitine, is a naturally occurring substance found in...animal foods" [http://www.raysahelian.com/carnitine.html])...and most of the B-complex vitamins (found in green, leafy vegetables; meat; poulty; fish; cheese)...These supplements relieve anxiety..." [http://atkins.com/Archive/2001/12/21-364901.html]
So in other words, high protein foods are chock full of depression fighting minerals/vitamins/amino acids. Yay! :D
I know a lot of folks on this forum have to deal with depression, so I thought I'd share this little FYI.
I also found the following related information, which is fairly interesting:
"When you're feeling down—no matter why—chances are your first instinct is to reach for your favorite high carb comfort food. That food may indeed lift your spirits a bit, because eating carbohydrates can increase your level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in depression. In the end, though, the carbs are just a temporary fix that will probably leave you worse off. Why? Because while the pleasure of eating the food may cheer you up, and you may get a slight serotonin increase, those positive effects are far outweighed by the ultimate negative effect of the carbs. All those carbs may give you a brief energy boost, but within a few hours you're likely to experience a big energy crash as your blood sugar takes a sharp swing downward. How will you feel then? Depressed, irritable, tired, unable to concentrate—and the cycle starts all over again.
"Stable Blood Sugar, Stable Mood
"What if you turned the food-mood equation around? Instead of using food to try to change your mood, what if you used food to help prevent bad moods to begin with? Controlling your carbs can be a valuable way to lift and stabilize your mood. And when you do that, you lose the food cravings that can derail your weight-loss efforts, you regain focus and you enhance your mental alertness.
"To understand why, think a bit about your blood-sugar levels. When your blood sugar jumps because you've eaten a high carbohydrate meal, your body needs to release insulin to clear all that sugar away. If you're even slightly glucose intolerant, that big sugar spike, followed by a big insulin spike, will drop your blood sugar below where it needs to be. Low blood sugar makes you feel irritable, edgy, depressed, tired, foggy—and hungry.
"But when you eat a meal low in carbs—especially one that's also rich in fiber from vegetables—your blood sugar doesn't jump. You don't go on the insulin roller-coaster ride, and you don't get the low-sugar blues a couple of hours after you eat. In addition, when you're doing Atkins, can eat a snack when you get hungry between meals. (Some people find it helpful to eat five or six small meals instead of three large ones.) That helps even out your blood-sugar levels and keeps your mood on a more even keel, and that in turn helps stop your cravings for high carb foods. That doesn't mean you'll never feel depressed again, but once you're into the controlled carb lifestyle, you're a lot more likely to reach for a healthful low carb food instead of potato chips or cookies, and avoid the insulin roller-coaster ride, which will only make things worse.
"Better Nutrition
"If you've been eating the typical American diet full of carbs or if you've been following a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet as a way to lose weight, you may well have been short-changing yourself of B vitamins, iron, selenium and essential nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids. (In fact, a number of studies have shown that fish oil supplements can be a helpful treatment for depression.1) When you switch over to a controlled carb way of eating and enjoy a variety of foods, including plenty of nuts, vegetables and whole grains, you'll improve your nutritional profile. Whole grains and high-quality proteins will replenish your low levels of B vitamins; red meat and vegetables such as spinach will build up your iron stores; and nuts will increase your selenium levels. Similarly, all the fish, olive oil, avocados and nuts you're now eating will provide plenty of essential fatty acids." [http://atkins.com/Archive/2003/5/28-781996.html]
And:
"We have previously shown that fructose as well as lactose malabsorption were associated with signs of mental depression...Further analysis of the data show that this association was strong in females (P < 0.01), but there was no such association between carbohydrate malabsorption and early signs of depression in males. In conclusion, the data confirm that fructose malabsorption may play a role in the development of mental depression in females and additional lactose malabsorption seems to further increase the risk for development of mental depression." [http://atkins.com/Archive/2002/1/11-750186.html] <p>
<center>Hello, I'm Dia. I'm a dragongirl, and I bite. RAWR!
</center>-=- "Y'know, I've always been told that dragons are bigger. And less bi-pedal." -- Cuimacc (MovieMan)
-=- "Got Dragonale?" -- Richard (Nakibe)
-=- "Half elves? Uh oh, they are eaten by Dragons, we call them Dwagon Kibble here..." -- Lord McBastard
-=- "*Today's important Lesson. Dragongirls Bite. Nekojin nip*" -- UnclePervy</p>Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=pdrydia>pd]
at: 1/20/04 7:24 pm
</div>
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