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Posted 6/20/2008 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Does anyone notice certain foods making their anxiety worse? I have a very strict diet because of my Ulcerative Colitis, but still I notice that when I eat certain foods like brown rice or other carbs, I almost always feel my heart rate go up afterwards and I sometimes feel anxiety setting in within a few hours.

I've been juice fasting for the past two days, and have noticed that my anxiety is practically down to nothing. I also did a 3 day juice fast a few years ago, and remember that my anxiety/mild depression symptoms went away during that time too. Of course, within a few days of starting to eat again my symptoms returned. I read somewhere that food allergies can sometimes cause anxiety, too.

Just thought I'd share and see if anyone else has had similar experiences.
Posted 6/20/2008 11:55 AM (GMT 0)

Thank you for the information.  I do believe there  is a lot of evidence out there re food allergies and special diets.  There are lots of different opinions on the topic.

I hope you find what works for you.

Kitt

Posted 6/20/2008 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Have you had your blood sugar checked? I was diagnosed for 2 years with anxiety. 2 terrible years...xanax, lexapro, etc with no relief. I went to a nutritionist who recommended I get a blood glucose meter to evaluate my sugars because my attacks came on after carbs and early morning. Turns out it was hypoglecemia, and blood tests showed low ferratin. Now I watch my carbs, take iron, B#5 complex, and Holy Basil by New Chapter Organics. I've finally gotten to the point of leaving the Xanax out of my purse. Freedom.
Posted 6/20/2008 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Anxiety is one of the major symptoms of systemic yeast (candida). When we eat carbs, we feed the yeast, when you feed the yeast, the symptoms are exacerbated. Hence why higher anxiety.

http://www.stopyeast.com/candida-symptoms.html


You feel better when juicing because you are killing and not feeding yeast.
Do you take probiotics for your colitis?

 

Posted 6/20/2008 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
This is a great thread. I don't pay enough attention to how my diet affects my moods, but I know I should.

I was keeping a food journal for a while when we were sorting out the reflux diagnosis. Maybe I should go back to that for a bit.

percycat
Posted 6/22/2008 6:06 AM (GMT 0)

I can reccomend one thing (my opinion only) that you stay well away from flavour enhancer 621. It is MSG and will raise your heart rate. It simulates a panic attack for me every time I have it. This is just my experience, but I would look carefully at ingredients.

All the best.

Posted 6/22/2008 6:24 AM (GMT 0)

Great advice Meg and now Kitt is signing off as I have been on here since 0730 this morning except for a brief nap. Oh my it is 0130...........I am off to lala land.  Love ya all.

Good night my friends, good night moon.

Kitt :-)

Posted 6/22/2008 6:38 AM (GMT 0)
Sweet dreams Kitt.....you have full moon too???

Posted 6/22/2008 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for writing in, everyone. Peacesoul, I'm certain I have issues with yeast and I know that when I cut down on carbs and sugars I feel much better, both in terms of the anxiety and my Ulcerative Colitis. Brian, thanks for the link, I will definitely investigate further. It seems like when I'm only eating vegetables and a bit of protein all of my weird physical and mental symptoms clear up (hmmmm). I also know that my blood sugar is out of whack, although since I started fasting last week I haven't had any of the ups and downs of that either. Definitely time for me to spend the day researching on the internet to figure out what to do next.

Just out of curiousity, how many other people here suffer from chronic illnesses?
Posted 6/22/2008 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have Crohns...Pyoderma Gangrenosum and Fibro.........

I do believe diet does play a factor and I do what is best for me

I am glad your stress and angst is down due to juice

WE each have to find what works for us IMHO and I am glad you have found your way of dealing with this

My diet is already limited due to crohns ..........

Great thread an input all........LYN
Posted 6/22/2008 4:15 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Laurar,

Really the only Foods/Beverages I don't tolerate well are Chocolate and Caffeine.I can't drink 1/2 Glass of Caffeinated Iced Tea without feeling like I'm gonna crawl through my own Skin.Tea most definitely affects me more than Caffeinated Coffee.Chocolate makes me Anxious and I crave the decadent,oooey,gooey yummy stuff when I'm PMS'ing.I've read/heard Chocolate craving is a sign of Magnesium deficiency..I so want a Juicer..if I may what brand do you have?

Posted 6/22/2008 4:17 PM (GMT 0)

 

Nervymeg,

MSG is a common ingredient in Chinese Food right?I once read it causes Headache.

Posted 6/23/2008 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Most people think of MSG in connection with Chinese food more than any other, but it also occurs in many packaged foods that aren't ethnic. I think I have some beef stew seasoning packets that contain it.

Most Chinese restaurants will tell you whether they use it or not if you ask.

And it certainly gives me a headache - one of those nasty "chemical feeling" kind that aspirin doesn't always help. I'll take a tension headache over that any day.

percycat
Posted 6/23/2008 3:59 AM (GMT 0)

Hi!

Yes, monosodium glutamate (MSG) was first introduced to us through chinese food, but now it is a common ingredient in "tasty" foods. Most potato chips, chicken salt and stock contains MSG. It contains an ingredient that stimulates your appetite, it doesn't tell you to "stop" when you are full. That is why it can be easy to get through that family sized packet of chips! Or do you guys call them crisps? I forget?!

Posted 6/23/2008 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Meg,

Chips in the US, crisps in the UK, because then it's chips in the UK and fries in the US. (Trying to be obtuse here; did I succeed?) LOL

Oh, and even though catsup and ketchup should be interchangeable, their flavors are NOT. US ketchup has several spices and seasonings in it while European ketchup seems to be more just tomato sauce and sugar.

Now, please help me sort out marmite vs. vegemite?

Goofy hugs,
percycat
Posted 6/24/2008 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
YES YES YES!

Food is an integral part of contributing to anxiety. I was leading a very healthy lifestyle about 2 years ago (no meat, fruits, veggies, no processed foods or sugars, limited caffeine) and I felt GREAT! I still had anxiety, but it wasn't beyond the scope of what I would consider "normal".

More recently I am back in school and working, and eating really terrible foods (along with drinking coffee and smoking cigs) this is BAD!

I have seen a big increase in my daily anxiety and it's gotten to the point where I've decided to change my diet again and eat the right things. It really can and will make a difference.

about the anxiety/food allergies: my mom showed me an article that did, in fact, relate food allergies to anxiety. So might be something to look in to

Posted 6/24/2008 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

Yes, a food intolerance or celiac disease can cause serious panic attacks and other major problems.  I really have to watch what I eat.  I never realized that food could be so dramatic in ones life. 

If anyone reading this cannot figure out what is wrong with them and have tried every avenue and can't figure it out - try a celiac diet for a month or 2.

 

Posted 6/24/2008 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
I sometimes look back 30 years or so when I was eating Chinese constantly, not knowing anything about MSG and always feeling "crazy" after each meal.  I really think this is when my anxiety problems started.  I used to wonder if I had had some bad experience in a Chinese restaurant during my childhood (ha, ha) that was causing this anxiousness after eating, but finally learned after a couple of years about the MSG thing.  Once i started to order my food without MSG if was a whole new ball game. So now I can enjoy it without worrying - problem is, I have anxiety anyway and have had it for many, many years.  Obviously though, we need to stay away from things that exasserbate the condition.  I'm absolutely positive that certain foods make anxiety worse, it's just difficult to ascertain which ones those are...I think chocolate and caffeine are no-brainers but I'm sure there are alot more out there that do bring it on too.  At this point in my life I just hope for the good days and try to get through the bad days knowing they won't last forever.

Posted 6/24/2008 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
And there's one more "theory" of mine that I forgot to mention.  I have had stomach issues for most of my life - alot of excess acid,  reflux, irritable bowel, etc. I swear that when I have alot of acid in my system, my anxiety and crazy obsessive thoughts are worse too.  Could it be that all this "acid" could contribute to crazy thinking and anxiety - if it can burn a hole in your stomach after time as the medical books say,  why couldn't it have an adverse reaction on your brain and thought processes?  It's just a thought but I'm convinced that all this anxiety we suffer has to be related to our systems in general and how they're functioning.  There are many medications out there that even say they make you feel confused, nervous so even if they're for treating things like diabetes,, they're also having an effect on your thought processes so why wouldn't acid running through your system cause those same things too?  Just a thought but it might have some merit.

Posted 6/24/2008 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I'm so glad to see that this has generated discussion, as I"m becoming more and more convinced that food is directly connected to my anxiety. I've just ended my juice fast, and my anxiety levels have been totally "normal" since I started it. I haven't felt crazy or even come close to panic in over a week, and I'm very curious to see what happens when I start eating normally again. If anxiety comes back after my meals, I'm going to pay close attention because it could be an indication of a food intolerance. I talked to my naturopath who said that food allergies/intolerances can cause "mental" reactions in some people, not just physical reactions (I'm looking online to find an article on the subject that I can post here).

And for those of you who have had bad experiences with MSG, I remember the last time I ate Chinese food I felt I was going to explode out of my skin because my anxiety level got so high. I also felt spacey and very weird. Wont' ever eat that stuff again, and in a way I'm relieved to hear that others have had similar experiences.

Andwes, I agree with you that all of this could very well have a physical component... I think that pdoc's aren't trained to think that way or see the whole picture so I'm glad we all have each other to talk to about this stuff. :)
Posted 6/24/2008 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
This is a really interesting thread! I hope carbs don't give me anxiety. I love bread, pasta and cereal. It actually seems to calm me down. I read once that carbs raise your serotonin levels. I am definitely affected by some foods though. I am a chocoholic, but if I eat too much at once I get really anxious. Anything really sugary makes me anxious and upsets my stomach. Junk food in general makes me feel aweful. I try to eat as healthy as possible, aside from the chocolate that I absolutely must have! I can only handle a little caffeine. I took that candida yeast short test and it says that I could have an allergy so I'll have to look into that.
Posted 6/26/2008 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, breads, pastas, etc are a huge no no for me because of my inability to break down Gluten properly. I get an immune response from my body and it effects every organ in the body. There are very good substitute breads and pastas that taste like the real thing that you can buy at the grocery store as long as they have a Gluten free section for it. Even delicious Gluten free cookies that taste incredible. I can occasionally have a taco bell break or have a piece of toast or a few piece of pizza etc but I really have to watch it or my body and mind goes off the deep end (literally). I am finally off all the drugs that my doctor said I would be on for the rest of my life! This includes Xanax and the super rip off drug Nexium and all the other drugs my various doctors prescribed. This problem is VERY common and it's estimated that 1 in 133 people have it or have aquired it. It is genetic and it can also be acquired from environmental factors. I personally think it's all the processed food we eat that our bodies are not "designed" for.
Posted 6/26/2008 7:53 AM (GMT 0)
Tocra, I get the same things with carb-rich food. Shame, beacuse pizza is so yum! I agree that our bodies are not made for highly processed foods, we just need to learn moderation in our diet and it sounds like you have managed that. What flavour GF cookies do you reccomend???
Posted 6/26/2008 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
I always buy the Pamela's Products brand Gluten free chocolate chunk cookies especially when I have a cookie attack which is quite often! 

http://www.pamelasproducts.com/

Not only do these cookies taste awesome they are 100% Gluten free!

You can even buy pizza dough that is gluten free and make pizza from scratch.  It's a pain but it's worth the effort.

 

Post Edited (Tocra) : 6/26/2008 12:03:20 PM (GMT-6)

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