My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside

Katigre · 05-12-2012, 06:29 AM

Ok, I have always dealt with mild anxiety/obsessive worrying to some degree or another. This pregnancy it was pretty bad during my 1st trimester and gradually got a little better during the 2nd. A month or so ago I got really committed to cutting out/reducing refined sugar consumption as well as trying out paleo/primal eating.

At first I wasn't going to cut out grains, but I ended up doing so and the biggest change I notice is that I'm no longer anxious!!! This is huge for me and has continued for just over a month now. I was having to do major journaling/CBT exercises to help with my anxiety and now don't have to at all. I still have the same thoughts pass through my mind that everyone has, but they don't trigger the anxiety/obsessive thinking cycle like before. It feels like part of my brain chemistry has regulated and the only thing I changed is my diet.

So....what does this mean long-term? Anyone got research articles or links about this that has more 'how exactly does this work' details? I am wanting to make sourdough bread with an authentic starter to have some bread available in the house for the kids and DH as they want it (we're not huge bread eaters though) and I'm nervous about whether it's something ok for me to eat or whether I just need to be hardcore no-grains forever in order to keep a happy brain.

Thanks for any insight!

Marsha · 05-12-2012, 06:31 AM

That is amazing! Do you think it might be wheat/gluten? If so, you can eat quinoa or rice and hopefully have the same benefits.

Katigre · 05-12-2012, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marsha

That is amazing! Do you think it might be wheat/gluten? If so, you can eat quinoa or rice and hopefully have the same benefits.

I feel so good I'm scared to mess it up by adding anything back into it...if that makes sense. I want to get a better understanding of the WHY behind it before I start experimenting with different foods and potentially feeling anxiety triggers again.

[Note: I think one reason my anxiety was so much worse the 1st trimester was b/c I ate a LOT of bagels each day to help with the nausea, definitely carb-heavy and that probably tipped my brain chemistry over to the anxious side more strongly than normal. Obviously hormones were a factor too

. But my brain probably wasn't able to cope with the hormonal shifts as well due to the disregulation].

ViolaMum · 05-12-2012, 07:07 AM

hmmmm. When I was reading about celiac disease a couple of years ago, I learned that the intestional damage caused by the disease can result in malabsorption of nutrients - essentially malnutrion - which causes anxiety and depression.

Could you have a mild wheat allergy? (The two nationalities/ethnicities with the highest celiac rates/wheat intolerance are Italians and Norwegians, oddly enough.)

Wish I could be of actual help.

allisonintx · 05-12-2012, 07:37 AM

The enteric brain, when not coated in goo, works much better.

3boysforme · 05-12-2012, 07:43 AM

That's amazing and very interesting. I know from my own experience that my rage and anger issues have stopped since cutting out wheat. I would be interesting to see if there has been any research on that subject.

ArmsOfLove · 05-12-2012, 07:46 AM

one sign that I have gotten gluten is panic attacks. I would guess you're probably sensitive/allergic to at least one grain, possibly gluten. See how you feel when you re-introduce glutenous grains or other grains. Maybe introduce them as you would for a baby.

Mother of Sons · 05-12-2012, 07:47 AM

I've had a similar experience. I dealt with two strangers coming to the house unannounced yesterday without having a near panic attack. The third one did tip me over the edge though and ruined my evening.

MaiMama · 05-12-2012, 08:29 AM

That is fantastic! I'd stay primal for a while if it's working for you. Eventually if i added carbs in, I'd save gluten stuff for last. I'm just gf and haven't noticed similar benefits. I feel too overwhelmed to go grain-free right now, but maybe I'll manage it. I'm happy for you, though!

LilacPhoenix · 05-12-2012, 11:47 AM

My anxiety is virtually nil since being GF

I still eat other grains, but limit them to 1 1/2 to 2 (cooked) cups a day.

mellifera · 05-12-2012, 11:51 AM

Julia Ross, who wrote the books "The Diet Cure" and "The Mood Cure" talks about wheat being one of the worst foods for messing with people's mental well-being.

GraemesMomma · 05-12-2012, 06:14 PM

How great!

I've been putting this off for so long for myself. Thanks for sharing...it reminds me how worth it simply giving it a go would be

Pragmatist · 05-12-2012, 06:50 PM

I recently went grain free and am working towards totally sugar free. I have noticed my anxiety is almost gone. I was gluten free before without any noticeable difference, so for me, I need to be grain free.

julbug · 05-15-2012, 08:32 PM

This was in my inbox this morning and the transformation is of course amazing, but I think the part about her having panic attacks while driving you might find relevant.

http://paleononpaleo.com/hot-healthy-paleo-weight-loss/

05-16-2012, 09:39 AM

Interesting stuff here. I dislike meat and just can't eat much but try to stay to whole foods and get quinoa noodles when cost is effective.

Interesting to know links with anxiety/depression to wheat/gluten. Sugar I know is a big reactor on anxiety as well as caffeine(at least for me).

05-12-2012, 06:29 AM	#1
Katigre Rose Garden Why thank you, it is naturally blue... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21,278	My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside Ok, I have always dealt with mild anxiety/obsessive worrying to some degree or another. This pregnancy it was pretty bad during my 1st trimester and gradually got a little better during the 2nd. A month or so ago I got really committed to cutting out/reducing refined sugar consumption as well as trying out paleo/primal eating. At first I wasn't going to cut out grains, but I ended up doing so and the biggest change I notice is that I'm no longer anxious!!! This is huge for me and has continued for just over a month now. I was having to do major journaling/CBT exercises to help with my anxiety and now don't have to at all. I still have the same thoughts pass through my mind that everyone has, but they don't trigger the anxiety/obsessive thinking cycle like before. It feels like part of my brain chemistry has regulated and the only thing I changed is my diet. So....what does this mean long-term? Anyone got research articles or links about this that has more 'how exactly does this work' details? I am wanting to make sourdough bread with an authentic starter to have some bread available in the house for the kids and DH as they want it (we're not huge bread eaters though) and I'm nervous about whether it's something ok for me to eat or whether I just need to be hardcore no-grains forever in order to keep a happy brain. Thanks for any insight!

05-12-2012, 06:31 AM	#2
Marsha Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,359	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside That is amazing! Do you think it might be wheat/gluten? If so, you can eat quinoa or rice and hopefully have the same benefits. __________________ Marsha Learning to be a single, wohm mom to my girls Ainslee (June 10, 2002) and Riley (August 9, 2005)!

05-12-2012, 07:07 AM	#4
ViolaMum Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,542	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside hmmmm. When I was reading about celiac disease a couple of years ago, I learned that the intestional damage caused by the disease can result in malabsorption of nutrients - essentially malnutrion - which causes anxiety and depression. Could you have a mild wheat allergy? (The two nationalities/ethnicities with the highest celiac rates/wheat intolerance are Italians and Norwegians, oddly enough.) Wish I could be of actual help. __________________ Darcy married to my Photographic Genius (1/00) Mom to: Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and Quarta Youth and Beauty are fleeting, but the ability to bake a great chocolate cake lasts forever!

05-12-2012, 07:37 AM	#5
allisonintx Rose Garden Some Cal/Mag will probably fix that. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: catching up on the laundry Posts: 41,294	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside The enteric brain, when not coated in goo, works much better. __________________ allisonintx Wife to Stephen Mother to Elizabeth 19, Andrew 17, Abigail 14 & Evelyn 12 Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take a boat in the air that you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turn of the world. Love keeps her in the air when she ought to fall down. Tells you she's hurting before she keens. Makes her a home. . . . . . . .

05-12-2012, 07:43 AM	#6
3boysforme Deactivated It's the Peanut! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The swamps of Louisiana Posts: 9,237	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside That's amazing and very interesting. I know from my own experience that my rage and anger issues have stopped since cutting out wheat. I would be interesting to see if there has been any research on that subject.

05-12-2012, 07:46 AM	#7
ArmsOfLove Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 79,607	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside one sign that I have gotten gluten is panic attacks. I would guess you're probably sensitive/allergic to at least one grain, possibly gluten. See how you feel when you re-introduce glutenous grains or other grains. Maybe introduce them as you would for a baby. __________________ Crystal "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." Maya Angelou

05-12-2012, 07:47 AM	#8
Mother of Sons Rose Garden My kid shoots laser beams from his hands Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21,900	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside I've had a similar experience. I dealt with two strangers coming to the house unannounced yesterday without having a near panic attack. The third one did tip me over the edge though and ruined my evening.

05-12-2012, 08:29 AM	#9
MaiMama Rose Garden Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: DFW Posts: 5,564	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside That is fantastic! I'd stay primal for a while if it's working for you. Eventually if i added carbs in, I'd save gluten stuff for last. I'm just gf and haven't noticed similar benefits. I feel too overwhelmed to go grain-free right now, but maybe I'll manage it. I'm happy for you, though! __________________ Mai Married to my love, Jimmy 3/9/2000 Grateful Mama to: Trinity Rain - The Matrix, 2004 Jackson Atreyu - The Neverending Story, 2006 Bella Adalyn - Twilight, 2009 and introducing: Lincoln Ambassador - Fringe, 12/16/2012 remembering Aviva Ata '08

05-12-2012, 11:47 AM	#10
LilacPhoenix Rose Garden E's newborn feet; G's 3-yr-old feet Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 8,478	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside My anxiety is virtually nil since being GF I still eat other grains, but limit them to 1 1/2 to 2 (cooked) cups a day. __________________ CMB Wife of P (May 2018) Mommy to two terrific boys, E (July '07) and G (Dec '09), and "bonus mommy" to B (Sept '11) INFPs are a FiNe SiTe to behold! DYT 1/2 My recipe blog! Recipes "I need to live life like some people never will... To ride the wings of dreams into changing horizons." Dream Theater

05-12-2012, 11:51 AM	#11
mellifera Rose Trellis Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,590	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside Julia Ross, who wrote the books "The Diet Cure" and "The Mood Cure" talks about wheat being one of the worst foods for messing with people's mental well-being.

05-12-2012, 06:14 PM	#12
GraemesMomma Deactivated Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5,321	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside How great! I've been putting this off for so long for myself. Thanks for sharing...it reminds me how worth it simply giving it a go would be

05-12-2012, 06:50 PM	#13
Pragmatist Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,924	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside I recently went grain free and am working towards totally sugar free. I have noticed my anxiety is almost gone. I was gluten free before without any noticeable difference, so for me, I need to be grain free. __________________ Sara (ISTJ) married to V since 7/99 Strawberry Shortcake- 3/07 Huckleberry Pie- 9/11

05-15-2012, 08:32 PM	#14
julbug Climbing Rose Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,414	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside This was in my inbox this morning and the transformation is of course amazing, but I think the part about her having panic attacks while driving you might find relevant. http://paleononpaleo.com/hot-healthy-paleo-weight-loss/ __________________ Julie DYT - T2 and I think I'm an ISFP wife to an amazing man happy mama to 10 yo DS "When can we fight bad guys on an island?" 8 yo DS "I just love being human!" 2 yo DS, born in water, into mama's hands BFF and SIL to happyhippimama

05-16-2012, 09:39 AM	#15
Zoesmama Guest Posts: n/a	Re: My anxiety has disappeared with Paleo/Primal eating...but questions inside Interesting stuff here. I dislike meat and just can't eat much but try to stay to whole foods and get quinoa noodles when cost is effective. Interesting to know links with anxiety/depression to wheat/gluten. Sugar I know is a big reactor on anxiety as well as caffeine(at least for me).

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