article about depression- weight gain- carbs

This was interesting....the article (briefly) asserts that low carb diets suppress seratonin and contribute to depression while meds for depression often help to pack on the pounds.  Kind of seems like a damned if you do/damned if you don't scenario.

Wonder if the higher rate of depression and suicide among WLS patients has anything to do with restricting carbs?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-j-wurtman-phd/weight-lo ss_b_790355.html

Interesting.   I wonder what the amount of carbs needed for normal serotonin production is?   I guess it would be different for everyone though.

You should see the documentry called " I want to be like that guy"  It's about an overweight guy who becomes a professional bodybuilder (like one he sees in a magazine), his pre contest he cut carbs so much that he'd just start crying for no reason.

wow.  I have someone I know who was a powerlifter....I'll ask him about this.

Ok you guys, did not want to read this on Day 1 of the Carb detox lol xx
But it is very interesting how what we eat can affect mood, sleep etc isnt it?? I met with a friend for dinner at Bonefish last night (Bang bang shrimp and a glass of Chardonnay what can I say??) and she has been doing the low carb, low fat , low everything diet for 2 weeks. She looked tired, drawn and generally miserable and she was kinda snappy? I wonder if this had something to do with it!! or whether it was because she had the plain grilled fish and steamed veggies -
Yorkie xx

LOVE Bonefish!!! 

i have never been one, ever, to be super strict about anything in my life.  So it's hard for me to be a carb nazi....although I was at first.  I try to make the carbs I eat complex ones,but otherwise I'm not super strict..  I must admit over the past six months I've had bouts of uncontrollable anger here and there....I don't think that's carb related, I think it's more hormonal. 

Wonder if complex carbs keep the serotonin flowing?  If so then beans can be our friend, whole wheat, etc.

another article I found when I searched.  Uses the same doc .


http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200404/low-carb-stat e-mind

and another one that has some hope at the end for us.  Perhaps induction phase is just the hardest part???? 

http://hubpages.com/hub/Serotonin-and-Carbohydrates

Hmmmm

I would think like anything else, that continued and consistent low carbing your body's would compensate and increase secretion of Seratonin or other hormones & Chemical mediators.

When I am NOT low carbing and indulging; I am VERY unhappy with gas and pain and bloating and BM's, so the low carb makes me HAPPY.  =) 

My Head Shrinker says that exercise (not meds) is the BEST antidepressant. 

Mmm I always feel all chirpy and positive after going to they Gym, I guess there is something in this exercise lark then eh?? lol

Trouble is I am so run down at the moment that just keeping up with work and the house has me totally pooped out. I'll know more when i get my labs and my next Iron infusion next week. I know what you mean about the gas from carbs making tummy unhappy, trouble is, when I am tired my body seems to scream for sugar and carby things...oh well, day 1 is going well on the low carb detox! Going to add a couple of shakes tomorrow too!

yorkie x

I always feel like crap after I exercise.  At one point during my best D and E phase, I was lifting weights every other day and doing aerobics for 40 mins per day.   I lost 50 lbs in about 8 or 9 months and on a low fat diet.   I could not maintain that level of exercise unless I became a fitness instructor.  .... but I never felt "good" after exercising.  I know it's supposed to make you feel like that but I never did.  I felt better over all losing weight but I was achy and felt played out after exercise.  I have always been this way, even as a child, and I wasn't an over weight child.

I WISH exercise made me feel good.   When my husband tells me that I should start exercising, that it will lift depression, erase menstrual cramps, release tension, yadda yadda yadda....I want to slap him silly. 

Oh well.