Vitamins and Mental Wellbeing
OK, I could have sworn that there was a topic recently just like this, but I can't find it! If anyone knows what I'm talking about and knows which thread it was, could you please reply with a link?
Otherwise...
I'm wondering if my diet (vegan, but struggling with dairy mixed into foods...chocolate candies specifically!) has anything to do with the mood I have been in lately. I've just felt....not depressed as such, but just BORED. Completely and utterly BORED beyond reason. I can't think of what I want to do, who I want to hang out with. When I am out, I can't think of anything to say to anyone. I'm restless and flighty and want ...I don't know....something.
Anyway, I'm working on getting a hobby to keep me distracted and busy, but my boyfriend was wondering could my diet in any way influence my mood. I'm sure it has some sort of effect (and damnit, why didn't I read that previous post???), but how? And is there a vitamin that you have found that makes you a bit happier and alert and less restless?
Also (probably unrelated), I've been getting those near white-outs when I stand up too quickly. These always happened, but not nearly so often as lately. Any ideas?
Thanks for any advice or experiences related to this!
I take a daily multivitamin, but only a couple of times a week. I guess I don't get my full range of vitamins and minerals, which isn't too surprising if you look at my unvaried diet. I feel much better when I take the supplement, but I don't feel I need it everyday.
I'm no medical expert but have done some reading, heard medical advice, on how a healthy, balanced nutrition can help alleviate depression. This advice from what I've read or heard from nutrition experts and doctors:
*Get your B-Vitamins. B Vitamin Complex, B-12. Deficient levels of B vitamins can cause anxiety or make you irritable, as well as fatigue and depression.
This article breaks it down in more detail.
http://depression.about.com/cs/diet/a/vitamin.htm
*Get your Omega-3s. My doctor, as well as several articles I've read, say that more and more studies show Omega-3s help with depression, emotional stability, and are important to preventing heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Omega-3s are found in walnuts, flax seed and fish. So, if you're vegan, walnuts, ground flax seed in your baked goods or cereals, or a flax seed oil capsules are ways to obtain Omega-3s.
*Eat less refined sugars. Too much sugars, especially refined, processed, bleached sugars in foods, can increase stress hormones and destabilize blood sugar levels. Natural sugars from fruit, agave nectar or raw, unbleached sugars like turbinado are better for you. Get rid of the white sugar, white bread, white rice. You get the idea.
*Drink decaf instead of caffeinated drinks. Too much caffeine makes you anxious, and also destroys the B-vitamins your body needs.
omega-3's are destroyed by heat, so I think putting flax/walnuts in baked goods wouldn't help there. I mix flax oil and walnuts in with my breakfast bowl of fruit, nuts, seeds and soy yogurt.
((((Amanda))))
Also (probably unrelated), I've been getting those near white-outs when I stand up too quickly. These always happened, but not nearly so often as lately. Any ideas?
I used to get these really bad - to the point of having to lean on someting for up to 20 seconds after standing up so I could actually see what was in front of me (this was before ever going vegetarian, probably because I wasn't conscious of my diet at all) and when I asked my mom about it she said when she was pregnant for me she had the same problem. Her doctor told her that was a symptom of an iron deficiency, so I started taking a vitamin with iron and it's really gotten a lot better.
I stopped taking them because I didn't think they were vegan (One A Days), but the white outs haven't returned. I only took them for about a month total
Absolutely.
The same thing happens to me relatively often. The doctor said it happens when you have particularly low blood pressure. Fee has a good point about iron deficiencies too. So important!
*Drink decaf instead of caffeinated drinks. Too much caffeine makes you anxious, and also destroys the B-vitamins your body needs.
Good to know! I finally cut coffee out of my life recently, and I feel so much better! I find that I only really need coffee if I tell myself I need it.
omega-3's are destroyed by heat, so I think putting flax/walnuts in baked goods wouldn't help there. I mix flax oil and walnuts in with my breakfast bowl of fruit, nuts, seeds and soy yogurt.
Yeah, that's why you should choose raw nuts over roasted ones if you are concerned with getting all their nutritional benefits.
I hope you feel better! Go to the doctor, it can't hurt.
omega-3's are destroyed by heat, so I think putting flax/walnuts in baked goods wouldn't help there. I mix flax oil and walnuts in with my breakfast bowl of fruit, nuts, seeds and soy yogurt.
I did not know ... thank you for sharing. :)
Thanks everyone for your input in this!
I'm no medical expert but have done some reading, heard medical advice, on how a healthy, balanced nutrition can help alleviate depression. This advice from what I've read or heard from nutrition experts and doctors:
*Get your B-Vitamins. B Vitamin Complex, B-12. Deficient levels of B vitamins can cause anxiety or make you irritable, as well as fatigue and depression.
This article breaks it down in more detail.
http://depression.about.com/cs/diet/a/vitamin.htm
*Get your Omega-3s. My doctor, as well as several articles I've read, say that more and more studies show Omega-3s help with depression, emotional stability, and are important to preventing heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Omega-3s are found in walnuts, flax seed and fish. So, if you're vegan, walnuts, ground flax seed in your baked goods or cereals, or a flax seed oil capsules are ways to obtain Omega-3s.
*Eat less refined sugars. Too much sugars, especially refined, processed, bleached sugars in foods, can increase stress hormones and destabilize blood sugar levels. Natural sugars from fruit, agave nectar or raw, unbleached sugars like turbinado are better for you. Get rid of the white sugar, white bread, white rice. You get the idea.
*Drink decaf instead of caffeinated drinks. Too much caffeine makes you anxious, and also destroys the B-vitamins your body needs.
Very excellent advice!!!!
Omega 3's are found to be an important mood stablizer.
Don't forget to exercise.
i have alot of dizzy spells due to nerve damage, but it is exasperated by a couple of things:
dehydration...make sure you are not only drinking plenty of water, but some liquids w/ electrolytes. i would sometimes drink watered down pedialyte.
not eating enough and/ or
low blood sugar... make sure you eat something often, even just a handful of trail mix or a piece of fruit...fat and protein w/ a carb is the best, as it keeps your blood sugar level.
and like all the others said, with regards to omegas, iron, etc.
a tip: if you feel like you are going to pass out, you can:
drink 16oz of water QUICKLY...like less than 2 mins.... it will raise your bp for about a half hour. or you can stand w/ your knees slightly bent and crossed at the knee...tense up your arms as well. this engages your leg muscles and will help pump blood to your head.
it might be a good idea to get a bp cuff to check when you have these spells. and keep note when they tend to happen..is there a certain time of day? after activity? etc. that way, you can take this info to your doctor.