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I'm going to try the big Sugar Cut... but carbs and dairy?
Hi all, I've suffered from lots of anxiety problems including panic attacks, agoraphobia (from fear of attacks) and the generalized gnawing anxiety. After lots of failed attempts with meds and whatnot, I'm going to attempt to cut my sugars as I've read this can really help. I've never really eaten that much sugar as far as junk is concerned, but I am a carb-craving, dairy lover. I'm really confused and could use some help.
Obviously, no candies, no cakes, no soda/juices or energy bars or anything of the such. I don't eat white breads or white rices. But the more I read on the net about trying this method of anxiety reduction the more insane the diet becomes. I'm reading that I can't eat any carbs, and not even dairy because it all turns to sugar! They say just eat certain veggies and meat. I'm vegetarian. That leaves me with... water.... maybe a dry salad. lol
Has anyone heard of how far the "no sugar" policy is supposed to go to be effective? I really can't see myself cutting dairy and all carbs. I'd just like to know if anyone knows how far this needs to go to be effective.
Thank you!
Obviously, no candies, no cakes, no soda/juices or energy bars or anything of the such. I don't eat white breads or white rices. But the more I read on the net about trying this method of anxiety reduction the more insane the diet becomes. I'm reading that I can't eat any carbs, and not even dairy because it all turns to sugar! They say just eat certain veggies and meat. I'm vegetarian. That leaves me with... water.... maybe a dry salad. lol
Has anyone heard of how far the "no sugar" policy is supposed to go to be effective? I really can't see myself cutting dairy and all carbs. I'd just like to know if anyone knows how far this needs to go to be effective.
Thank you!
Listen, folks, carbs are the basis of any healthful diet. Atkins is not a healthful diet; it might help you lose weight, but you can't stay on it because it doesn't contain enough of the most healthful foods. The results of the diet haven't proven to be very good, and the weight loss doesn't last. Also, remember, all vegetables and fruits are carbs, and they are the most important foods for antioxidants and vital nutrients. On the other hand, when people mention pasta and bread, if it's highly processed white flour you might as well be eating sugar. The question is, how fast does it break down into sugar in the body, and if you look at the glycemic index of foods, you'll see that bagels and potatoes, for example, turn into sugar as quickly as corn syrup. The person who mentioned whole grains was correct, whole grains break down more slowly. Complex sugars, like rice malt, break down more slowly than simple sugars, like sucrose. And if food doesn't break down into sugar, you'll die, because sugar is the fuel for every living creature. So this is more complicated than it sounds. Also, though dairy does contain lactose, which is a sugar, the greatest problem with dairy is that most people can't digest it. No adult of any species other than humans eats dairy. What I'm saying is, this is very complicated, and a lot of reading and perhaps seeing a holistic nutritionist can give a better idea of how everyone is different, and how little we actually know about food because you can't patent it.
So when you say you can only eat certain veggies, well, they're carbs, too. And eating only meat will probably kill you at a younger age unless you're an Eskimo or a plains Indian or a Tibetan, people who have adapted because of environmental circumstances to eating pretty much only animal products. But cutting out simple sugars is a good idea for us all, though it does lower the interest factor! If you want to check out a low sugar diet, look at macrobiotics, but I can tell you, they are some of the most nervous and hyper people I've ever met. So there you go.
Do keep us posted on how it goes, though.
So when you say you can only eat certain veggies, well, they're carbs, too. And eating only meat will probably kill you at a younger age unless you're an Eskimo or a plains Indian or a Tibetan, people who have adapted because of environmental circumstances to eating pretty much only animal products. But cutting out simple sugars is a good idea for us all, though it does lower the interest factor! If you want to check out a low sugar diet, look at macrobiotics, but I can tell you, they are some of the most nervous and hyper people I've ever met. So there you go.
Do keep us posted on how it goes, though.
I am currently on the Atkins diet, I am not sure that I would say it has helped with my Anxiety, though I have never been a big sugar eater anyhow, so I am not sure how cutting out sugar would affect me if I ate it, but I am a big carb eater, and not eating them hasn't affect me at all. Obviously, once I begin to see results, my hope is that my self esteem will be lifted, in turn, making me a happier person, and hopefully helping me with my Anxiety. We shall see!
Here is what I will say, this isn't the first time I have been on the Atkins, though it is the first time since I have began suffering from Anxiety. This diet causes you to feel a bit "flighty" in general, a little light headed, and tired.....until your body gets used to it. All of these things can make one with Anxiety confuse the symptoms of the diet with the symptoms of Anxiety.
Make Sense?
Here is what I will say, this isn't the first time I have been on the Atkins, though it is the first time since I have began suffering from Anxiety. This diet causes you to feel a bit "flighty" in general, a little light headed, and tired.....until your body gets used to it. All of these things can make one with Anxiety confuse the symptoms of the diet with the symptoms of Anxiety.
Make Sense?
There are hundreds of thousands of elementary age children that would love to talk to you after their students had some twinkies for breakfast. Their students can be found climbing walls.
I agree completely with JS....sugars like you would find in sodas, candy, cakes...are totally different than the "sugars" you get from carbs, like pasta, breads, etc.
Also...it seems as if this theory may be working off the old wives tale about sugar affecting the mood...excitability (ie in children)...and while a lot of Moms would SWEAR it *is* true...it isn't. Sugar will not cause excitability or nervousness, even if eaten in excess. It will cause a nasty tummy ache and likely some teeth issues....but as far as emotionally....it won't affect the average person. Just an FYI!
Also...it seems as if this theory may be working off the old wives tale about sugar affecting the mood...excitability (ie in children)...and while a lot of Moms would SWEAR it *is* true...it isn't. Sugar will not cause excitability or nervousness, even if eaten in excess. It will cause a nasty tummy ache and likely some teeth issues....but as far as emotionally....it won't affect the average person. Just an FYI!
People seem to talking as if sugar and carbohydrates are two different things. This is like saying that there are Buicks, and then there are automobiles. Actually, sugar (C12 H22 O11) IS a carbohydrate, a chemical structure that includes carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen which is what the word, "carbohydrate" means.
Then again, there is "fuel" and there is "gasoline." So perhaps we can say that sugar is the gasoline of the carbohydrate world: it is rapidly metabolized for a quick energy lift. And maybe it is that rapid part that has to do with the anxiety and panic -things are just moving faster, so to speak.
The complex carbs, on the other hand -whole grain type food with a fair amount of fiber- take more time to break down and be used by your system. Maybe like they are the diesel or kerosene of the carb world. A slower, more sustainable burn. The "steady-state" might tend to support a calmer metabolism. If there is any merit to this analogy, then bread and pasta are just FINE -but you want the whole grain stuff, not the refined product. Whole grain noodles with some brocoli, cauliflower, red and green peppers - and a bit of garlic, maybe some onion (not too much -sugar in those) stir fried in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and garnish of roasted penauts -there you go!
My place or yours?
Then again, there is "fuel" and there is "gasoline." So perhaps we can say that sugar is the gasoline of the carbohydrate world: it is rapidly metabolized for a quick energy lift. And maybe it is that rapid part that has to do with the anxiety and panic -things are just moving faster, so to speak.
The complex carbs, on the other hand -whole grain type food with a fair amount of fiber- take more time to break down and be used by your system. Maybe like they are the diesel or kerosene of the carb world. A slower, more sustainable burn. The "steady-state" might tend to support a calmer metabolism. If there is any merit to this analogy, then bread and pasta are just FINE -but you want the whole grain stuff, not the refined product. Whole grain noodles with some brocoli, cauliflower, red and green peppers - and a bit of garlic, maybe some onion (not too much -sugar in those) stir fried in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and garnish of roasted penauts -there you go!
My place or yours?
Namaste,
If you have done a lot of research and asked many people, including natural doctors, herbalists, nutrionalists and one conventional doctor who all agree that cutting sugar can help big time, there should also be data on what sugars and how much needs to be reduced.
I personally have severe problems, eat sugars, although not to excess, and have never experienced any problems.
There are some physical needs for sugar in your diet and I doubt you'd be able to totally eliminate it anyway.
Michael
If you have done a lot of research and asked many people, including natural doctors, herbalists, nutrionalists and one conventional doctor who all agree that cutting sugar can help big time, there should also be data on what sugars and how much needs to be reduced.
I personally have severe problems, eat sugars, although not to excess, and have never experienced any problems.
There are some physical needs for sugar in your diet and I doubt you'd be able to totally eliminate it anyway.
Michael
Maybe it didn't help me because I never ate much sugar anyway...wehn I cut carbs it was only breads and pastas. Could be that it's only sugar, not just carbs in general. If it works for you...great!!
Keep us posted :-)
Keep us posted :-)
Thank you for the information. I've done a lot of research and asked many people, including natural doctors, herbalists, nutrionalists and 1 conventional doctor who all agree that cutting sugar can help BIG TIME... It's just when I ask about the carbs and dairy, I get a very mixed response.
I haven't ever heard of cutting carbs to reduce anxiety....I was on the Atkins diet several years ago....ate almost no carbs, dropped a ton of weight, but it didn't affect my anxiety, other than I got excited to fit back into some of my old clothes.
If you do find something that works, please post....I'd love an alternative to Xanax.
Suzy
If you do find something that works, please post....I'd love an alternative to Xanax.
Suzy
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