By changing to the bipolar diet [designed for people with a Bipolar disorder] you can stabilize your mood and prevent mood swings, another bonus of this diet is weight loss and increased energy levels.
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What is Bipolar disorder?
This is a condition involving cycles of depression, elation and mania and can cause the occurrence of mood swings, these mood swings - be it depression, elation or mania - can range from high to low and vice-versa in a matter of minutes but generally tend to be gradual.
There are 6 simple and essential rules with regards to the diet:
1) Increase your folic acid intake [one of 3 proven nutrients that assist with this problem]. You will find this nutrient in most vegetables, especially the leafy folate ones [cabbage and brussel sprouts spring to mind]
2) Low fat proteins [like fish, poultry and lean meat] are essential, as it is known that proteins improve both moods and alertness. Bipolar people often need to boost their critical 'neurotransmitters' and the protein they have consumed stimulates the production of some of the most important ones [nor-epinephrine and dopamine]. Remember with fish to choose the ones high in omega 3 fatty acids as these fatty acids have been proven to benefit the people with this problem.
3) Fresh fruit can be eaten in moderation, say 1 to 3 servings per day. Try limiting 'other' sugars as much as you can - syrup, honey and molasses are a good example.
4) Avoid the 'bad carbohydrates' like bread, rice, noodles or pasta etc.[these are highly refined and generally have sugar added] or at least try to restrict them. These bad carbs can make you tired, cause you to gain weight and mess with your insulin levels. This is non negotiable due to the fact that some bipolar meds cause weight gain and a slight case of diabetes. Try going with wholegrain and stick to unrefined carbs as the slow release of these regulate the release of serotonin which is great for combating stress and helping one to relax.
5) Try avoiding or replacing all the saturated fats you normally consume with a healthy one like olive oil. Remember fish oil is very important for the intake of omega 3.
6) Limit the amount of alcohol you consume, in fact try avoid it altogether if you are bipolar [the empty calories and extra carbohydrates combined with mood fluctuations caused by the alcohol could does keto make you moody spell disaster]. It is also a well known fact that most alcoholics are bipolar.
Remember to take some form of supplement to boost your daily intake of the essential nutrients needed to assist with this disorder, as no matter how hard we try change our diet to include what is healthy and beneficial for our problem, there is always room for more.
A lot of people experience ups and downs from time to time. However, if your mood swings are causing more than just a little bit of a disruption to your life, you need to consider how you can stabilize your moods. In this article, I will run through a few suggestions.
One of the key factors in mood swings is blood sugar imbalance. If you are eating lots of sugary junk foods, then your blood sugar levels will be up and down like a yo-yo. Try to keep your blood sugar even by eating protein with every snack or meal, and always eating whole foods such as fresh fruits and whole grains such as rice and oats, as these release their sugar much slower than sugary junk foods.
Also, make sure you are getting enough foods that contain Tryptophan, which is the amino acid which converts into serotonin, the brain's own happy chemical. Foods that contain Tryptophan include: eggs, oats, almonds, salmon, milk, and chicken. Also, make sure you are getting enough essential fatty acids in your diet, for example from oily fish or from a fish oil supplement.
Exercise can also have a great positive impact on mood. Are you getting enough exercise? Try go get some exercise every day. Even just going for a brisk walk for 30 minutes every day will do wonders to improve your mood.
Also related to exercise is daylight. Are you getting enough daylight every day? If you work in an office, and you watch TV or surf the internet during the evening, you may not be getting enough daylight. Try to get outside during your lunch break, even if it is cloudy as a cloudy sky still gives you enough light to improve your mood.