Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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I went on a little bit of a sugar bender yesterday. I didn't have any gluten, but I consumed way more table sugar and fructose than I normally do. Before that, I was eating VLC as I am trying to lose weight.

Anyway, today I feel like complete shit. But what's interesting, is I feel a lot worse emotionally than I do physically. I've struggled with depression before, and what I'm feeling today definitely feels like depression. I have no energy, no motivation, and all of my thoughts are negative and self-critical. The negative thoughts aren't even about the sugar binge (i.e. feeling guilty), but instead are about other aspects of my life in which I feel like a failure).

Does anyone else experience this? I feel like my depression is directly tied to my blood sugar. What's going on?

flag	asked Oct 29 2011 at 18:52 Farmer's Daughter 1,051●2●13

Kasra · Answer 1 · 2011-10-29 21:07:45Z UTC

When you eat sugar, you are rewarded with a little release of dopamine to the brain. When you eat a lot of sugar, you are rewarded with a flood of dopamine to the brain. This massive surge in dopamine causes the receptors to downregulate, effectively desensitizing you to pleasure. This is similar to how insulin resistance develops. A few days of avoiding sugar should get you back to normal.

sage_ · Answer 2 · 2011-10-29 23:21:37Z UTC

you need a new perspective. i have read in many articles that strategic consumption of carbs (one meal every 3-4 days or one day a month) can be very beneficial to people who eat VLC. so just think of yesterday as a part of your lifestyle and carry on; no guilt required.

another nice aspect of this perspective is that you can stave off binges knowing that a carb day/meal is just around the corner and you can plan to eat more beneficial carbs if you so choose.

you are an awesome person doing wonderful things with your life. a day of sugar cannot change these facts.

score 1 · Answer 3 · 2011-10-29 20:16:06Z UTC

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Sounds like Reactive hypoglycemia. Check your blood sugar 2 hours after eating.

edited Oct 29 2011 at 20:16

answered Oct 29 2011 at 19:22

majkinetor

sugar binge and subsequent depression?

3 Answers