Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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I started eating strictly paleo a couple of weeks ago and am finding that it is easy for me and I love it, very comfortable with this way of eating. I'm slimming down quite quickly and am not hungry. Overall I have seen a reduction in anxiety...I feel calmer. One of the problems I'd really like to eliminate though is brain fog and depression. I've had it for years. Completely off gluten and any processed foods now and it seems better, so when I had a major attack of fog head an irritability last night I thought it must be food related. Possible culprits are chamomile tea (some teas seem to have irritated me in the past, but not sure) or chicken I ate from a bone broth (skin on). Is this an omega six issue? If so what can I do to best compensate for the years of depression and damage in my body? I was on SSRI's and now am completely off medication. They weren't working anymore anyway. Maybe it's not the chicken, but the low carb? I did eat an apple in the afternoon though... Anyone else have experience with this?

I am on several supplements to help the healing process early on, including fish oil, cod liver oil, magneseum/minerals. Is Sam-e helpful?

Update: ate some chicken again, no big deal. I think it was the tea, which has also made me think more about eating animal products from animals that have eaten allergenic plants. I once had a bad reaction to eating goat cheese from local goats that were probably chowing down on ragweed, juniper n stuff. Anyone have any experience with this?

edited Jan 5 2012 at 14:36

asked Jan 4 2012 at 14:39

Heather
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when did you go off the SSRI? It can take a while for your body to bounce back from it's effects – Pching Jan 4 2012 at 15:13

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Meds don't work that fast ("a couple of weeks") for depression, you certainly shouldn't expect a diet to work that quickly either. The fastest working thing I know of is waling daily in nature and sun, but if too depressed that is hard to do. See Garys answer below and my comments. – Karen Jan 4 2012 at 15:17

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walking (I am the typo queen) – Karen Jan 4 2012 at 15:18

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There are lots of posts here discussing depression. You may want to check some of them out too. paleohacks.com/search?q=depression#axzz1iV0s2olu – Karen Jan 4 2012 at 15:20

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I've read about other's reactions to Chamomile tea. Especially if they have ragweed allergies. I doubt it's the chicken. – Cody Jan 4 2012 at 17:15

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Gary · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-04 14:45:16Z UTC

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You talk a lot about your diet but not about exercise. I wonder if there is a clue in there ie that you don't mention it. I would suggest starting to ensure you get plenty of good exercise, start with just walking - and with some sunshine if you can. Check Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint suggestions. I'm following it at the moment and feel great on it in every way possible...

answered Jan 4 2012 at 14:45

Gary
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+1 for mentioning some of the non-food factors involved in treating depression. Sunshine as early as possible. Cold exposure is allegedly helpful. Nature - get out where it's green - check out "forest bathing" although even short times in nature help. Vitamin D - from sun in seasons when that is practical. Music, meditation (for some people, quit if it leads to rumination), things that make you laugh like ridiculous movies.... – Karen Jan 4 2012 at 15:10

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Do as much as you can, but (and some will argue with this) if depression is bad enough that you can't cope with doing anything (been there, have the t-shirt) get back on meds, maybe a different on or a combo, until you can move enough on your own for these to start working. – Karen Jan 4 2012 at 15:13

I will read that (Primal Blueprint). No, have not been excercising much. A bit of treadmill walking last week, trying to reintroduce, but really have had trouble motivating to do ANYTHING for a long time. It's been intolerable. Quit the meds b/c they've been virtually ineffective. I did a bit of tanning in a bed yesterday and take vit D and cod liver since it's been snowing a lot. Thanks for the great suggestions. – Heather Jan 4 2012 at 21:00

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Heather - no worries...all the best with it. And don't sweat the exercise thing too much. It doesn't have to be strenuous - in fact it's better if it's not. If you can just walk every day a bit (and if you miss a day, so what?)...you should find that the spiral starts going upwards, and then you can do more and have more motivation...it's getting it turned around that's key and that can be done with surprisingly little of exactly the right things. – Gary Jan 5 2012 at 8:55

Thanks so much. At least I have some great things to try and I am motivated for that! – Heather Jan 5 2012 at 14:38

Julie · Answer 2 · 2012-01-04 18:17:57Z UTC

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Hi. I started strict Paleo and VLC 3 weeks ago. I, too, experienced a period of depression and irritability from 1-2 weeks in. I found myself unusually angry at things and my hubbie and I even talked about breaking up (!) before I realized it had to be food related. So I upped my carbs with a bit of rice and felt amazingly better. Now, at 3 weeks, I am just making sure I get a bit of high density carb every other day in the form of 1/2 sweet potato (preferred) or 1/2 c white rice. (still not bad) I'm no expert but I know it made me feel better and not at all bitchy.

answered Jan 4 2012 at 18:17

Julie
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My experience is similar to Julie's. I've always struggled with depression and anxiety, and when I went VLC I noticed it got worse, and improved when I up the carbs. I am super foggy and irritable if I get below 50g carbs and I seem to do best around 100g carbs. When I catch an episode early, exercise helps me, but if I'm already in the midst of one, strenuous exercise (like weightlifting or jogging) seems to make it worse (walking is still good, though). – Sara S. Jan 4 2012 at 18:36

Will experiment with this... Ha, "bitchy" is about right. Not fun for hubs. – Heather Jan 4 2012 at 21:03

You ever talked to someone trying to quit smoking? – AndyM Jan 5 2012 at 14:54

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Why not up the carbs with carrots, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, turnips, squashes, etc... instead of rice? (And I say this knowing that rice is a comfort to the soul :P but it's your choice, ofcourse) – a mesmerizing trickster Jan 5 2012 at 15:20

Luisa, great idea. I am planning to do that pretty soon. Getting going for a few weeks on the LC, a bit of berries and an apple here and there so far. AndyM, I just quit 3 weeks ago, so...yes! – Heather Jan 6 2012 at 2:37

uberbulldog · Answer 3 · 2012-01-04 17:31:40Z UTC

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Low blood sugar can cause brain fog-like thinking. Be careful thus for blood sugar spikes and their crashes.

answered Jan 4 2012 at 17:31

uberbulldog
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a mesmerizing trickster · Answer 4 · 2012-01-05 15:18:56Z UTC

Hi, I'm no doctor, but my severe depression + suicidal thoughts are GONE since I started Paleo back in May, so maybe I can help.

Do you take any Vit D3? I don't think it's the chicken or the tea, I think it's just you haven't healed yet. This is not surprising at all given that you've only been Paleo for a couple weeks. Have faith and give it time.

Exercise: never done it, yet still cured my depression and brain fog. I am starting a C25K soon (I had tried it before but couldn't do it). I think Vit D3 and eating better would be sufficient.

Also agree with the person who said to watch out for blood sugar spikes (eating too many carbs at once).

White Dolemite · Answer 5 · 2012-01-04 17:00:56Z UTC

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Make sure you're getting enough potassium in your diet.

answered Jan 4 2012 at 17:00

White Dolemite
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AndyM · Answer 6 · 2012-01-05 14:55:07Z UTC

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If it were me, I'd have a nap.

answered Jan 5 2012 at 14:55

AndyM
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Remi · Answer 7 · 2012-01-25 11:34:23Z UTC

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Is cod liver oil really a good supplement ? I've heard that too much vitamin A in the cod liver oil could lead to depression and stuff.

answered Jan 25 2012 at 11:34

Remi
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Brain Fog Attack- cause and fix?

7 Answers