Most manic depressives enjoy bingeing on sweets such as cake or candy, as these foods give any instant boost to mood by increasing serotonin levels. The problem is that the sugar highs are temporary and will never last for more than an hour.
After this point, your blood sugar level will drop significantly as your body produces insulin to counteract the stimulating effect of the carbohydrates that you have just consumed. In turn, this drop in your blood sugar level may convince your body to secrete other neurotransmitters such as neuropinephrine, which can make you manic.
Someone with manic depression will find that the more sugars and fast acting carbohydrates that they consume, the more of a roller-coaster their moods will become.
So what kind of foods should you cut out of your diet?
Here is a list of products that you should not consume:
These are the fast acting junk carbohydrates, which are broken down immediately.
1.) Soda
2.) Sugars – natural or refined
3.) Candy
4.) Potato chips
5.) All processed carbohydrates which includes pretty much anything ready made that can be purchased in a grocery store.
Here are foods that are recommended in moderation for a bipolar diet:
These products release carbohydrates into the system at a slower rate than the refined carbs.
1.) Rice
While rice contains carbohydrates, they are released more slowly into the body than foods such as candies or soda.
2.) Wheat
Unlike rice, many people have allergies to wheat, even if they don’t realize it. A number of people become manic after eating wheat products.
Try to only purchase whole grain products, or make it a point to purchase wheat berries and grind and make your own bread if possible.
3.) Fruit
Thousands of years ago, fruit did not contain the excessive amounts a sugar that it does today. Most fruits had been selectively bred to contain absurd amounts of natural sugar, which is unhealthy if consumed in large amounts.
4.) Potatoes
5.) Beans
List of foods with carbohydrates that can be consumed freely:
1.) Vegetables
The complex carbohydrates in vegetables take a long time to digest
2.) Nuts
Most people do not include nuts in their diet, even though they contain a great deal of protein, carbohydrates, and necessary oils. Try to buy natural products, as opposed to the brands of canned nuts that contain absurd amounts of sodium.
It is always best to talk to a nutritionist or a psychiatrist before making any radical lifestyle changes. I have personally found that eliminating many negative foods from my diet has greatly improved my bipolar disorder.