i suffered (and still do) with fairly severe depression for about twenty
years. when i was younger, i also had many of the symptoms of ADHD (although
it wasn't a common diagnosis then). i had a sweet tooth (a trait i shared
with my father), and would constantly snack on sweets, though i never seemed
to gain weight. i had trouble holding a job since i couldn't focus enough to
do any steady work. a few years ago a good friend convinced me to forego
carbohydrates for a week. i figured i could handle a week of *anything*, so
i agreed. five or six days into the restricted diet i was ready to kill --
him, myself, anyone. serious withdrawl-type symptoms. by the end of the
seventh day everything had turned around. i felt more relaxed and
comfortable than i ever had in my entire life.

my depression lifted a great deal, but i still needed a year of
antidepressant therapy (hypericum). i slowly added back a few complex carbs
to my diet. i still scrupulously avoid sugar and most fruits, but i do drink
milk once in a while (particularly acidophilus-laced). my depression is now
completely under control with only seasonal doses of hypericum. my cognitive
function is dramatically improved, and my focus is improved enough that i'm
now employed full-time and loving it.

it's not a dangerous diet, though it might be tricky for kids used to lots
of sweets. my advice for anyone in the situation you describe is:

1) avoid all refined sugars and as many simple carbs as you can comfortably
manage
2) eat as much fresh veggies and fresh meat as you can
3) give any diet change a week or two to see results
4) pay close attention to any changes in mental function or behavior

i could go on and on about all the things that tend to cause these symptoms:
chronic candidaisis, food allergies, hypoglycemia, etc...but i don't want to
promote food fads. mostly, just pay attention and eat sensibly.

-----Original Message-----
From: Libby Van Winkle <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, December 06, 1998 1:36 PM


>I am interested to know more about anybody's specific experiences with diet
>and improving cognitive functioning.

> . . .
>Let's see - what else?  As a baby she was colicky.  Since age 6 or 7, she
now
>gets migraines.  As far as diet goes, until the last 6 months or so, she
used
>to be a VERY poor eater (did not like to eat, was very thin - she seems to
be
>going through a growth spurt now).  She is crazy about sweets, in
particular
>pure sugar things like popsicles and hard candies and such (as in
"addicted.")