Kat Co wrote: > > Has anyone seen a Paleo diet work successfully longterm for a person who > "eats" away emotional turmoil? > > I have read that the carbohydrate cravings disappear after a while, and that > does seem to be the type of food I "need" when I can't confront whatever is > troubling my soul ... but I'm wondering if the decrease in carbo craving is > only physiological and not linked to mental/emotional states as well. > > Some posts have said that a Paleo way of eating seems to have solved many > different types of aches and pains, and stomach distress, foggy heads, but > not much has been said about emotional recovery. > > Minet Yep, me! The first month or two can be very difficult. Yes, one does crave carbs - I literally dreamed of eating them. Couldn't watch TV because of the food commercials. Paleo allows for snacking, so munch away on any of the allowed foods :) all the while telling yourself what a wonderful thing you are doing for yourself that shows how much you care for yourself. Make eating a big deal, not something barely conscious: focus on what you are eating, how good it tastes etc. Try real hard not to cheat because every time you do you will throw your body back into the craves (insulin levels changing, body learning to run from other things than sugars). As for the psych angle, several have mentioned having bipolar disorder that cleared after going paleo. I am one of them. I had "dysthymic bipolar disorder" or so they said. My down times were lying in bed with the covers over my head; my "manic" was simply an incredible anxiety attack. I was told not to sweat the small stuff and that everything is small stuff. HA! For me, everything was immediate, demanding immediate action and scaring me nearly to death because I couldn't cope. All this anxiety kicked off the "love yourself, eat a cake" desire. I think any kind of turmoil kicks off the old flight/fight thing which tells your body you need energy right now in order to survive. You can teach your body to use foods other than sugar. Once past the adjustment period, my depression AND the manic anxiety simply ceased to exist. Small stuff really became small again in my perception. BTW, I am four months into rather strict paleo and the return of an anxiety attack is a clear signal that I either deliberately cheated or made a big mistake in a food choice :) So hang in there and give it another go, being as strict as you can, and use this list for support - that what the name says it is. I believe you will be amazed at the results. -- Elisi Tsayonah, AniWodi, ghigau, St Francis River Band of Cherokee