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