Sugar = Depressant? page

[lucyh]

Sweets are probably the biggest part of my 20%, although I really do keep them primal for the most part (dark chocolate, berries, minimal amounts of honey in my once-in-a-while greek yogurt). I've also really felt like I finally have control of the sugar beast that I've fought with most of my life.

This past Saturday, however, I thought I'd have myself a little treat, and the girl at my local coffee shop suggested an egg nog steamer (egg nog, praline syrup, maybe some milk?), since she had just made herself one and loved it. So I ordered one and went on my merry way to run some errands, including shopping for a new pair of jeans. I sipped my fancy drink, even though it was incredibly sweet. I managed to down about two-thirds of the cup before I gave up and threw it away. No big deal, I thought, I'm running around all day today, I'll quickly burn this off.

Ha! By the time I got into the dressing room I was so completely depressed that the thought of buying new clothes just seemed like too.much.work. I managed to finish my errands and made it home, but then I just parked myself on the couch for the rest of the night, way too tired and out-of-sorts to do anything. The next day, all I wanted to eat was vegetables and meat and fat. I guess I never noticed how bad that crash from sugar really was, and I never thought about how much of an effect it could have on my mood. I was seriously depressed and irritable for the rest of the day.

Has anyone else noticed this kind of reaction to excessive sugar consumption?

[Dr. Bork Bork]

I absolutely believe that sugar and other foods that aren't necessarily good for us have a tremendous impact on hormones. Since depression tends to be a severe hormonal imbalance, you can see how sugar consumption and manic rages go hand in hand. I had this happen to me over the summer after a really bad binge. Hubby got home just in time to stop me from shaving my head and mutilating myself. It wasn't pretty.

If you experience depression symptoms, try to avoid processed sugars as much as possible.

[lucyh]

If you experience depression symptoms, try to avoid processed sugars as much as possible.

Hee! That sounds like a prescription drug warning

[JennaRose]

I tend to get depressed if I eat sugar; no doubt it's why I was so sad all of the time in high school, I ate candy every day like it was my last day on earth not to mention that eating those foods makes me bloated and gain weight which makes me VERY depressed lol

[sixtoesgirl]

That explains my short-tempered outburst yesterday....stupid bowl of leftover Halloween candy and a bad day at bowling league = very confused boyfriend. I just about bit his head off when he "looked at me wrong" after a bad shot.

[Dr. Bork Bork]

Hee! That sounds like a prescription drug warning

just a friendly bit of advice (personal experience endorsed) from your favorite Primal Doc

(btw, I'm not a real doctor... just a doctor of Bork. both in the muppet & literal sense )

[VeloCity.X]

doctor of Bork. both in the muppet & literal sense

In the Bork Bork Bork sense?

[Horsewoman]

After the spike of endorphins, dopamine etc, comes the crash. Not pleasant. Radiant Recovery&#174 - Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons, author of Potatoes Not Prozac, The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program, Your Last Diet has good info on this (I have no affiliation with them, in fact they're not speaking to me lol, but it is a useful basic resource!)

[Dr. Bork Bork]

In the Bork Bork Bork sense?

Yuuuuup.


For the record. He & I totally cook the same way, too!

[Glamorama]

I totally get depressed when I eat sugar, which explains why I experienced most of the last decade through a confused haze of mood swings and extreme tiredness!