Anxiety symptoms and diet

[Peace_Seeker]

Has anyone who has or is predisposed to anxiety noticed an increase in symptoms when they have gone from eating meat to being vego or vegan? I became vego about four months ago and my most recent spiral into PTSD and panic attacks started 5 weeks ago. My therapist thinks there might be a connection. I can't find any studies online that support the theory however logically the scientific theory is sound. Before this downward turn I was doing fantastically (and have a great bunch tools) and there has been no obvious trigger for this so I'm playing with this theory a bit. I'd love to hear other people's experience with going vego. Thanks

[CMF]

Hi PS,

Great question. I would lean towards yes. I'm no expert on diet and nutrition but i do know that some white meats ie chicken and turkey contain tryptophan which is said to help anxiety and promote calm and help with sleep. Turkey in particular is good for this. I have been told by someone who reads a lot about nutrition that red meat contains natural anti depressants also. If you are vegan you need to make sure you are getting enough iron and vitamin d as these affect mood also. Do you eat fish at all? I have started taking fish oil and do believe it has helped. I was feeling quite fuzzy and had a foggy head but it has since eased quite a fair bit.

I think you prefer to be vegan then you need to make sure you are replacing the minerals and vitamins you would get from meat but in a natural way ie good wholesome real foods, not synthetic vitamins and fortified foods.

Hope this helps and you feel better soon.

cmf

[Just Sara]

Great reply CMF! (Can I call you Comfy?)

I got so much from your info...thanks heaps hun! I have a frozen turkey breast in the freezer; I might take it out for tomorrow...love cranberries with it too, yum!

Keep your spirits up PS...Mwah!

[CMF]

Sara,

Yes you can call me COMFY lol.

Many, many, many years ago when we lived off the land and 'organic' foods, not processed, modified foods with preservatives and sprays etc we were better off. Our bodies absorb all these chemicals.

cmf

[Peace_Seeker]

Thanks CMF

i have recently read up about tryptophan too and that it's in turkey and chicken. Apparently it's also in eggs. I currently have two a day. So not sure if that's enough. I'm considering chicken soup tonight for sure.

I guess I'm resting on the fact that as humans evolved the higher parts of their brain like the frontal cortex, this was a time in our evolution where meat was a very important part of our diet. Meat has many aspects that are beneficial to brain health. Being someone with trauma, the fact is my brain has changed. And perhaps taking meat away, even though I was feeling great, has left a deficit of a combo of micro nutrients that is impacting the normal functioning of my brain and interrupted its healing/recovery. I guess I'm starting to feel like if I didn't have trauma and wasn't already genetically predisposed to anxiety, perhaps the entirely vego or vegan diet would be fine. But maybe not under my circumstances.

[CMF]

Hi PS,

You make a very good point! I would love it if you would look into vitamin B8. It is not found in B complex vitamins but is purchased separately. You may find the studies interesting and helpful. Dr Robert Peers talk about it on youtube.

interested to know your thoughts.

cmf

[Peace_Seeker]

Thanks CMF I'll definitely look into it. Thank you 🙏 I'll comment when I've had a look

just bit the bullet and bought chicken to make chicken soup. 😱

[m_bel]

Hi Peace Seeker, sorry I'm a bit late to this post! I feel like I'm going through similar motions at the moment. I actually came onto the forum to see if anyone had posted about this specific issue. I've been really in control of my anxiety since February but I had a massive panic episode last week and I'm still not feeling right. I became vegetarian a couple of months ago but I've given up on it for the moment because my body seems to freak out. Serious internal conflict for me. Anyway, I want to try and quit sugar to see if it will help my anxiety but I'm worried it's going to do the opposite. We shall see...

Thank you for your helpful post. I've taken a lot of info from it!

[CMF]

Hi mel b,

cutting out sugar should have a positive effect as well as white breads, processed foods. Dark chocolate (85% cocoa) is actually good for you as is brown rice.

[Peace_Seeker]

Hey m_bel!

Im glad it helped. I agree with CMF cutting out sugar and refined carbs should help. I quit sugar a while back and it helped a bit but there were so many other benefits anyway!

i did eat some meat this week but am really having trouble stomaching it to be honest. So haven't kept it up.

I also started back on meds for the first time in years. Man. That was THE best decision my anxiety disappeared immediately.

I hope you're better soon lovely