Panic Attacks, Anxiety and Diet - Wheat and dairy.

A lot has always been made about the links between what you eat and how you feel. Everything that happens to us emotionally or physically is chemical, so the theory goes, so how we feel and how our bodies behave must be governed by what chemical we give the body.

One should be aware of over simplifying the food/mood connection. It is not just a case of eating more of X and less of Y. For example depression is linked to low serotonin levels, but eating lots of bananas (which are high in serotonin) is not likely to cure any kind of clinical depression. Broadly speaking, there are two key factors: Having enough of a substance, and having the right balanced of other substances for it to be available.

A real-life application of this would be in eating dairy produce, which is high in the amino acid Tryptophan, with a complex carbohydrate like wholemeal bread. The idea is that the starchy carbohydrate will cause a release of insulin which will remove other proteins from the bloodstream giving the Tryptophan an improved chance to cross the blood-brain barrier. Tryptophan is one of the building blocks of serotonin. Through studiously planned diets people have definitely made a difference to their mood.

There is a whole separate question of allergies and intolerance. Wheat an dairy produce are often the biggest culprits, or at least the most persecuted suspects. Therefore anxiety and depression diet advice becomes much harder to give. Should you eat more dairy to increase serotonin production, or less, or cut it out completely? Likewise wheat?

Checking for allergies and intolerance is a good idea, however you should be sure to keep a balanced diet no matter what. If dairy has to go then make sure you have another source of protein. If wheat has to go don't replace it with simple carbohydrates...find a good rye bread or a corn bread. When you remove a foodstuff, do so for at least three weeks, to really notice if you feel different or if others see a difference in you.

Tags: depression, hyperventilation, anxiety, insomnia, celexa, citalopram, anti-depressant, ssri, GAD, panic attack, phobia, stress management, agoraphobia, wheat, dairy, allergy, intolerance

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