Comments on: Panic Attacks, Anxiety and Diet – Wheat and dairy. http://www.anxiety2calm.com/blogger/2006/09/panic-attacks-anxiety-and-diet-wheat.html Anxiety, Panic Attack and Phobias Information Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:42:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: John http://www.anxiety2calm.com/blogger/2006/09/panic-attacks-anxiety-and-diet-wheat.html/comment-page-1#comment-15967 John Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:25:30 +0000 http://www.anxiety2calm.com/blogger/?p=89#comment-15967 Your alot better off with more serotonin than little. Because little serotonin effects every aspect of your life. And your sleep.Do you know that fuzzy feeling you get in your abdomen?Feels good right? That's serotonin! I remember when I was little,waking up with butterflies. That was serotonin production while I was asleep.Yes SSRI's can dangerously raise your serotonin levels. But it's almost impossible to raise your serotonin to the point where your life is in danger. (through food anyway)And one must remember, your "serotonin" or "tryptophan" foods must make their way into the brain. So carbs are needed to usher in the tryptophan to the brain where it can instantly begin production of the happy chemical. Carbs are like the gatekeeper into the brain...but complex is the better choice for long-term serotonin production. Simple carbs like candy can have a drastic effect instantly, but crash and burn follows. My personal favorites: -scrambled eggs with peppers on wheat toast -berry-banana-smoothies(post-workout) -peanuts or sunflower seeds Your alot better off with more serotonin than little. Because little serotonin effects every aspect of your life. And your sleep.Do you know that fuzzy feeling you get in your abdomen?Feels good right? That’s serotonin! I remember when I was little,waking up with butterflies. That was serotonin production while I was asleep.Yes SSRI’s can dangerously raise your serotonin levels. But it’s almost impossible to raise your serotonin to the point where your life is in danger. (through food anyway)And one must remember, your “serotonin” or “tryptophan” foods must make their way into the brain. So carbs are needed to usher in the tryptophan to the brain where it can instantly begin production of the happy chemical. Carbs are like the gatekeeper into the brain…but complex is the better choice for long-term serotonin production. Simple carbs like candy can have a drastic effect instantly, but crash and burn follows.

My personal favorites:
-scrambled eggs with peppers on wheat toast
-berry-banana-smoothies(post-workout)
-peanuts or sunflower seeds

]]> By: Wren http://www.anxiety2calm.com/blogger/2006/09/panic-attacks-anxiety-and-diet-wheat.html/comment-page-1#comment-5434 Wren Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:28:39 +0000 http://www.anxiety2calm.com/blogger/?p=89#comment-5434 This is good info. I want to stress that too much serotonin can be harmful. Not everyone who is depressed has low serotonin. I was depressed for many, may years before a smart alternative doctor ordered some specialty tests that checked the levels of certain amino acids and their metabolites (by-products). My serotonin level was extremely high, and my dopamine/epinephrine levels were low. This was validated by several related results, including the ration of tryptophan to other amino acids that cross the blood-brain barrier. Misguided psychiatrists freely prescribe SSRIs without checking to see if the patient is actually low in serotonin. The patient might actually need to raise their dopamine level (through supplementation with L-tyrosine and phenylalanine) and avoid foods that are high in tryptophan. Dopamine and serotonin compete with one another for entry into the brain, and the more dopamine there is, the less serotonin will get to the brain. Dopamine is directly involved in feelings of reward, motivation, attention, memory, and libido – things that are typically messed up in people who are depressed. Ask your doctor for an amino acid profile and an organic acids test. These tests will help you check your serotonin and dopamine levels, without resorting to guesswork, and possibly worsening depression by eating the wrong foods or taking the wrong drugs/supplements. This is good info. I want to stress that too much serotonin can be harmful. Not everyone who is depressed has low serotonin. I was depressed for many, may years before a smart alternative doctor ordered some specialty tests that checked the levels of certain amino acids and their metabolites (by-products). My serotonin level was extremely high, and my dopamine/epinephrine levels were low. This was validated by several related results, including the ration of tryptophan to other amino acids that cross the blood-brain barrier.

Misguided psychiatrists freely prescribe SSRIs without checking to see if the patient is actually low in serotonin. The patient might actually need to raise their dopamine level (through supplementation with L-tyrosine and phenylalanine) and avoid foods that are high in tryptophan. Dopamine and serotonin compete with one another for entry into the brain, and the more dopamine there is, the less serotonin will get to the brain. Dopamine is directly involved in feelings of reward, motivation, attention, memory, and libido – things that are typically messed up in people who are depressed.

Ask your doctor for an amino acid profile and an organic acids test. These tests will help you check your serotonin and dopamine levels, without resorting to guesswork, and possibly worsening depression by eating the wrong foods or taking the wrong drugs/supplements.

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