depression caused by stopping the Zone?

"Moosh" wrote in message
...
On 25 Mar 2004 11:52:00 -0800, (heather) posted:

What has PMS to do with depression? (I ask this as a non-woman

Glad to know you have come to terms with it!
Too often the surgery is unsatisfactory. :-}

MikeV

"tcomeau" wrote in message
om...
(heather) wrote in message
. com...
I am a 25-year-old woman. I started the Zone diet at the beginning of
December 2003 and followed it for two months. After successfully
losing twelve pounds (I was hoping to lose about 10 pounds), I stopped
the diet at the beginning of February. Since then I have had horrible
PMS for two cycles. I never experienced PMS symptoms (both physical
and emotional) to this extent before I went on the diet. I am also
wondering if I may be slightly depressed in general. Has anyone else
had problems when stopping the Zone?

I should note that I am hypothyroid, although my TSH levels have been
successfully maintained for the past 5 years.

The problem may be in the diet you were on before you went on the zone
diet. By that I mean a diet high in refined carbs.

The human body needs b vitamins and folate to metabolize sugars and
carbs in general. Foods that contain sugars and carbs usually come
with these vitamins. Refined carbs don't. When you metabolize these
carbs, the body has to get these vitamins from the existing vitamin
stores in your body. Eventually you will become depleted of these
vitamins.

What does this have to do with depression?

Tryptophan and niacin are serotonin precursors. They get converted
into serotonin in the body. But in the absense of the b vitamins and
folate, the body is unable to convert them to serotonin. Thus you
become depleted of serotonin.

It has been shown that carbs gives you a short burst of serotonin,
which may explain the addictions people feel towards refined carbs. It
may also explain how the depression is more pronounced when you
restrict carbs.

Bottom line.... take a good b vitamin complex stress formula. Over a
couple of weeks you should feel the difference. Stay on the zone too
if you are so inclined. And most importantly, cut out refined carbs.
TC

Nice info...but a horrible conclusion...if the Zone diet is low in
carbohyrdates, she should not stay on it...yes, cut out refined carbs but,
no, do not have a diet low in all carbs...as you indicated, this will only
make her more depressed.

D

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 01:02:21 -0600, "minerva nine"
posted:


"Moosh" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 23:31:21 -0600, "minerva nine"
posted:

"Patricia Heil" wrote in message
...


I'm not aware that many people here are doing it. What most people
here seem to realize is that maintaining proper weight requires a
lifelong program of exercise and healthy eating.


HahahahahahahahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! !!

Is common senseTHAT funny?

I'm laughing at the assertion that common sense is regularly dispensed on
this newsgroup.

Fair enough, that's funny alright

"Dave Hannes" wrote in message news:cBY9c.34229

snip


The problem may be in the diet you were on before you went on the zone
diet. By that I mean a diet high in refined carbs.

The human body needs b vitamins and folate to metabolize sugars and
carbs in general. Foods that contain sugars and carbs usually come
with these vitamins. Refined carbs don't. When you metabolize these
carbs, the body has to get these vitamins from the existing vitamin
stores in your body. Eventually you will become depleted of these
vitamins.

What does this have to do with depression?

Tryptophan and niacin are serotonin precursors. They get converted
into serotonin in the body. But in the absense of the b vitamins and
folate, the body is unable to convert them to serotonin. Thus you
become depleted of serotonin.

It has been shown that carbs gives you a short burst of serotonin,
which may explain the addictions people feel towards refined carbs. It
may also explain how the depression is more pronounced when you
restrict carbs.

Bottom line.... take a good b vitamin complex stress formula. Over a
couple of weeks you should feel the difference. Stay on the zone too
if you are so inclined. And most importantly, cut out refined carbs.
TC

Nice info...but a horrible conclusion...if the Zone diet is low in
carbohyrdates, she should not stay on it...yes, cut out refined carbs but,
no, do not have a diet low in all carbs...as you indicated, this will only
make her more depressed.

D

No one has ever suggested a diet low in all carbs. No one. Not even
the infamous Atkins induction phase.

You are making some strange and erroneous assumptions about The Zone
and low-carb diets in general. You may want to actually read one of
the low-carb books.

The basic foundation of a low carb diet is to cut *refined* and
high-GI-load carbs. People on low-carb diets usually end up eating
more of the unrefined carbs because when you cut the refined and
high-GI-load carbs, it leaves you with plenty of unrefined carbs to
eat.

I've yet to see a low-carb advocate even suggest that you cut good
wholefood unrefined carbs. Except for cutting out a few high starch
tubers and high-GI fruits. And that still leaves a huge selection of
healthy, unrefined, wholefood carbs.

TC

"tcomeau" wrote in message
om...
"Dave Hannes" wrote in message
news:cBY9c.34229

Bottom line.... take a good b vitamin complex stress formula. Over a
couple of weeks you should feel the difference. Stay on the zone too
if you are so inclined. And most importantly, cut out refined carbs.
TC

Nice info...but a horrible conclusion...if the Zone diet is low in
carbohyrdates, she should not stay on it...yes, cut out refined carbs
but,
no, do not have a diet low in all carbs...as you indicated, this will
only
make her more depressed.

D

No one has ever suggested a diet low in all carbs. No one. Not even
the infamous Atkins induction phase.

You are making some strange and erroneous assumptions about The Zone
and low-carb diets in general. You may want to actually read one of
the low-carb books.

Let me clarify...IF the Zone diet is low in carbohydrates AND she is seeing
an increase in depressive symptoms since being on it, then she should get
away from the diet, at least for breakfast, when carbs are necessary for
people with depression.

I have no desire to read any low-carb books, as they will do me little
good...in my case, carbs help my mood...and I'd rather be happier and
overweight than skinny and depressed.

The basic foundation of a low carb diet is to cut *refined* and
high-GI-load carbs. People on low-carb diets usually end up eating
more of the unrefined carbs because when you cut the refined and
high-GI-load carbs, it leaves you with plenty of unrefined carbs to
eat.

I think you are saying that she should stick with starches vs. sugars for
her carb fix, which I agree with it.

I've yet to see a low-carb advocate even suggest that you cut good
wholefood unrefined carbs. Except for cutting out a few high starch
tubers and high-GI fruits. And that still leaves a huge selection of
healthy, unrefined, wholefood carbs.

Okay...my bad.

D

On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 19:31:50 +0000, Dave Hannes wrote:

Let me clarify...IF the Zone diet is low in carbohydrates AND she is
seeing an increase in depressive symptoms since being on it, then she
should get away from the diet, at least for breakfast, when carbs are
necessary for people with depression.

I have no desire to read any low-carb books, as they will do me little
good...in my case, carbs help my mood...and I'd rather be happier and
overweight than skinny and depressed.

As a long time follower (not a great word to use since the low-carb thing
seems like it's becomming a cult these days) who's done quite a bit of
research into the physical effects of the low-carb diet I'd have to say
that anyone experiencing negative mood/temperment changes on a low-carb
diet is most likely someone that isn't going to benefit from the diet in
the first place.

Unlike Dr. what'shisname that "invented" the Zone diet (which is nothing
more than a slightly modified Atkins diet), Atkins actually did research
into the physical and mental effects of the diet. Atkins research clearly
identifies three types of people: one set that will greatly benefit from
the diet, one set that will be mildly helped (about as much as any other
diet), an one set (the majority of people) that won't be helped and may
have negative effects from the diet.

I fall into the first set of folks and have had nothing but positive
experiences with low carbs. My head is never clearer and I feel more
stable than usual when I'm avoiding carbs.

If it doesn't work for you, you shouldn't do it.

--
i.m.
The USA Patriot Act is the most unpatriotic act in American history.

Ivan Marsh wrote:

Unlike Dr. what'shisname that "invented" the Zone diet (which is nothing
more than a slightly modified Atkins diet)

Be nice. Dr Sears certainly did plenty of work to come up with The Zone.
it works for enough people to have its fans.

Atkins actually did research
into the physical and mental effects of the diet. Atkins research clearly
identifies three types of people: one set that will greatly benefit from
the diet, one set that will be mildly helped (about as much as any other
diet), an one set (the majority of people) that won't be helped and may
have negative effects from the diet.

In his last years, Dr A abandoned that sensible stance. In the 2002
edition of the book he wrotes that Atkins should work for everyone.
Right, sure thing doc. I'm a big Atkins fan but not *that* big a fan.
No plan works for everyone.

Then again, I've seen people fail to lose on Atkins but the only ones
I've ever heard of who had anything negative happen were folks who
failed to follow the directions. Following the directions for months
without losing is frustrating but not harmfull and it's the worst that
happens to folks who do follow the directions.

On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 10:19:53 -0800, Doug Freyburger wrote:

Then again, I've seen people fail to lose on Atkins but the only ones I've
ever heard of who had anything negative happen were folks who failed to
follow the directions. Following the directions for months without losing
is frustrating but not harmfull and it's the worst that happens to folks
who do follow the directions.

True... most folks seem to think "Just don't eat carbs" is the whole thing.

--
i.m.
The USA Patriot Act is the most unpatriotic act in American history.

On Sun, 28 Mar 2004 16:35:44 GMT, "Mike V"
posted:


"Moosh" wrote in message
.. .
On 25 Mar 2004 11:52:00 -0800, (heather) posted:

What has PMS to do with depression? (I ask this as a non-woman

Glad to know you have come to terms with it!
Too often the surgery is unsatisfactory. :-}

MikeV



Yep, I've been happy with it for 60 years.... You?

"Ivan Marsh" wrote in message ...
On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 10:19:53 -0800, Doug Freyburger wrote:

Then again, I've seen people fail to lose on Atkins but the only ones I've
ever heard of who had anything negative happen were folks who failed to
follow the directions. Following the directions for months without losing
is frustrating but not harmfull and it's the worst that happens to folks
who do follow the directions.

True... most folks seem to think "Just don't eat carbs" is the whole thing.

Actually, all humans have the same metabolic system. With the
exception of those with specific metabolic disorders which accounts
for less than 5% of the population. Any weight management program that
is based on real science and the true function of human metabolism
will work for the 95% or so of metabolically normal people. If the
low-carb paradigm is correct, it will work in all of the 95% of people
who have a normal metabolic system. This jibes well with the bell
curve concept to almost the third standard deviation.

If the "just don't eat any refined and high-GI carbs" folks are, in
fact, correct, then it will apply to the 95% plus.

TC