Guest guest Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hi there Do you think there is a chance that the non-vegan blips i've been having over the past few weeks is adding to my bad anxiety? I suffer with depression and anxiety anyway, but this past 10 days have been considerably worse.....and i have been eating allsorts of chocolate and really not enjoying it very much....which i realise is an emotional issue.....but could it be making my anxiety worse do you think? Just joined by the way...been vegan for nearly 2years and vegi before then. Living in Hertfordshire with my neurotic cat Oscar! Have a great day. Jo ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 I don't know if the dairy could do that as I'm a new vegan myself... I'll leave that one to the more experienced people to answer. But my first thought is that bingeing on chocolate means that you are eating a lot of processed sugar and that can easily give you empty energy sugar rushes, followed by a crash afterwards which can leave you feeling pretty low. I suffer from depression sometimes and I have definitely found that it's much worse if I binge on unhealthy, sugary foods. It puts me into a vicious circle where the more junk I eat, the more I crave it, because my body is trying to avoid the crash by filling up on more quick fix sugar before the crash comes, IYKWIM? When I'm sugared up I feel anxious and jittery, not to mention that chocolate has caffeine in it too. And if you've been vegan for 2 years you're probably not used to the non vegan chocolate overload so the effects might be even worse on you than for me? It's only when I force myself to avoid the junk completely, and instead start eating slow burning carbs like pasta and muesli, that I start to feel better and the cravings gradually go away. Hope you feel better and work out what the problem is soon! Opalline ________________________________ On Behalf Of purple33jo 15 September 2009 12:50 Can dairy make you anxious? Hi there Do you think there is a chance that the non-vegan blips i've been having over the past few weeks is adding to my bad anxiety? I suffer with depression and anxiety anyway, but this past 10 days have been considerably worse.....and i have been eating allsorts of chocolate and really not enjoying it very much....which i realise is an emotional issue.....but could it be making my anxiety worse do you think? Just joined by the way...been vegan for nearly 2years and vegi before then. Living in Hertfordshire with my neurotic cat Oscar! Have a great day. Jo ) .. <http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=6333311/grpspId=1705129295/m sgId=6691/stime=1253017203/nc1=1/nc2=2/nc3=3> " This e-mail is intended for the recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely upon this e-mail. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail. " " Recipients should note that all e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to monitoring and auditing. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hiya thanks for your reply What you say makes total sense, and if I'd thought about it some more I'm sure I'd have come to that conclusion too. I have in fact had several sugar lows this week.like real emergency ones where you think you're just gonna faint or barf. The chocolate attacks in the evening must be why I've had such bad anx in the mornings...it's kinda like a hangover I guess. I love being vegan, I just wish I could follow a healthy eating plan for more than 2 minutes. Really, my question should've been " Can non-vegan chocolate make you anxious? And the answer to that (in my case)is a massive caffeine fuelled YES!! Thanks again Jo On Behalf Of Underwood-Fowler Cindy 15 September 2009 14:20 RE: Can dairy make you anxious? I don't know if the dairy could do that as I'm a new vegan myself... I'll leave that one to the more experienced people to answer. But my first thought is that bingeing on chocolate means that you are eating a lot of processed sugar and that can easily give you empty energy sugar rushes, followed by a crash afterwards which can leave you feeling pretty low. I suffer from depression sometimes and I have definitely found that it's much worse if I binge on unhealthy, sugary foods. It puts me into a vicious circle where the more junk I eat, the more I crave it, because my body is trying to avoid the crash by filling up on more quick fix sugar before the crash comes, IYKWIM? When I'm sugared up I feel anxious and jittery, not to mention that chocolate has caffeine in it too. And if you've been vegan for 2 years you're probably not used to the non vegan chocolate overload so the effects might be even worse on you than for me? It's only when I force myself to avoid the junk completely, and instead start eating slow burning carbs like pasta and muesli, that I start to feel better and the cravings gradually go away. Hope you feel better and work out what the problem is soon! Opalline ________________________________ <%40> [ <%40> ] On Behalf Of purple33jo 15 September 2009 12:50 <%40> Can dairy make you anxious? Hi there Do you think there is a chance that the non-vegan blips i've been having over the past few weeks is adding to my bad anxiety? I suffer with depression and anxiety anyway, but this past 10 days have been considerably worse.....and i have been eating allsorts of chocolate and really not enjoying it very much....which i realise is an emotional issue.....but could it be making my anxiety worse do you think? Just joined by the way...been vegan for nearly 2years and vegi before then. Living in Hertfordshire with my neurotic cat Oscar! Have a great day. Jo ) .. <http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=6333311/grpspId=1705129295/m sgId=6691/stime=1253017203/nc1=1/nc2=2/nc3=3> " This e-mail is intended for the recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely upon this e-mail. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail. " " Recipients should note that all e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to monitoring and auditing. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2009 Report Share Posted September 16, 2009 I haven't actually looked yet myself, as I'm trying to avoid buying " special " vegan items from health shops in order to save money, but... surely there must be some sort of vegan friendly, low sugar chocolate or chocolate substitute (carob??) out there... maybe you can have your cake (or choc!) AND eat it... have a healthy eating plan, but with some vegan low sugar chocolate on the side? Also, someone once told me that if you crave chocolate, eat some dried dates. They are apparently very good at satisfying the chocolate craving but are much healthier and vegan too. Or would chocolate soya milk do? If you're worst in the morning then perhaps you should try eating plenty of carbohydrates in the evening, so that your blood sugar won't have dropped so low by morning? Also, have some vegan muesli or porridge as soon as you get up, throw in raisins and a glass of fruit juice on the side for natural sugar just to keep you going until the oats kick in. The oats will give you lots of slow burning energy which should start to work before the little bit of sugar from the raisins and juice wear off... so you won't get the crash. Also, I think I read something once that said oats are good to eat when you're depressed... I guess they have something in them that helps your mood? Opalline (who is only starting to learn about nutrition really so feel free to correct any of this if I'm wrong, experienced vegans!) ________________________________ On Behalf Of Jo Kay 15 September 2009 20:14 RE: Can dairy make you anxious? Hiya thanks for your reply What you say makes total sense, and if I'd thought about it some more I'm sure I'd have come to that conclusion too. I have in fact had several sugar lows this week.like real emergency ones where you think you're just gonna faint or barf. The chocolate attacks in the evening must be why I've had such bad anx in the mornings...it's kinda like a hangover I guess. I love being vegan, I just wish I could follow a healthy eating plan for more than 2 minutes. Really, my question should've been " Can non-vegan chocolate make you anxious? And the answer to that (in my case)is a massive caffeine fuelled YES!! Thanks again Jo .. <http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=6333311/grpspId=1705129295/m sgId=6693/stime=1253042365/nc1=3848641/nc2=5170417/nc3=5741395> " This e-mail is intended for the recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely upon this e-mail. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail. " " Recipients should note that all e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to monitoring and auditing. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2009 Report Share Posted September 16, 2009 Yes Low GI is definitely the best way to manage low sugar. There's plenty of delicious vegan chocolate out there, Green & Blacks do a lovely mint bar and a raisin/hazelnut bar and they are sooooooo much nicer than non-vegan chocolate..i guess my mood has just been dictating my diet lately. I do think that eating non-vegan chocolate makes you want more of it, the same with sugars, so I'm best keeping away from them anyway. I go through phases of having proper breakfasts and I know it really is the most important meal of the day and I have to maybe think of it as medicine. Not heard about oats helping with depression, so that's good to know. The problem really is having no self-discipline! I know enough about nutrition to know what's best for me but when I see cake, the child in me takes over!! Sometimes I'm just compelled to eat rubbish! And I don't think about the consequences, it's like a drug! But one that makes me feel ill. Well I'm going to have my breakfast now (at 11.45am.tut tut!).porridge oats, quinoa pops, dried apricots, dates, chopped banana, nuts and ground linseed and hempseed..got a little carton of rice milk to try too, as soy is apparently not good for an underactive thyroid of which I have. Have a good day, good to chat. Jo On Behalf Of Underwood-Fowler Cindy 16 September 2009 11:28 RE: Can dairy make you anxious? I haven't actually looked yet myself, as I'm trying to avoid buying " special " vegan items from health shops in order to save money, but... surely there must be some sort of vegan friendly, low sugar chocolate or chocolate substitute (carob??) out there... maybe you can have your cake (or choc!) AND eat it... have a healthy eating plan, but with some vegan low sugar chocolate on the side? Also, someone once told me that if you crave chocolate, eat some dried dates. They are apparently very good at satisfying the chocolate craving but are much healthier and vegan too. Or would chocolate soya milk do? If you're worst in the morning then perhaps you should try eating plenty of carbohydrates in the evening, so that your blood sugar won't have dropped so low by morning? Also, have some vegan muesli or porridge as soon as you get up, throw in raisins and a glass of fruit juice on the side for natural sugar just to keep you going until the oats kick in. The oats will give you lots of slow burning energy which should start to work before the little bit of sugar from the raisins and juice wear off... so you won't get the crash. Also, I think I read something once that said oats are good to eat when you're depressed... I guess they have something in them that helps your mood? Opalline (who is only starting to learn about nutrition really so feel free to correct any of this if I'm wrong, experienced vegans!) ________________________________ <%40> [ <%40> ] On Behalf Of Jo Kay 15 September 2009 20:14 <%40> RE: Can dairy make you anxious? Hiya thanks for your reply What you say makes total sense, and if I'd thought about it some more I'm sure I'd have come to that conclusion too. I have in fact had several sugar lows this week.like real emergency ones where you think you're just gonna faint or barf. The chocolate attacks in the evening must be why I've had such bad anx in the mornings...it's kinda like a hangover I guess. I love being vegan, I just wish I could follow a healthy eating plan for more than 2 minutes. Really, my question should've been " Can non-vegan chocolate make you anxious? And the answer to that (in my case)is a massive caffeine fuelled YES!! Thanks again Jo .. <http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=6333311/grpspId=1705129295/m sgId=6693/stime=1253042365/nc1=3848641/nc2=5170417/nc3=5741395> " This e-mail is intended for the recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely upon this e-mail. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail. " " Recipients should note that all e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to monitoring and auditing. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 I have the same cravings to eat junk, too.. I think it's like a withdrawal symptom, the same as if you give up smoking! I have noticed that the more often I give in, the more often I have the cravings... when I lived on take away food and cheese, I craved them all the time. I'd have pizza leftovers for breakfast, then by tea time I'd be thinking, I could murder another pizza! That's one of the reasons I decided to give up dairy... I figured since I was craving it so irrationally all the time, it was probably bad for me. But it's two weeks since I had any junk food now and I'm doing great. My self discipline is usually terrible - but this time, I've planned around the things I know will be hardest (like making sure I have a big breakfast so I won't get the mid morning munchies, and making sure I prepare a healthy snack in advance for me to eat as soon as I get home from work, so I won't be tempted to binge on cheese before dinner time. And it's really helped! I don't really crave the junk like I used to, and it's taken much less time than I thought it would (last time I went vegan it took months to get this far, I guess the difference is the more sensible way I'm approaching it this time). I know it's only been two weeks so it may yet go wrong - but so far, so good. Oh and one other thing I've found is really helping me, is this. I make sure that for dinner each day, I cook something really yummy (but healthy). I decide what it's going to be the night before, picking something that I really fancy, then I look forward to it all day long. Since I've planned it in advance I can make sure it's something that won't cost much but is still tasty. I use the nicest plates I can find, arrange the food nicely on the plate, add a garnish to make it look inviting, like a pinch of dried herbs, sesame seeds etc, so that it looks as delicious as possible and is a treat to eat. I even take a photo and put it on my food blog, so it feels like what I'm eating is really special even if it's just baked potato and beans! Looking forward to that one meal seems to take the focus off what I'm eating for the rest of the day, and I get my daily dose of indulgence so I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. Like last night... I had wholemeal penne pasta with alfredo sauce, made from silken tofu, soya milk, tahini, garlic, nutmeg, miso and a little chilli powder. It was soooo creamy and delicious, but also it was healthy and it cost next to nothing since I had most of the stuff in the cupboard anyway. And during the day, if I felt like eating some junk, I just told myself that I was getting a really nice dinner later so I shouldn't spoil it by eating rubbish now! How was the rice milk? I've tried a couple of brands now and I like them both Opalline ________________________________ On Behalf Of Jo Kay 16 September 2009 11:48 RE: Can dairy make you anxious? The problem really is having no self-discipline! I know enough about nutrition to know what's best for me but when I see cake, the child in me takes over!! Sometimes I'm just compelled to eat rubbish! And I don't think about the consequences, it's like a drug! But one that makes me feel ill. .. <http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=6333311/grpspId=1705129295/m sgId=6696/stime=1253098154/nc1=1/nc2=2/nc3=3> " This e-mail is intended for the recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely upon this e-mail. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail. " " Recipients should note that all e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to monitoring and auditing. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Vegan chocolate? Oooh, where to start! The most basic is a bar of dark chocolate from the supermarket, which is usually relatively cheap and, because it's not diluted by milk, goes a long way. Thus, because you need to eat less of it to satisfy the cocoa craving, you end up eating less sugar too. Plamil do a range of vegan sugarfree chocolate (as well as normal chocolate), sweetened with xylitol (which is as sweet as sugar, but doesn't affect the body in the same way and so no sugar high/crash). Website is www.plamilfoods.co.uk to give you an idea; obviously they're a bit expensive to eat all the time but great as an occasional treat. I've found I can make a bar last a few days, and they're also good if you're fed up with dark chocolate - they do a " milk " version, as well as things like mint and orange. As for oats, they contain B vitamins which support the nervous system, and magnesium which helps you relax. That's why they're quite good for stress and depression. Bananas are also beneficial, and they're high in potassium. Then again, eating badly can make almost any condition worse just as eating healthily can improve things, so the more unprocessed food and fruit etc you eat, the better! , " Underwood-Fowler Cindy " <CDUFOWLER wrote: > > I haven't actually looked yet myself, as I'm trying to avoid buying > " special " vegan items from health shops in order to save money, but... > surely there must be some sort of vegan friendly, low sugar chocolate or > chocolate substitute (carob??) out there... > .... Also, I think I read something once > that said oats are good to eat when you're depressed... I guess they > have something in them that helps your mood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Sounds delicious... might have to stock up on a few of those next time I'm at the health store, just for emergency chocolate cravings! I'm not keen on dark chocolate so it's nice knowing there is a milk type version too. Thanks Opalline ________________________________ On Behalf Of gothcatz 17 September 2009 20:15 Re: Can dairy make you anxious? Plamil do a range of vegan sugarfree chocolate (as well as normal chocolate), sweetened with xylitol (which is as sweet as sugar, but doesn't affect the body in the same way and so no sugar high/crash). Website is www.plamilfoods.co.uk to give you an idea; obviously they're a bit expensive to eat all the time but great as an occasional treat. I've found I can make a bar last a few days, and they're also good if you're fed up with dark chocolate - they do a " milk " version, as well as things like mint and orange. .. <http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=6333311/grpspId=1705129295/m sgId=6706/stime=1253214894/nc1=3848644/nc2=4025321/nc3=5733764> " This e-mail is intended for the recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely upon this e-mail. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail. " " Recipients should note that all e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to monitoring and auditing. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2009 Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 I don’t like dark chocolate either unless it has nuts or fruit in. Green & Blacks do a nice raisin and hazelnut bar but I only seem to be able to buy it in London for some reason. The best dark chocolate I have found, that is wonderfully vegan, is horrendously overpriced but incredibly delicious to the max. It is made by La Maison Du Chocolat and they have a shop/café (but don’t have soy milk!) just near Piccadilly. I bought 150g of their dark bar for a friend and it cost me £10.50!!! Shocking I know, but for the occasional treat it really is a must. It has nuts and fruit in it and just has the most amazing taste. I’m sure they’ll let you have a little taster if you smile sweetly. Jo On Behalf Of Underwood-Fowler Cindy 21 September 2009 15:41 RE: Re: Can dairy make you anxious? Sounds delicious... might have to stock up on a few of those next time I'm at the health store, just for emergency chocolate cravings! I'm not keen on dark chocolate so it's nice knowing there is a milk type version too. Thanks Opalline ________________________________ <%40> [ <%40> ] On Behalf Of gothcatz 17 September 2009 20:15 <%40> Re: Can dairy make you anxious? Plamil do a range of vegan sugarfree chocolate (as well as normal chocolate), sweetened with xylitol (which is as sweet as sugar, but doesn't affect the body in the same way and so no sugar high/crash). Website is www.plamilfoods.co.uk to give you an idea; obviously they're a bit expensive to eat all the time but great as an occasional treat. I've found I can make a bar last a few days, and they're also good if you're fed up with dark chocolate - they do a " milk " version, as well as things like mint and orange. .. <http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=6333311/grpspId=1705129295/m sgId=6706/stime=1253214894/nc1=3848644/nc2=4025321/nc3=5733764> " This e-mail is intended for the recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely upon this e-mail. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail. " " Recipients should note that all e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to monitoring and auditing. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2009 Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 £10.50 for a bar of chocolate??? It must have gold in it or something!! LOL I bet it tastes amazing. A great idea for a super luxury treat ;-) Opalline ________________________________ On Behalf Of Jo Kay 23 September 2009 00:49 RE: Re: Can dairy make you anxious? I don't like dark chocolate either unless it has nuts or fruit in. Green & Blacks do a nice raisin and hazelnut bar but I only seem to be able to buy it in London for some reason. The best dark chocolate I have found, that is wonderfully vegan, is horrendously overpriced but incredibly delicious to the max. It is made by La Maison Du Chocolat and they have a shop/café (but don't have soy milk!) just near Piccadilly. I bought 150g of their dark bar for a friend and it cost me £10.50!!! Shocking I know, but for the occasional treat it really is a must. It has nuts and fruit in it and just has the most amazing taste. I'm sure they'll let you have a little taster if you smile sweetly. Jo .. <http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=6333311/grpspId=1705129295/msgId=671\ 0/stime=1253663368/nc1=1/nc2=2/nc3=3> " This e-mail is intended for the recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print, or rely upon this e-mail. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this e-mail, please notify the author by replying to this e-mail. " " Recipients should note that all e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to monitoring and auditing. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.