Eating right has often been a sore spot for me. As a self-proclaimed foodie, I love to try new cuisines and really enjoy what I eat, but sometimes that leads to some bad decisions.
Beyond being bipolar, I am also a type II diabetic which often means food and I get into arguments. It is increasingly important for me to pick foods that better serve my diagnoses and don’t just feel good to eat.
As I was going down the rabbit hole of how nutrition affects me, I came across one article by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) that promotes a healthy diet to improve mood.
That got me thinking. I currently choose foods to meet a diabetic diet, but what if I also chose mood-boosting foods to support my bipolar lifestyle? And what would that look like?
Since I am not a registered dietitian, I started by checking with the National Institute of Health to see what they have to say. Surprisingly or not, the so-called Western diet is not good for us. Instead the Mediterranean diet was mentioned as a good alternative with green tea in particular noted for its negative association with depression. The main conclusion there is that what you eat may drastically impact how you feel.
Even NPR had a say in promoting research on the topic, noting how food impacts mood. A few of the tips from that article include making as much homemade as possible, avoiding sugar like the plague, and adding beans and lentils into your regular diet.
Many of the articles I read were before 2020, but I imagine the sentiment is even deeper to this day. Food heals, and the choices we make in our diets can either make or break our moods.
When I was first diagnosed with type II diabetes, my A1C was through the roof and my doctor immediately put me on insulin. I changed my diet drastically and a few years later was off insulin, maintaining a much better A1C, and feeling better than ever. Am I still fat? Sure, but I’m headed in a better direction.
Now that I see how much food can also heal my mood, I intend to continue down a better food journey toward a diet that heals both my gut and my mental health.
Care to join me?
Arishama
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