Bipolar, Schizophrenia, and Libido: Based on the book "This is Your Brain on Food"
Bipolar and Schizophrenia:
As we already know, the ongoing, low-grade inflammation in your body is often related to disruptions to your gut. When this widespread inflammation throughout the body occurs, the marker C-reactive protein increases. When BD patients are in either depressed or manic states, we also see an increase in C-reactive protein, an indicator that gut inflammation may also be associated with mood swings. We also see symptoms of leaky gut associated with BD. In BD patients, we can see gut chemicals in the blood by tracking a part of the gut-bacteria cell membrane called lipopolysaccharide. In healthy individuals lipopolysaccharide stays confined to the gut, but in BD patients, it leaks out, stimulating inflammation and promoting proinflammatory cytokines, which lead to greater depression and mood symptoms. Once again, we see the damaging effect of the Western diet. Eating bad fats, refined carbohydrates, sugar, and meat with very few vegetables is destructive to the bipolar brain. While the Mediterranean eating pattern is a good alternative to the Western diet, there’s another diet that has shown even more promise for treating BD. Preliminary data and case histories indicate that the ketogenic diet— which is high fat and low carbohydrate—has mood-stabilizing effects. In other words, patients with BD are more likely to have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Whether medicated or unmedicated, people with schizophrenia have less diversity of gut bacteria, and they even have some unique bacteria that aren’t found in healthy guts. As we saw with BD, SCZ patients have more gut problems than the general population. They have more inflammation, food intolerances, and defects of the gut wall leading to leaky gut. One postmortem study of gastrointestinal inflammation associated with SCZ in eighty-two individuals found that 50 percent had gastritis, 88 percent had enteritis, and 92 percent had colitis, all signs of serious gut inflammation.
BIPOLAR DISORDER CHEAT SHEET The keto diet has been shown to be a good whole-diet approach for patients with bipolar disorder. Foods to Embrace: Omega-3 fatty acids: Fish, especially fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines. N-acetylcysteine: While NAC itself must be taken as a supplement, cysteine-rich foods can also be effective. Try meat, grains, eggs, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, broccoli, red pepper, and onion. Vitamin B9 (folate). Minerals: Magnesium, zinc. Foods to Avoid: The components of the Western diet: Foods high in bad fats (red meat, fried foods) and high-glycemic-index carbs (white bread, white rice, potatoes, pasta, and anything else made from refined flour). Caffeine: Keep caffeine consumption under 400 mg/day. Sodium: For patients treated with lithium, it’s important to keep sodium levels constant. Gluten: If you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, avoid all wheat products, such as bread, pizza, pasta, and many alcoholic drinks. Alcohol: BD patients should totally abstain from or heavily restrict alcohol use. Complications with medicine: Grapefruit juice and foods containing tyramine (aged cheese, aged or cured meats, fava beans, Marmite, sauerkraut, soy sauce, and tap beer) can interfere with some medications prescribed for BD.
SCHIZOPHRENIA CHEAT SHEET Foods to Embrace: Omega-3 fatty acids: Fish, especially fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines. N-acetylcysteine (NAC): While NAC itself must be taken as a supplement, cysteine-rich foods can also be effective. Try meat, grains, eggs, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, broccoli, red pepper, and onion. Alpha-lipoic acid: Spinach, broccoli, tomato, and meats, especially organ meats like heart, kidney, and liver. L-theanine: Green, black, and oolong tea. Melatonin: Eggs, fish, milk, rice, barley and rolled oats, grapes, pomegranates, walnuts, sunflower seeds, mustard seeds, flaxseeds, asparagus, broccoli, and cucumber. Vitamins B9, B12, and C. Foods to Avoid: The components of the Western diet: Foods high in bad fats (red meat, fried foods) and high-glycemic index carbs (white bread, white rice, potatoes, pasta, and anything else made from refined flour). Gluten: If you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, avoid all wheat products, such as bread, pizza, pasta, and many alcoholic drinks. Sugar: Baked goods, candy, soda, or anything sweetened with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Alcohol: SCZ patients should try to abstain from or heavily restrict alcohol use.
Libido:
As for estrogen, in postmenopausal women, it appears that gut microbiota play a key role in regulating levels of estrogen circulating in the blood. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a chemical with many applications, most notably in certain kinds of nonstick cookware and food packaging. Studies have suggested the potential of PFOA and similar chemicals to disrupt the endocrine system, increasing the risk of adverse health effects.
LIBIDO CHEAT SHEET Foods to Embrace: Foods that boost oxytocin: Dark chocolate, magnesium, and essential amino acids (found in meat, grains, milk, dairy, and, to a lesser degree, vegetables and eggs). Coffee: Keep total caffeine consumption under 400 mg/day. Red wine: No more than 1 glass/day. Nuts: Pistachios, almonds, and walnuts. Apples. Pomegranate juice. Onions. Avocados. Herbs and spices: Saffron, fenugreek. Foods and Compounds to Avoid: The components of the Western diet: Foods high in bad fats (red meat, fried foods) and high-glycemic-index carbs (white bread, white rice, potatoes, pasta, and anything else made from refined flour). Alcohol: For men, stay under 14 drinks per week and have no more than 4 drinks in any single day. For women, stay under 7 drinks per week and have no more than 3 drinks in any single day. Sugar: Baked goods, candy, soda, or anything sweetened with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Licorice: Avoid candies and other products that contain licorice extract. PFOA: Beware of nonstick cookware and food packaging that contains PFOA. Use stainless steel or cast-iron cookware, eat PFOA-free microwave popcorn, and use unbleached paper snack bags.
Next Week is the final discussion of this series, what do I eat?
