by Margaret Paul, Ph.D.
In our current society, there are many factors that can cause or contribute
to anxiety and depression. Certainly money and work problems, relationship and
family issues, as well as illness and loss of loved ones are major contributors
to anxiety and depression. Also, how we feel about ourselves and treat ourselves
contribute greatly to how we feel. Even in the worst of times, if we are
treating ourselves with compassion instead of self-judgment, we may be able to
manage big challenges without anxiety or depression. In addition, being able to
turn to an inner source of spiritual guidance and comfort is vital to weathering
the hard times.
Food is another major factor that greatly affects how we feel. Most people
don't really notice that what they put into their bodies affects how they feel.
They might know that if they "sugar out" they may crash emotionally, or if they
drink too much they will feel hung over, but they are often unaware of how other
foods may be creating anxiety and depression.
In the over 35 years that I've been a counselor, I have frequently
encountered individuals whose anxiety and depression completely cleared up by
tuning into how food was affecting them.
For example, Marnie discovered that dairy, wheat and sugar kept her up at
night. She would wake up at around 3:00 in the morning with intense anxiety, and
would be tired and depressed the next day. By experimenting around and cutting
out different foods, she discovered that she slept fine when she stopped eating
dairy, wheat and sugar. All her nighttime anxiety vanished and she was no longer
tired and depressed.
Joel discovered that his sleeplessness and resulting depression was a direct
result of caffeine from coffee, tea, chocolate and soft drinks. He had not
realized how much caffeine he was actually consuming until I suggested that he
cut out all caffeine and see what happened to his sleep. After a week of
headaches from caffeine withdrawal, he was sleeping soundly for the first time
in years and no longer felt depressed.
Adrienne discovered that her feelings of anxiety and depression, that had
been with her most of her life, disappeared after she started eating only
organic foods. Her system was so sensitive to the pesticides and food additives
in non-organic food that she could not eat them without feeling anxious and
depressed.
Alex, who periodically struggled with depression, inadvertently discovered
that drinking raw milk from an organic dairy had a completely different effect
on him than pasteurized milk. He was visiting Los Angeles and went into a health
food store where he discovered that he could buy raw dairy products (which are
outlawed in most other states). He found that the raw milk gave him more energy
and elevated his mood. He also found that, while he was lactose intolerant with
pasteurized milk, he had no problems with raw milk. Now he has his raw milk,
cheese, and butter shipped frozen to Wyoming, and no longer struggles with
depression.
Over and over again my clients, who have chosen to tune into how food was
affecting them, have discovered how much their feelings were being affected by
food. Many of my clients have learned that even a little sugar brings them down.
Sugar consumes so many vital nutrients as the body attempts to process it that
it can actually be considered a poison. How many people really take "Sugar
Blues" seriously?
A hundred years ago, when people naturally ate non-processed and organically
grown food, they were getting all the nutrients they needed. Now, most fruits,
vegetables and grains are being grown on devitalized soil and over-processed on
top of it. Cows and sheep that were once grass fed are being fed
pesticide-sprayed grains and given hormones to fatten them up. As a result, much
of our food not only contains little nutrients, but has many toxins as well.
Without the vitamins, minerals, and many other factors that natural, organic and
grass-fed food contains, many people suffer deficiencies that can cause anxiety
and depression, as well a many other illnesses.
I recently found out that the fat of raw organic dairy products, especially
butter, contains natural anti-inflammatory nutrients. I wonder if the huge rise
in arthritis and other inflammatory conditions is related to the pasteurizing of
milk. Any inflammatory condition can certainly contribute to anxiety and
depression.
Food is certainly a major factor in the rise of anxiety, depression and
illness. Only you can do something about this by learning how you are being
affected by the foods you eat.
About The Author
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books,
including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" and "Healing Your
Aloneness." She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process.
Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or
mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com.
Phone Sessions Available.
