Bipolar disorder is an uncomfortable situation to be in and food triggers can make it worse. Know the do’s and don’ts of managing your diet when it comes to the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is characterised by sudden mood swings which are quite dramatic. Since the food we eat also has a bearing on how we react, impact on bipolar disorder is evident. If you suffer from this condition, it is an imperative that you be aware of the types of food that can trigger the condition.
Foods that can trigger bipolar disorder
- Saturated fats and trans fat.
- Diet rich in red meats.
- Simple carbohydrates.
- Foods that increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart diseases.
- Caffeinated drinks.
- Excess of salt.
- Foods that interact and interfere with the curative function of a particular medication for bipolar disorder.
- Natural dietary supplements that can interact with drugs and have an adverse impact.
- If you are taking antidepressants that contain Nardil and Parnate, avoid foods that contain tyramine such as bananas, champagne, liver, fermented cheese, soy sauce, liver and some varieties of wines such as Chianti.
- Antidepressants such as anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants have instruction written on them warning the users about the ill-effects if alcohol is consumed when taking them. In fact alcohol is the major trigger of depressive episode and it can aggravate bipolar disorder.
- Even if you want to have something as innocuous as grapefruit, do so only after the advice of your doctor. This is because this fruit can increase the blood levels of some bipolar medications such as those that contain benzodiazepines. If you take grapefruit in this case, the toxicity can rise to an alarming level.
You need to get expert instruction on managing your food intake along with the bipolar medications. Before even beginning to take the medications, you should be aware of the do’s and don’ts when it comes to managing your diet. Some bipolar drugs can be taken with food while some necessitate that they are taken without food.
Update yourself on the best way for treating yourself by asking the pharmacist or doctor as they are informed about the latest developments. You should be aware of not only the foods that need to be avoided but also about how to manage the diet so that the benefit of the drugs is the maximum.
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