Carbless Happiness

Coma: it is an accurate description. I can remember when it happened, but I can't remember much of the last ten days while I fed my body an steady diet of sweet, simple carbs. It happens, and then I'm back where I started. It's like Chutes and Ladders and that slide down the ladder is a bitch. It all begins with the decision to put something before physical well being. But, I can say, I wasn't as non-emotional as I had been while I pursued a low carb diet. The connection seems like it must be a product of my mind. However, I read this the other day which made me wonder if our journey for happiness without carbs, really is a difficult one. Here's a quote from the webpage:

"The MIT researchers found that the brain only seemed to make serotonin after a person ate carbohydrates.[199] By starving the brain of this essential mood elevator, the researchers fear that the Atkins Diet may make people restless, irritable or depressed. They noted that women, people under stress, and those taking anti-depressants might be most at risk.[200]"

Now, scientific research that comes to a conclusion that states "seems to make", is suspect to me to make any conclusive arguments. Although, from my personal experience, I would say my mood seems to support the conclusion that serotonin levels are affected by Carbohydrates. However, as the research states, "seems" is the operative word. I know that my sertotonin levels also seem to be affected by how I perceive myself. In other words, I have been on the Atkins diet and lost lots of weight, and felt quite wonderful. I agree it isn't wise to simply load up on fats, nor to stay on Atkins for a prolonged period of time. However, a half gallon of ice cream, no matter what other food you are eating, is not good for you.

So, it's back to eating better, keeping my carb intake and calorie intake low, along with exercising...how depressing. :)