What Foods Help in Treating Bipolar Disorder

Although bipolar disorder does not require a specific diet, there are certain foods the bipolar patient should avoid because they may interact with bipolar medications or increase the severity of mood swings associated with the disorder. Also, certain bipolar medications increase the risk for weight gain, so it is important to make wise food choices to maintain a healthy weight.

Background

• Bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder characterized by dramatic mood swings. These mood swings can range from major depression to extreme mania. While one bipolar patient may experience mood swings that come on gradually, others will have mood swings that come on quite suddenly, occurring within minutes of each other. Bipolar disorder also causes a variety of other mental problems, including distortions in perception, disturbances in thinking and severe impairment in social functioning.

General Diet

• It is important for people suffering from bipolar disorder to maintain a well-balanced and nutritious diet. The bipolar patient should avoid eating red meats, simple carbohydrates, and foods high in saturated fats and trans fats; these foods are commonly associated with an increased risk for obesity. The bipolar patient instead should focus on eating foods rich in nutrients and vitamins. Eat lean meats, fish, eggs and low-fat dairy products.

  WebMD and the American Heart Association recommend fish oil as extremely important for the bipolar patient. The bipolar diet should consist of fatty fish at least two times per week; choose a fish such as albacore tuna, salmon, trout, herring or mackerel. The bipolar patient also should attempt to eat at least three to four servings each of fresh fruits and vegetables, as these provide helpful antioxidants. For snacks, the bipolar patient can eat legumes, nuts and seeds. These foods are not only easy to eat, but also high in nutrients.

Foods to Avoid

• WebMD recommends that certain substances should be eliminated from the bipolar diet. Most important among them is caffeine. Although the bipolar patient may be tempted to use caffeine to boost low moods, it often causes negative effects. It can disrupt sleep patterns and reduce the sedative effects of medications. Additionally, the bipolar diet should avoid high-fat foods because these may delay the time it takes for medications to take effect.

  If the bipolar patient is taking MAO inhibitors, a type of antidepressant, it is extremely important to avoid certain foods containing tyramine. Eating these foods may result in diarrhea, headache, high or low blood pressure and severe hypertension. Foods high in tyramine include: sour cream, yogurt, fermented cheeses, caviar, fermented sausage, liver, pickled herring, salted fish, eggplant, lima beans, sauerkraut, soy products, snow peas, avocado, raisins, figs, raspberries, red plums and bananas. Your physician should be able to provide you with a list of additional foods to avoid if you are taking these medications.