Larry King Thursday Night

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2003
Larry King Thursday Night
4
Fri, 04-22-2005 - 11:19am

Sorry -- I posted this under the wrong title :)


Did anyone happen to see Larry King Live last night? He had a "forum" on Depression and Bipolar disorder. His celebrity panel included Linda Dano, Margot Kidder, Tanya Tucker and Chad Allen. One thing that surprised me is that NONE of these people are on medications right now. Some have been on medications at one time or another, but right now they are not. Apparently they are altering their diet with amino acids, vitamins, etc. Has anyone heard of this before? I know you can't always take a pill for everything, but can altering your diet "cure" you?


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Fri, 04-22-2005 - 11:47am
I really don't think so but I have no medical proof to stand by me on that. I just can't see changing my diet helping me at all. Eating healthy though is good for everyone, but I just don't trust things like that. But...if it is true and we all could be drug free and stable I say HECK YES.
Carla
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2003
Fri, 04-22-2005 - 11:50am
I know -- I thought it was really odd. Margot Kidder was talking about how they found her in LA after she "flipped out" (her words) and was living with homeless people, and thinking that the CIA was after her. Now she's off all medication and taking vitamins. I personally don't see how this could possibly work but would definitely be interested if it would.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Fri, 04-22-2005 - 12:02pm

Cheri:

While some vitamens and suppliments WILL help minimize your moods/symptoms, they cannot cure you. I currently take a fish oil Omega-3 suppliment every day. My pdoc advised me that has been shown to help with mood swings (also with menstrual issues, food cravings, etc). Flaxseed oil is another awesome one, if not even better then fish oil.

I know ADD/ADHD (which sometimes shares symptoms with BP) can be controlled to an extent with diet alone. My daughter is completely med-free for her ADD/ADHD but we control it through her diet. My pediatrician explained that over 85% of kids with ADD/ADHD have been also shown to have hypoglycemia. Many drs believe that they are related. It is AMAZING the difference her diet can make - my dad never believed me until she was with him for a week and was doing her famous "Buzzy the Hummingbird" impression (aka bouncing off the walls with energy). I asked what she had been eating (foods with a lot of simple sugars), advised him to feed her more proteins (we do a LOT of cheese snacks), and he called me the next day STUNNED in the difference in her.

Hope that helps!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2003
Fri, 04-22-2005 - 12:06pm
My son also does the buzzy the hummingbird thing -lol. We definitely have to limit his chocolate and caffeine intake. When he was around 3, he had some Hawaiian Punch at a party and literally ran circles around the living room for 4 hours. It was exhausting to watch him :)