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Noticing Effects Of Superfoods On Ptsd

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Powder

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Have you tried any superfoods and noted their effects on you?

I have tried:

Pure Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice (fresh in Florida, USA)

Bigelow Green Tea

Chia Seeds, added to homemade muffin or cake batters


And have noticed how dramatically they have an effect on my functioning and mood.

I am a very sensitive person, as my Doctors and LMP (Massage therapist) have pointed out. I can get allergic to things easily.

So I do not feel well on any long-term Rx program. My Dr. has suggested this.

I find that certain super-foods help me feel a great sense of healing and support.

These also lower Blood Pressure, help with sleep, and stabilize body weight, which my PTSD and stress seems to raise.

For example, Chia seeds contain “tryptophan,” which helps the body in producing a very necessary neurotransmitter called “serotonin” (source: Dead Link Removed)

Many people use Chia seeds, soaked in water first, in recipes for a night snack to help them sleep and wake up ready to have a good poop. While this sounds hilarious, who doesn't feel better after a good night of sleep and no trouble in the bathroom the next day?

And, I naturally started craving chia baked into a spice cake each night. I put very little sugar in. I didn't think about the health benefits much. But I did notice some sleep improvement. I am guessing I would have to try Chia for a couple of weeks to build up a pattern of improved sleep. So I will try this and see how it goes.

I have PMS. During PMS, I get very hungry at night and gain weight. Also, I have started having heart racing and hot flashes, too. Yay! :eek: I hate the racing heart because it mimics a panic attack. So I modified a cake recipe to be healthy. It contains chia seeds. It's a dessert for us, which my husband loves. So I was making it primarily for him.

But I noticed that I did well with just one piece of it for my evening snack! I had a glass a milk with it, and the fiber and protein seemed to tide me over.

I didn't realize it, but I slept better after one small piece of this cake than with Melatonin supplements without the weird dream side effects.

Also, after a few nights of this regime, sex felt physically amazing, even during a time when it shouldn't and on a Friday night when I was really tired. Orgasm was so much nicer.

That slice of cake gave me a source of natural energy for sex that was better than I have felt in years. Normally, I'd have to have caffeine for that, and then I'm left quite edgy.

I felt 18 again and no anxiety during sex either, which caffeine does.

Then, I was able to fall asleep really well. Not many substances can help you feel that well in sex, sleep, and waking without any negatives.

Both Grapefruit and Chia lower blood pressure and Chia contains high Omega 3 fatty acids, and this is a blood thinner.

Many Rx blood pressure meds are being used off label for PTSD, such as Catapress (Clonidine) and Soroquel.

So why not save money and get the health benefits from super foods instead of reaching for a pill, for those who do not like taking pills and feel less good on them? I feel like they slowly leech my body of vitality. I feel less alive on any pill.

With superfoods, their are fringe benefits of feeling more alive, more creative, and more energized. Better sex life, not worse, and better sleep are definite boons. Preventing Gastrointestinal, heart, diabetic, and cancer diseases is worth considering as well.

I also used taking daily grapefruit to taper off Xanex without side effects. I was amazed that I didn't have the harsh side effects. The natural superfood protected my body from the shock of withdrawal.

I am a believer that finding your power foods can be helpful in PTSD to support a more normal and healthy body, but you have to actually like consuming the foods, which some do not. Nor can you use them if you have certain health problems, such as being on Rx blood thinners or daily aspirin therapy, nor prior to surgery.

If you have found any routine super food to have had any positive and helpful benefits, I'd love to hear about this. Thank you,

Muse
 
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We throw chia seeds in just about everything (salads, smoothies, applesauce)
I do nourishing infusions (burdock, nettles, red clover, oatstraw), I drink them warm because I am not a huge tea fan, but better warm than cold. I also drink Bigelow green tea. I often use it as a base for other teas, my favorite being I put ginger, honey and clove in it.
I use applesauce when baking sweets to substitute out oil or butter (I make applesauce myself every fall). Lately I have taken to eating a lot of grapes to try to help with migraines.
I definitely believe in the mind-body connection and think a lot of our mental health depends on our diet.
 
I like cranberries, because they help prevent bladder infections. For the rest I try not to focus too much on food (because of an eating disorder). But I also tried chia seeds and goji berries... They don't seem to do anything for me, but I guess everyone reacts differently ;)
 
I also have suffered from an eating disorder, and can have disordered eating at times, but I see this as a sub-symptom of PTSD dissociation. I can be triggered into anorexia, going days with no hunger, and have read this is PTSD. When fleeing danger, one does not feel hunger and thirst.

Bulimia type II was also a problem. Binge and purge with exercise happened during teens with a betrayal and loneliness.

Recovery from eating disorders for me required me to listen to my body in a loving way, and to take on baby steps of greater sense of responsibility for my body's functioning, without increasing my obsessive or impulsive feelings. (PTSD has some overlap with OCD symptoms).

You can see the obsession with the superfoods in my post. :bookworm::facepalm:
 
Is it okay in our rules here to post a link to a free bag of Chia from an online retailer? I am not endorsing and have not even tried it yet.

You do have to pay the $1.95 or so shipping cost. Value is about $20.00.

Go to Wellness Mama's blog post and see the link near the top of it. Chia Seeds Uses and Benefits | Wellness Mama
 
I'm not sure if this is a superfood though it comes from a plant related to the tomato, but I use Ashwaganda for anxiety. It helps support the adrenals and brain from what I understand. I also drink Kambucha, helps with digestion and good bacteria, and I take fish oil, again for mood and cognitive function. Overall, helping the body and nervous system stay strong helps me deal with the symptoms of PTSD. I don't think these are cures, but the better my body functions, the better off I am :)
 
I tried chai seeds and didn't notice any difference at all....though I do have a pretty well balanced diet anyway. I decided to look into the claims of super foods, and learned that the claims are suspicious.....you can find just as much nutrition from less expensive foods.
 
This book talks about nutrition in treating PTSD e41f311b0901e8d9f54fb52ec39e0e70.webp
 
Nope. Not really.

Do I feel better when I'm not malnourished? Yes. But that's more about not having to deal with the side effects of malnutrition. Don't get me wrong, that's not a small thing. Much like not having to deal with the side effects of sleep dep, or side effects of pain, life is just better overall when I'm eating well, sleeping well, not hurting. But all of those things being equal, my PTSD is still as present.
 
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