Feeling Anxious? Restricting Carbs May Be to Blame

One of the most popular reasons to adopt a low-carb diet is weight loss. Limiting carbs is a proven way to tip the scale in the right direction and improve body composition. But just like any diet recommendation, it’s possible that a good thing can have its limitations.

And that includes cutting out carbs, says dietitian and nutritionist Lyndi Cohen. If you’re used to an ample supply of carbohydrates in your diet, restricting or limiting carbs can be a tall order. But it might not just be lack of will power that causes you to raid the pantry to satisfy your carb cravings late in the day. Restricting carbs appears to have a direct impact on mood and may increase feelings of anxiety, says Cohen.

So can a low carb diet cause anxiety? Eating foods high in carbohydrates help release chemicals in your brain (tryptophan and serotonin) that help you feel good. But go too long without enough carbs in your diet, and you’re likely to start feeling anxious, moody, irritable, uneasy, and even depressed.

Feeling like you’re in a funk? Check your diet and find out if you’re eating enough carbs. If you’ve been restricting carbs, resist the urge to gorge on sugary sweets and snacks high carbs. Instead, go for carbs that take longer to digest and like whole foods, beans, fresh fruit, yogurt, milk, and whole grain cereals, oats, breads, and pastas.

You can still eat a low-carb diet and get all the nutrients you need from food to support your mood and overall health. But you have to make your foods choices a little more carefully than following the see-food diet. If you’re new to eating low-carb, that might sound like a lot of work to plan meals, shop for food, prep it, and make your own meals. But it doesn’t have to be time consuming. Just check out the selection of Low-Carb friendly meals available, make your picks, place and order, and let us handle the rest. All you’ll have to do is heat up your favorite meal in the microwave and enjoy. Very little prep time, great tasting, food, and no mess to clean-up. That should put you in a good mood.