Side effects of eating (mostly) clean?

cosmicpixie
cosmicpixie Posts: 11 Member
edited November 18 in Food and Nutrition
I've been trying to eat mostly clean - with all foods made from ingredients and not packaged where possible for almost two weeks. I've found that I'm almost getting "anxiety" attacks with heart racing occasionally - I've looked online and have seen that as I am sort of "detoxing" that things like this, headaches etc. can happen. I never had this particular side effect when I've cut out sugar before. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, did it eventually even out?
I'm worried that with all my fruit and veg, though I'm eating healthier, there are other things I'm having sugar with that perahps I should cut down on? I know it's not perfect but one step at a time!
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Replies

  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    You are detoxing from eating clean food? What's that?
  • cosmicpixie
    cosmicpixie Posts: 11 Member
    Apologies - I probably worded this a bit wrong. I have gone from eating ok-ish to a lot healthier with fresh fruit and veg as much as possible. From what I have read online, this has effectively sent my body into a detox mode (first week I had bad sweats, headaches etc.) I was just wondering if this effect was from that, but now after reading more, I'm not sure if my calorie intake dropped too low last week!
  • isulo_kura
    isulo_kura Posts: 818 Member
    You are not detoxing from eating clean food. . My guess is you've restricted your diet so much that you've just cut your diet to much and have likely removed something that your body needs
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    isulo_kura wrote: »
    You are not detoxing from eating clean food. . My guess is you've restricted your diet so much that you've just cut your diet to much and have likely removed something that your body needs

    This!10000%
  • cosmicpixie
    cosmicpixie Posts: 11 Member
    Thanks guys - I'll keep tinkering with it and see if things improve. This part of things is all a bit new to me as I'm so used to eating a lot more processed food.
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    Did you give up soda/caffeinated beverages, too? Withdrawal from caffeine can sometimes be a nasty process.
  • DoctorGreenthumb
    DoctorGreenthumb Posts: 16 Member
    Human bodies don't "go into detox mode". Lol.
  • cosmicpixie
    cosmicpixie Posts: 11 Member
    I've actually never drank soda (don't like fizzy drinks- a freak I know!) :-) - I still keep my 2 cups of tea per day which I have done for the last few years so I'm hoping that isn't it.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    If you gave up caffeine or used to eat a lot of sugar and gave that up, then yes, that could cause headaches, etc. It's withdrawal.
  • cosmicpixie
    cosmicpixie Posts: 11 Member
    Ah withdrawal - that's probably the word I should have used as opposed to detox. I've cut out "processed" sugars and the sugar I add myself to things like sweet potato bread. Perhaps that's it!
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    No. If you are still eating fruit, you are still eating sugar. You aren't detoxing your body from sugar, nor do you need to...

    Perhaps your symptoms of an anxiety attack are related to... Anxiety?
  • kshaevel
    kshaevel Posts: 1 Member
    I believe you are lacking potassium which caused the anxiety feeling. You can't really replace it through supplements, you need to eat some high potassium foods.
  • andrea218
    andrea218 Posts: 7 Member
    When you eat clean, whole, unprocessed food, your body reacts differently. If you want the FACTS, please read "It Starts with Food" by Dallas Hartwig and Melissa Hartwig (founders of Whole30). It is on the NY Times bestseller's list.
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    isulo_kura wrote: »
    You are not detoxing from eating clean food. . My guess is you've restricted your diet so much that you've just cut your diet to much and have likely removed something that your body needs

    This.
  • Unknown
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  • lourachalex27
    lourachalex27 Posts: 1 Member
    Week one this would maybe be withdrawal/detox... week two this is strange. Either you aren't eating enough calories, you aren't getting the balance right between nutrients, or there is something more at play here. I'd see a doctor or a dietician if you can. Congratulations on cutting out processed stuff but you are right to always question it - if this particular "clean" diet isn't making you feel too good then maybe it isn't quite right for your body. Everyone is different.
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    I read the labels on everything if I can't pronounce the first 5 things I don't buy it- Congrats
  • cosmicpixie
    cosmicpixie Posts: 11 Member
    Thanks for all your help guys.
  • maillemaker
    maillemaker Posts: 1,253 Member
    The whole "detox" thing is a load of bunk. Your body has a liver and kidneys and they remove toxins from your body. If you live in a developed nation, it's a virtual certainty that there are no significant levels of toxins in your food.

    If you've started a calorie restriction, you can expect to feel it within the first week. I've heard it described as feeling "jacked up on the inside and worn out on the outside". I can best describe it as feeling "on edge", as if there were an electrical current running through me. But a general lack of energy/motivation to do anything. You may feel cold and/or irritable.
  • Sorchya
    Sorchya Posts: 49 Member
    kshaevel wrote: »
    I believe you are lacking potassium which caused the anxiety feeling. You can't really replace it through supplements, you need to eat some high potassium foods.
    high in potassium: leafy greens, bananas, strawberries, watermelon, citrus fruit, brocolli, asparagus. you may be getting some already :)
  • Sorchya
    Sorchya Posts: 49 Member
    Don't forget to have some protein,especially if you are wanting to build muscle...your body needs it.
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    Note what's going on when these attacks hit. Could be anxiety.
    I have anxiety attacks when something big is going down. It sucks. I thought it was caffeine so I gave it up. That was killer, and then I was STILL having the attacks. When my life calmed down, the attacks went away and I got back to my beloved coffee. hahah

    I get them every once and a while still though.
  • Justygirl77
    Justygirl77 Posts: 385 Member
    cosmicpixie wrote: »
    I've been trying to eat mostly clean - with all foods made from ingredients and not packaged where possible for almost two weeks. I've found that I'm almost getting "anxiety" attacks with heart racing occasionally - I've looked online and have seen that as I am sort of "detoxing" that things like this, headaches etc. can happen. I never had this particular side effect when I've cut out sugar before. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, did it eventually even out?
    I'm worried that with all my fruit and veg, though I'm eating healthier, there are other things I'm having sugar with that perahps I should cut down on? I know it's not perfect but one step at a time!
    It's too easy to start jumping to conclusions about what your body is doing when you have symptoms.
    The best thing to do is test/measure things. Have blood tests ordered by your doctor to see what is happening with your metabolism...hormone levels, blood sugar, cortisol levels, thyroid function, etc.
    Our body's give us signs via symptoms, but you need to see what is going on.
    I am currently eating only veggies, proteins, fats, and whatever carbs I get from that. I removed dairy, grains, sugar and fruit from my diet at the end of March. At that time, YES I did have symptoms that lasted for a week.
    I am under supervision of a nurse practitioner, and drawing blood samples monthly. I would suggest you do the same, as our bodies can get out of balance and become sensitive, leaving you with annoying symptoms. This way you know what is going on and can adjust your food/exercise to support your body to rebalance.
    Hope you feel better soon!

  • mizzlarabee
    mizzlarabee Posts: 134 Member
    cosmicpixie wrote: »
    I've been trying to eat mostly clean - with all foods made from ingredients and not packaged where possible for almost two weeks. I've found that I'm almost getting "anxiety" attacks with heart racing occasionally - I've looked online and have seen that as I am sort of "detoxing" that things like this, headaches etc. can happen. I never had this particular side effect when I've cut out sugar before. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, did it eventually even out?
    I'm worried that with all my fruit and veg, though I'm eating healthier, there are other things I'm having sugar with that perahps I should cut down on? I know it's not perfect but one step at a time!

    I think the problem here is you are overthinking it and reading into too much hype on the Internet, which is probably the more likely cause of your anxiety. Take it one day at a time. Your body has a homeostasis, in that it adjusts based on whatever you put into it, so if you change anything that your body is used to getting, it will respond with certain symptoms. There is also a behavioural element to change -- you are changing your behaviours and that can affect how you feel as well. Avoid compartmentalizing your foods into categories (clean, good, bad etc), as they can be attached to emotion and cause anxiety. Instead, focus on getting the majority of your diet from nutrient-dense sources and don't agonize over the process.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    If this continues I'd consider seeing a doctor or allergist/immunologist. These could be symptoms of a food allergy or intollerance. It's possible to be intollerant to a healthy food.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    kshaevel wrote: »
    I believe you are lacking potassium which caused the anxiety feeling. You can't really replace it through supplements, you need to eat some high potassium foods.

    This seems unlikely if she is eating a lot of fruit and vegetables.
  • scottacular
    scottacular Posts: 597 Member
    cosmicpixie wrote: »
    I've been trying to eat mostly clean - with all foods made from ingredients and not packaged where possible for almost two weeks. I've found that I'm almost getting "anxiety" attacks with heart racing occasionally - I've looked online and have seen that as I am sort of "detoxing" that things like this, headaches etc. can happen. I never had this particular side effect when I've cut out sugar before. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, did it eventually even out?
    I'm worried that with all my fruit and veg, though I'm eating healthier, there are other things I'm having sugar with that perahps I should cut down on? I know it's not perfect but one step at a time!

    Eating clean, detox, fear of sugar - I'm impressed. Now you just need to stop eating carbs after 18:00 and avoid gluten and you've got the full set of needless restrictions. You've got this.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    It could be a number of things. First things first, though - how many Calories are you currently eating? How many were you eating previously? How has your activity level (including exercise) changed? I ask because doing too much, too soon, often causes people to crash/bonk/whatever-you-want-to-call-it. It may be as simple as that, or it could be something else. Often, it's the simplest answer(s) that tend to be correct.
  • aburningkiss
    aburningkiss Posts: 2 Member
    Your body may just be getting used to a different way of living (if it's a drastic change) :)
    As for anxiety I can attest to how *kitten* it is, and you know it only gets worse when you can't pinpoint the source, and then start to speculate what the "source" could possibly be it gets you even more het up (even if there isn't a dang source! Wow. I should say source one more time :P)
    Keep up the good work and eating good and I hope your anxiety/symptoms lessen.
  • cosmicpixie
    cosmicpixie Posts: 11 Member
    Thanks to all the people who have left really helpful comments - I really appreciate your time.
    To those that have just come here to *kitten* and moan at me and my question (which I feel is perfectly valid) - keep on walking thank you.
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