Side effects of eating (mostly) clean?

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.

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.

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.

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.

mizzlarabee wrote: »

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.

This sounds right to me.

Don't give too much heed to the idea of 'clean' foods. There are too many so-called professionals out there who will tell you some foods are good and some are bad. While it's best to eat fruits, vegetables, and minimally-processed foods, everything in moderation is fine and can actually help you adhere to a long-term eating plan, rather than restricting and causing you to binge at some point because your willpower over time gets weak and no one can constantly say no to delicious things. No need to feel guilty about it, just keep track and try to feed yourself quality food.

Side Note: Do not ever listen to anything Food Babe says - ever. She is bonkers. That also goes for any extremist wanna-be food pro telling you certain foods are evil, dirty, or toxic. Odds are they are hocking supplements and making money off of making people afraid of food.

As for your symptoms, if they persist, do go to a doctor. If caffeine or alcohol isn't at play (as far as increasing/decreasing regular exposure), then you shouldn't have extreme fluctuations just because you're eating more fruits and veggies. It may be temporary or even due to some stress in your life maybe you're not realizing. I do hope you figure it all out. Take care.

Michael190lbs wrote: »

I read the labels on everything if I can't pronounce the first 5 things I don't buy it- Congrats

I understand exactly what you're taking about. I too get that feeling sometimes... The tightening of the chest, anxious, change in breathing, ultra alertness, often panicky... It's all very uncomfortable and unpleasant. I haven't quite pinpointed what triggers it, but it comes a certain time after eating. I've also found that I can bring on something similar with caffeine, when I drink too much green tea. Food is definitely a factor for me though, so I wish you the best of luck with your tinkering. Let me know if you figure it out!