mental concentration affected by low carb diets?

[0to60]

I've been low-carbin' it for around on year or so. Not like strict Atkins
or anything, just cutting out breads, rice, pasta, sweets, etc... I'm 6',
185#, I prolly eat 30 grams of carbs a day. I enjoy the diet and all, but
I'm noticing that my concentration/mental focus is ****. I used to be
fairly sharp, but now I find it almost impossible to sit and ponder anything
through. When I sit there, my mind is a bunch of random thoughts and songs
playing! This has been going on for several months. I'm wondering, could
there be a connection between this and the low carbing?

[JC Der Koenig]

It's not the diet, you're just spaced out enough to think that you used to
be sharp.

--
If the price of stupid ever goes up, I claim drilling rights to this guy's
head. -- MFW


"0to60" > wrote in message
...
> I've been low-carbin' it for around on year or so. Not like strict Atkins
> or anything, just cutting out breads, rice, pasta, sweets, etc... I'm 6',
> 185#, I prolly eat 30 grams of carbs a day. I enjoy the diet and all, but
> I'm noticing that my concentration/mental focus is ****. I used to be
> fairly sharp, but now I find it almost impossible to sit and ponder
anything
> through. When I sit there, my mind is a bunch of random thoughts and
songs
> playing! This has been going on for several months. I'm wondering, could
> there be a connection between this and the low carbing?
>
>

[sh0rtcircuit (Deb)]

"0to60" > wrote:

>I've been low-carbin' it for around on year or so. Not like strict Atkins
>or anything, just cutting out breads, rice, pasta, sweets, etc... I'm 6',
>185#, I prolly eat 30 grams of carbs a day. I enjoy the diet and all, but
>I'm noticing that my concentration/mental focus is ****. I used to be
>fairly sharp, but now I find it almost impossible to sit and ponder anything
>through. When I sit there, my mind is a bunch of random thoughts and songs
>playing! This has been going on for several months. I'm wondering, could
>there be a connection between this and the low carbing?
>
Are you supplementing your diet with EFAs (essential fatty acids)?
Fish oil capsules? Flax meal? Eating lots of fish?

This may explain somewhat (*not* to say that you are suffering from a
mental disorder!) -

http://www.ect.org/selfhelp/fats.html

Stress-related? Is clinical depression a possibility? Or ADD? (Poor
concentration is one of the symptoms, but may be attributed to other
causes, as well)

Low-carbing, anectodally at least, appears to have the opposite effect
of what you're describing. Possibly because so many of us use EFA
supplements and/or flax? Or because we tend to eat more fats? (The
brain needs fats to function right).

Just some suggestions, of course - ymmv. And I may not make much
sense, since *my* mind is also "a bunch of random thoughts and songs
playing" a great deal of the time (caused by clinical depression)
which makes it very hard for me to focus on the task at hand. ;)

[Damsel in dis Dress]

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 14:14:37 GMT, "0to60" >
wrote:

>When I sit there, my mind is a bunch of random thoughts and songs
>playing! This has been going on for several months. I'm wondering, could
>there be a connection between this and the low carbing?

Welcome to my world. I started getting like that long before low-carb.
You might mention this to your physician.

Carol
--
Fasting BG 136
227/219.5/150 (official weigh-in day: Thursday)
June Challenge Goal: 213
Bernstein Diabetes Solution 5/25/2004
Diabetes Dx 5/15/2001
Diet, Exercise, Oral Medication

[Saffire]

In article >, holeshot60
says...
> I've been low-carbin' it for around on year or so. Not like strict Atkins
> or anything, just cutting out breads, rice, pasta, sweets, etc... I'm 6',
> 185#, I prolly eat 30 grams of carbs a day. I enjoy the diet and all, but
> I'm noticing that my concentration/mental focus is ****. I used to be
> fairly sharp, but now I find it almost impossible to sit and ponder anything
> through. When I sit there, my mind is a bunch of random thoughts and songs
> playing! This has been going on for several months. I'm wondering, could
> there be a connection between this and the low carbing?

My concentration and mental focus seems to be much sharper since I started low-
carbing. Maybe you're just HAPPIER now :-)

--
Saffire
205/154/125 - 5'1.5"
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

[DG511]

>Saffire

writes:

>In article >, holeshot60
says...
>> I've been low-carbin' it for around on year or so. Not like strict Atkins
>> or anything, just cutting out breads, rice, pasta, sweets, etc... I'm 6',
>> 185#, I prolly eat 30 grams of carbs a day. I enjoy the diet and all, but
>> I'm noticing that my concentration/mental focus is ****. I used to be
>> fairly sharp, but now I find it almost impossible to sit and ponder
>anything
>> through. When I sit there, my mind is a bunch of random thoughts and songs
>> playing! This has been going on for several months. I'm wondering, could
>> there be a connection between this and the low carbing?
>
>My concentration and mental focus seems to be much sharper since I started
>low-
>carbing. Maybe you're just HAPPIER now :-)

I can slightly relate to the OP's dilemma, but only slightly. My 3rd week on
low-carb, I was mentally fuzzy all of a sudden, and the situation took 2-3
weeks to improve. I think there was a nutrient imbalance that I eventually
worked through. Now, though, I'm much, much sharper than I was before, except
for about two days during my TOM, when I don't feel like thinking about
anything and find life to be burdensome in most respects. That's very slightly
worse than it used to be, and I can cope with it.

I'm wondering if the OP has sufficient balance in his/her diet. It might not be
a lack of carbs, it might be something else. But maybe adding a piece of fruit
each day (5-10 carbs worth) would be an interesting experiment, to see if that
affected the situation at all.

Daria
166/under 145/under 145
sugar-free since 2/1/04
low-carb since 2/17/04

[0to60]

"sh0rtcircuit (Deb)" > wrote in message
...
> "0to60" > wrote:
>
> Are you supplementing your diet with EFAs (essential fatty acids)?
> Fish oil capsules? Flax meal? Eating lots of fish?

No.

> This may explain somewhat (*not* to say that you are suffering from a
> mental disorder!) -
>
> http://www.ect.org/selfhelp/fats.html

Interesting. I think I'll buy a supplement and give it a shot.

> Stress-related? Is clinical depression a possibility? Or ADD? (Poor
> concentration is one of the symptoms, but may be attributed to other
> causes, as well)

I've never had ADD, so I don't think its that. As for stress/depression, I
don't FEEL any different, but those two conditions can exist without you
knowing. So, I can't really say.

> Just some suggestions, of course - ymmv. And I may not make much
> sense, since *my* mind is also "a bunch of random thoughts and songs
> playing" a great deal of the time (caused by clinical depression)
> which makes it very hard for me to focus on the task at hand. ;)

I'll definitely give the fish oil a shot. Thing is, I've NEVER been a fan
of fish. I can't palate the flakey, smelly stuff. Now, would cutting out
breads, grains, rice, etc... affect my Omega 3/6 intake, given that I don't
and never did eat much fish?

[jamie]

0to60 > wrote:
> I've been low-carbin' it for around on year or so. Not like strict Atkins
> or anything, just cutting out breads, rice, pasta, sweets, etc... I'm 6',
> 185#, I prolly eat 30 grams of carbs a day. I enjoy the diet and all, but
> I'm noticing that my concentration/mental focus is ****. I used to be
> fairly sharp, but now I find it almost impossible to sit and ponder anything
> through. When I sit there, my mind is a bunch of random thoughts and songs
> playing! This has been going on for several months. I'm wondering, could
> there be a connection between this and the low carbing?

No scientific studies to back up this anecdote whatsoever, but I get
the mental fuzzies from consuming aspartame, and a few other people
have said that they do, too. Before I say anything further, let me
state that I don't believe aspartame is a "poison" or "toxin", merely
that some people have a sensitivity to it.

I had the problem for something more than a year, several years ago.
My doctor at the time thought it was Chronic Fatigue Syndrome related,
when a co-worker suggested avoiding aspartame one day. I was drinking
a lot of Diet Snapple tea with aspartame. The problem went away
after about 2 days not ingesting aspartame (and returns for about 2
days if I do ingest something sweetened with aspartame).

This suggests that it's some sort of sensitivity, and not a "toxic
buildup" that the scaremongers claim. Either it builds up, or
it doesn't. A "build-up" doesn't suddenly disappear, or reappear
years later after ingesting a small amount.

--
jamie )

"There's a seeker born every minute."

[tcomeau]

"0to60" > wrote in message >...
> I've been low-carbin' it for around on year or so. Not like strict Atkins
> or anything, just cutting out breads, rice, pasta, sweets, etc... I'm 6',
> 185#, I prolly eat 30 grams of carbs a day. I enjoy the diet and all, but
> I'm noticing that my concentration/mental focus is ****. I used to be
> fairly sharp, but now I find it almost impossible to sit and ponder anything
> through. When I sit there, my mind is a bunch of random thoughts and songs
> playing! This has been going on for several months. I'm wondering, could
> there be a connection between this and the low carbing?

Try a good B vitamin complex (stress formula) 2 to 3 times a day but
not before bedtime. Chances are you are still low in these vitamins
from the high-carb diet having depleted them.

TC

[Em]

"tcomeau" > wrote in message
om...
>
> Try a good B vitamin complex (stress formula) 2 to 3 times a day but
> not before bedtime. Chances are you are still low in these vitamins
> from the high-carb diet having depleted them.
>
> TC

Why not before bedtime?
Em

[miette]

"0to60" > wrote in
:

> I've been low-carbin' it for around on year or so. Not like strict
> Atkins or anything, just cutting out breads, rice, pasta, sweets,
> etc... I'm 6', 185#, I prolly eat 30 grams of carbs a day. I enjoy
> the diet and all, but I'm noticing that my concentration/mental focus
> is ****. I used to be fairly sharp, but now I find it almost
> impossible to sit and ponder anything through. When I sit there, my
> mind is a bunch of random thoughts and songs playing! This has been
> going on for several months. I'm wondering, could there be a
> connection between this and the low carbing?
>
>
>

For me, I've found the opposite to be true. I can get so tied up in a task
that I sometimes don't notice when someone's speaking to me.

~miette

[Jennifer S.]

I think I am much more alert since starting the low carb diet. I am not
yawning all day long like I was when I was eating a much higher carb diet.
The insulin/sugar ups and downs made me feel fatigued all of the time.
Jennifer S.
206/176/135

[sh0rtcircuit (Deb)]

"0to60" > wrote:

<snipped for brevity>

>I'll definitely give the fish oil a shot. Thing is, I've NEVER been a fan
>of fish. I can't palate the flakey, smelly stuff. Now, would cutting out
>breads, grains, rice, etc... affect my Omega 3/6 intake, given that I don't
>and never did eat much fish?
>

If you decide to try the fish oil, be sure to take Vitamin E along
with it. You may also want to supplement with a good B Complex.

If you haven't already, do a Google search for "omega 3" and read a
few of the articles it turns up. They list alternate ways of getting
the Omega 3s other than fish oil or eating fish. You should find it
very informative. Be sure to read the precautions, etc. before you
start taking them. If you are taking certain medications, you should
check with your Dr before using these supplements.

AFAIK, cutting out breads, grains, and rice should have no effect
whatsoever on your Omega3/6 levels and the lack of them (or adding
them back in) should not affect your body's ability to use the EFAs.

HTH

[curious]

Maybe you should try turning off the tv and radio for a while at home. (no
kidding!) I think our minds are constantly being bombarded with outside
stimulants that it isn't good for us. Sometimes we just need the "break".

I suppose it could be the diet, but after a year, I'd guess it wasn't the
diet, esp. since as someone suggested, for those of us who aren't
"counting" so closely anymore, we are probably consuming more than we
"think".

I think mental fuzziness and basically being out of sorts happens those
first few days of going LC when your whole body is in a state of uproar
over the changes it is going through that you aren't used to at all. I
know I felt really strange those days, but it all cleared up by the third
day and I started feeling really good physically and mentally sharp.

You could always try a change...switch to low fat for a couple of weeks,
eating higher carbs, but still avoiding sugar and rice, etc...and see if
it helps.

Becky P.
www.family.solidrockpl.org

[0to60]

"tcomeau" > wrote in message
om...
>
> Try a good B vitamin complex (stress formula) 2 to 3 times a day but
> not before bedtime. Chances are you are still low in these vitamins
> from the high-carb diet having depleted them.

I take a B-150 once a day. Should I take more than one of these?

Vitamin B turns your pee yellow. I'll usually have one really yellow pee a
day, but the rest are fairly pale. Should I be taking more B? Or is this
observation ridiculous?