Jim_Smith
New
One subject relating to meditation that I think needs more investigation is the effect of diet on mood. I find that what I eat actually has a greater impact on my mood than meditation. I suspect there are people on medication for anxiety and depression who are curious about whether meditation could help them who would be helped more and get off medication by changing their diet.
Eating red meat reduces the risk of depression by 50%.
http://www.foodiejunky.com/eating-red-meat-reduces-risk-of-depression-by-50/
Eating the right amounts of carbohydrates and protein at the right times can increase serotonin levels.
http://www.serotoninpowerdiet.com/index.php
Too much sugar can cause anxiety
https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/causes/sugar
There are biochemical effects on consciousness that I believe cannot be changed by mental techniques such as meditation or cognitive therapy. And I think this fact is ignored in some systems to the detriment of those who are suffering. I believe this is also why some practices seem to have inconsistent results.
In my own experience diet and meditation are like the coarse adjustment and fine adjustment knobs on a microscope or a telescope. You use the coarse adjustment knob to get close to the right focus and the fine adjustment knob to get perfect focus.
Another factor that can affect the biochemical influences on your mood is exercise.
If my mood is affected by biochemical influences, I will try to use appropriate food and exercise to bring the biochemistry into balance before I meditate.
Eating red meat reduces the risk of depression by 50%.
http://www.foodiejunky.com/eating-red-meat-reduces-risk-of-depression-by-50/
Eating the right amounts of carbohydrates and protein at the right times can increase serotonin levels.
http://www.serotoninpowerdiet.com/index.php
Too much sugar can cause anxiety
https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/causes/sugar
A study in 2008 found that rats that went on a sugar binge and then were deprived of food seemed to have a dopamine imbalance that lead to increased anxiety.
Another study published in 2009 found that long term sugar use seemed more likely to impair memory and reduce the ability to fight anxiety..
There are biochemical effects on consciousness that I believe cannot be changed by mental techniques such as meditation or cognitive therapy. And I think this fact is ignored in some systems to the detriment of those who are suffering. I believe this is also why some practices seem to have inconsistent results.
In my own experience diet and meditation are like the coarse adjustment and fine adjustment knobs on a microscope or a telescope. You use the coarse adjustment knob to get close to the right focus and the fine adjustment knob to get perfect focus.
Another factor that can affect the biochemical influences on your mood is exercise.
If my mood is affected by biochemical influences, I will try to use appropriate food and exercise to bring the biochemistry into balance before I meditate.
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