High Protein Weight-loss Diets and Your Brain
Circle yes or no to each question. If you haven't used one of these diets recently, skip to Section B below.

If you've been on this kind of diet recently, has it made you

1. Obsess about eating sweet or starchy snacks?         Yes         No

2. Feel drained and without energy?         Yes         No

3. Jumpy and unable to concentrate?         Yes         No

4. Moody and prone to grumpiness?         Yes        No

5. Sleep badly or wake up frequently?         Yes         No

6. Less able to handle stress?         Yes         No

7. Feel full but not satisfied?         Yes         No

8. Get angry easily?         Yes         No

If you answered "yes" to four or more out of the eight questions, your diet may have affected serotonin levels in your brain. It's no secret that food plans with too little carbohydrate can cause a negative effect on serotonin levels. Uncontrollable carbohydrate cravings and a bad mood are the consequences.

Emotions and the Brain

Circle yes or no for each statement. Are you someone who reaches for food containing sugar, starch or both when:

1. You are bored, tired or lonely?         Yes        No

2. You are angry, irritated, tense or anxious?         Yes        No

3. You are trying to deal with a stressful situation?         Yes        No

4. You feel in need of a reward, distraction or relaxation?        Yes        No

5. You want to put off doing something?         Yes         No

6. You are trying to relax so you can fall sleep?         Yes        No

7. You don't know what to do next so you eat?         Yes        No

8. Eating time is the only time you allow yourself to relax?         Yes        No

9. The dark days of fall and winter cause you to feel down in the dumps, very tired and craving sweets?         Yes        No

10. You just stopped smoking and feel edgy or depressed         Yes        No

For Women:

11. It is a few days before your period and you are experiencing PMS mood swings?                 Yes        No

12. Menopausal changes in hormones make you exhausted, depressed or anxious?                 Yes        No

If you answered "yes" to four or more out of the twelve questions, you are one of many who eat as a way of making yourself feel better or at least, less bad. If this is the case, recognize that your brain responds positively to your eating. When you reach for carbohydrates to soothe yourself you are eating those foods because they will improve your mood. Your frame of mind brightens, even a little, because of the increase in serotonin.

Antidepressants and Your Brain

Circle yes or no to each question. If you are not on antidepressants or any related medication, skip this section. If you are on antidepressant medication for longer than three or four weeks, does it make you:

1. Increase your consumption of sweet or starchy carbohydrates (as meals or as snacks) instead of protein and vegetables?         Yes         No

2. Eat more than you did before starting the medication?         Yes        No

3. Think about eating all the time, even after finishing a meal?         Yes        No

4. Feel like eating late at night or wake up at night wanting to eat?         Yes         No

5. Have an uncontrollable craving for sweet and starchy foods?         Yes         No

6. Feel more fatigued than before taking the medication?         Yes        No

7. Gain weight?         Yes         No

If you answered yes to four or more out of the seven questions you may be experiencing antidepressant-induced carbohydrate cravings. After several weeks of use, many people begin having a constant craving for carbohydrates.