The Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) lists many prescription drugs that treat bipolar disorder. Finding the most suitable medication or combination of medications through trial and error takes a long time. Even then coverage can lack complete effectiveness. According to Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th ed. a number of non-medicinal treatments can also treat or supplement pharmaceutical treatment.
Vitamin And Mineral Supplements
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th ed. recommends a person with bipolar disorder take 100mg of a B complex vitamin three times a day. Fifty mg of zinc taken with 3mg of copper each day protects brain cells. The book also recommends taking a free-form amino acid complex for brain protein and L-tyrosine 500 mg, which treats depression. Vitamin C, up to 3,000 mg daily aids brain function and a calcium/magnesium complex has a calming effect. A multivitamin taken along with all of these completes the package.
General Diet
Consistently eating a diet heavy in vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes along with whole grain products serve to stabilize mood. Eat chicken, turkey and fish twice a week for protein. Equivalent protein also comes in combining beans with a grain such as brown rice.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Eat fish high in omega-3 fatty acids such as tuna, salmon, mackerel and herring. Fish as the form of fatty acids works best but omega-3 fatty acid supplements will help those who strongly dislike fish. Some capsules also contain omega-6 and flax seed oil. This combination also helps fight heart disease, according to Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, 2010.
Sugar
Take sugar out of the diet completely. It does no good for your health and the peaks and drops in your blood sugar only make mood fluctuations worse. Be sure to read labels of processed foods and choose those products low in or absent of sugar.
Other Foods To Avoid
Alcohol, a depressant, magnifies the symptoms of bipolar disease. Avoid it or drink very little. Caffeine, a stimulant, also wreaks havoc on mood. Eat dairy products in small amounts and avoid carbonated beverages, food coloring, flavorings, preservatives and other additives. These strongly suggest ill effects on people with bipolar disease.
Food Allergies
Become aware of foods to which you have developed allergies. These serve to agitate your mood. You can do this by eliminating the suspect foods and then adding them back to your diet one at a time. Keep a diary of your moods on the days you eat those foods. Avoid the offenders once you've identified them.
Sleep and stress
Restorative sleep of seven to nine hours duration will stabilize your mood much better than broken sleep of less than six hours. Lack of sleep causes depression and edginess. While the possibility of eliminating stress from your life seems impossible, lessening your stress level keeps your spirits up and combats your mood swings. Avoid taking on more than you can handle and communicate to others that you want less stress.
References
- Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment; Stephen J. McPhee and Maxine A. Papadakis; 2010
- Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th ed.; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2006
