Animal-based diet vs gluten-free micronutrient rich diet (‘perfect health diet’)
Animal-based is definitely ideal. Gluten-free micronutrient rich diet (‘perfect health diet’) is probably more realistic & easier to sustain.
- tested time & time again, animal-based works more effectively then any other diet for reducing my POIS symptoms.
Seems like plant foods trigger some kind of immunological response, especially grains, legumes, peanuts, vegetables, etc. Have found this to be true anytime I do a gluten-free wholefoods diet (gluten-free wholegrains), AIP &/or perfect health diet (vegetables), etc - always experience more ringing in the ears, which to me is a sign of inflammation.
BEST to WORST diets in ascending order for my POIS:
1. Animal-Based (optimal - emphasises nutrient rich animal-based foods while cutting out inflammatory foods. Very mild POIS symptoms)
2. Perfect Health Diet (step up from 3, as cuts out ALL grains, legumes, etc - which are def inflammatory for my POIS. Mild-moderate POIS symptoms)
3. Gluten-Free Wholefoods (same as #5, but extra nutrition emphasising wholefoods is obz better. Moderate POIS symptoms)
4. Gluten-Free (big step up from gluten, but still eating foods triggering inflammation - most likely veggies, gluten-free grains, etc. Moderate POIS symptoms)
5. Normal diet that includes gluten (by far the most inflammatory/chaotic/drives my POIS symptoms to their MAX)
From now on, I will switch between the two when needed (animal based & gluten-free micronutrient rich diet (‘perfect health diet’))
Question for when I redo animal-based:
Do I experience any social apathy in days 2,3 etc post-release? (Literally go out & test, talk to people, etc)
Is mood more consistent on animal-based diet on days 2,3,4 etc post-release? Do you experience general anhedonia at all?
I've noticed I am experiencing more social apathy/anhedonia on gluten-free diet after POIS episodes, especially on days 2,3,4 etc post-release. From memory, I do not believe I experienced this when doing animal-based (which seemed to handle my episodes the best out of all diets I've tried).
Interesting thing I've noticed is that I tend to experience anhedonia, low mood, etc on days 2,3.... post-release etc. On the first day post release, sometimes my mood can actually be very positive and almost "high", then it drops on the 2nd, 3rd day etc. It's easy to use that 1st day as a 'success!' for POIS solution, when in fact the real test is how I feel on average & on the preceding days 2,3,4,5, etc.
Reference experience: when I went back home to the mountains, out for coffee with rents, socially apathetic + went to see my mate at the lake + sauna, feeling socially anxious.
My POIS symptoms in general on a "gluten free wholefoods diet" where I ate wholegrain brown rice, peanut butter, veggies, in addition to meat, yoghurt, fruit, etc seem to trigger some pretty nasty anhedonia, social apathy, and mood disturbances (find myself being anxious especially towards the end of the day, mood a bit up and down in general). Also immediately after releases, my symptoms were rather significant & unpleasant - anxious, brainfog, body aches - which has always been normal to experience stronger symptoms in immediate 2 hour window, but these seemed more severe than usual.
Edit 23/06 answers to the above questions while I've been back on animal-based:
Do I experience any social apathy in days 2,3 etc post-release? (Literally go out & test, talk to people, etc)
Social apathy and mood issues in general are essentially non-existent on days 2,3,4 etc. Even by the end of day 1, I am symptomless. (Eaten 4 eggs & red meat today, along with dosing fenugreek & garlic twice, and had some white rice earlier, altho I believe I would do even better without the white rice). The social apathy I have been experiencing in the past is a clear symptom of POIS, which has been worsened by plant foods.
Is mood more consistent on animal-based diet on days 2,3,4 etc post-release? Do you experience general anhedonia at all? Absolutely it is more consistent, on all days, including 1,2,3, and 4. Definitely do not experience the degree of anhedonia on a gluten-free wholefoods diet. Sometimes mood can be a bit blander, but overall it animal-based does a far better job at handling POIS and reducing its symptoms.
To remind myself of the experiences I am talking about, which served in contrasting symptoms:
- (gluten free wholefoods - severe symptoms / social apathy) when I went home to the mountains, went out for coffee with the rents, sitting in cafe feeling very socially apathetic.
- (mostly animal-based - handled it way better) when I went back to the city, helped my sis by talking thru some of her relationship difficulties, feeling very grounded + present, zero apathy. Also the day I am responding to these questions, 1 day post release, feeling very sharp, clear-minded, zero aparthy, talked to my roomie, etc.
The fact that I am sensitive to gluten should be no surprise I am also sensitive to other plant foods, and therefore do better on an animal-based diet.