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From:	Leanne (121.218.205.139)
Subject:	Depression on 811 diet
Date:	January 18, 2012 at 2:40 pm PST

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced symptoms of depression on the 811 diet? (ie. those on a 100%, 811 diet for more than a few years!). A friend of mine (in her late 40's) who had been 811 for 4years abandoned the diet when her symtoms got worse. On closer investigation with her doctor, she found out that the diet is low in the raw materials needed to make tryptophan and the co-factors needed like folic acid, vit b6. There is a real risk of low serotonin levels with long term 811ers. Even though there are natural sources of tryptophan in the vegan diet, the 811 diet is low in them. Most nuts, seeds, greens have tryptophan, but they are in very small amounts and not enough to balance brain chemistry and eating them have put her over the 10% fat intake allowance, likewise with folic acid and Vit B6. Sure banannas have tryptophan, but not everyone is eating 30 a day! She said that the first 2 years on 811 where amazing with the cleasning process going on, until year 3-4 when depression set in and she started cheating on the diet (which is common but not spoken about due to the shame) people have invested so much belief in 811 that they don't want to even admit to themselves that its just not working for them long term. She started supplementing with 5-HTP and within 2 weeks her symptoms cleared up, she now eats more avocados, nuts/seeds and is probably eating up to 30% fat but has not put on weight because she jogs daily, more importantly she said she hasn't felt better. She said she went through a grieving process while giving up her identity as an 811er, but at least she has her mental health and balanced hormones back.

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