Bipolar depression refers to the “lows” or depressive stages of one’s mental health that occurs with a condition known as bipolar disorder. It is necessary to follow proper food habits to manage this phase of depression. The food habits not only refers to what foods need to consume but also what should not be eaten. Caffeinated beverages like coffee, soda, and energy drinks; fatty and fried foods like fries and onion rings.

As well as processed foods like chips, cookies, granola bars, fruit snacks, and frozen dinners; sugary desserts and candy bars; salt, which is found in bacon and ham, cheese, pickles, and soy sauce; red meat, including lamb, pork, beef, and goat; saturated fat found in cream, cheese, butter; products containing white flour such as pasta, bagels, and bread; alcoholic beverages including beer, wine, and spirits; and other whole-milk dairy products are few of the food items that need to be cut down to manage such phase of depression.

Here is a list of foods and the reasons why it should be avoided:

1. Caffeine can trigger mood swings
A person with bipolar depression may always feel the need to have extra caffeine since it seems to boost energy initially; however, this ultimately disrupts their sleep pattern. Avoiding coffee helps in getting good sleep, which is very important for people with bipolar disorder. Just by cutting down on coffee, half the symptoms can be alleviated.

2. Grapefruit interacts with the medication
Some of the medications for bipolar interact poorly with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, which may increase the levels of those medications in the blood. The chemicals in the grapefruit may interfere with the absorption of the medication by wiping out the enzyme that breaks down the drugs. This may cause the system to absorb the medication quickly. It is necessary to check with one’s doctor if one should avoid grapefruit for the medications taken.

3. Salty foods are tricky
People with bipolar may generally have high blood pressure, so it is always better to limit the salt intake. Also, if any person with bipolar is taking lithium, the intake of salt may be tricky. If there is a sudden change in the intake of salt, it can affect the lithium levels, which, in turn, can affect one’s mental alertness. So it is necessary to consult with a doctor how much salt one can have daily.

4. Better to stay away from sugar
Sugar may cause unbalanced mood swings which may further worsen the depressive phase. Also, sugar may interact with certain medications and lower the effectiveness of the medication. If one wants to have something sweet, fruits can be consumed.

5. Fatty foods can also interfere with the medication
If one is consuming any medications for bipolar disorder, like grapefruit, fatty foods can also change the way the medications get absorbed. It may slow down the absorption and interfere with the effectiveness of the medication.

6. Alcohol triggers depression
Alcohol generally interacts poorly with the bipolar medications one consumes. Most people suffering from bipolar disorder become alcohol dependent thinking that it stabilizes the mood. However, it doesn’t work that way and only triggers a depressive phase.