South Beach Diet Makes you Angry?

Question

Since my boyfriend started trying the South Beach diet, he's felt angry all the time about no reason in particular. Is this normal? Is there something that can be done to help correct it? Will it go away?

Answer 1

He could be irritable for a couple of reasons. As fitman said, it could be due to hypoglycemia. A low carb diet will produce that. That being said though.. did he just start the diet? The first two weeks requires him to eliminate ALL bread type carbs from his diet (bread, pasta, etc). Vegetables have carbs in them, but it's a different source of carbs. Once he hits the 3rd week, he's suppose to reintroduce good carbs back into his diet (whole grain bread, pasta, brown rice, etc). Right now, if he's just started the diet, his body is going through a withdrawal stage (it could be a big withdrawal depending on what his diet was before, ie. potatoe chips, white bread and pasta, fries, sugars, etc.). The more dramatic the change, the more withdrawal he'll have. Don't worry though. It's just a phase. Once he hits phase 2 and starts bringing back good carbs, he should start feeling a whole lot better! If anything, he'll probably be more "balanced" than he was before he started the diet! Tell him good luck!

Answer 2

Actually, it a normal effect of low carb diets but it not a normal condition for the human body. Here is why:

Carbs are the primary fuel source for the brain and the entire nervous system (also the ONLY fuel source for the red blood cells and kidneys).

One of the effects of low carb diets is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Irritability is one of the symptoms of being in the early stages of hypoglycemia.

Here is a link to more info about low carb diets.

http://spartafit.com/articles/low%20carb%20diets.html

Answer 3

he is probably irratable b/c of the lack of carbohydrates. it makes you feel tired and run down almost. tell him to eat something like a 9 grain bread or something. That is good for him.