Abhilash’s Case Study: Managing Anxiety, ADHD, Digestive Discomfort, and Lipid Imbalance Through a Holistic Nutrition Approach by Deepika Chalasani, Best Nutritionist in Hyderabad, India.

CASE STUDY & SUCCESS STORIES

Name: Abhilash

Age:24 years

Location:Hyderabad

Case Study: Abhilash, a 24-year-old male software engineer, presented with ongoing issues of anxiety and intrusive thoughts for the past 8 years, significantly interfering with his personal and professional life.

He also reported a pre-existing diagnosis of ADHD. Due to the severity of his anxiety symptoms, he had already been advised to start on anti-anxiety medications by his physician. During the course of evaluation, blood investigations revealed markedly high triglyceride levels (354 mg/dL) and elevated VLDL cholesterol. These findings are clinically significant because high triglycerides increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and metabolic complications. In a young adult like Abhilash, such abnormalities strongly suggest that stress, poor dietary choices, and a sedentary lifestyle may already be impacting his metabolic health.

Abhilash reported a sedentary routine due to the demands of his job as a software engineer. Long working hours, irregular sleep schedules, and high screen exposure had worsened his anxiety, disrupted his sleep, and likely contributed to metabolic stress. He emphasized that beyond symptom relief, his core goals were to lead a healthy and happy life, enhance energy levels, achieve better digestion, experience less mood agitation, and restore a healthy sleep cycle.These goals highlight that Abhilash was seeking a holistic improvement in quality of life, not just treatment for anxiety.

Approach by the best online nutritionist and dietician in Hyderabad, Telangana, India: Deepika Chalasani

Abhilash’s food diary showed that he was having random meals, and a large part of his intake consisted of easily digestible carbs such as idlis, bread and butter, cornflakes with milk, roti and sabji, curd rice, dal rice, and more. This pattern was causing elevated triglycerides, increased mood swings, ADHD symptoms, disrupted sleep, and digestive discomfort. His health journey required a nutrition plan that could simultaneously address his mental health challenges—anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and ADHD—alongside metabolic concerns like high triglycerides and elevated VLDL. The approach was therefore not about food restriction alone but about creating a structured, therapeutic rhythm that stabilized mood, supported digestion, and improved his lipid profile, while being practical for a software engineer who has limited knowledge of cooking.

His mornings began with two glasses of water, a simple yet powerful ritual to hydrate his body after overnight rest, stimulate digestion, and gently awaken his metabolism. For someone experiencing anxiety and poor sleep, this routine also served as a grounding practice, allowing him to start the day with calm rather than restlessness.

Breakfast was deliberately built to be rich in protein and antioxidants, energy-giving brain foods, while minimizing glycaemic spikes. He was encouraged to start with 150 g of seasonal fruit paired with 20 g of seed mix, a combination that delivered fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats to strengthen immunity and brain health. Alongside this, there was a portion of non-irritable, gut-friendly carbohydrates—poha, non-gluten upma, or slow-digesting oats cooked with vegetables—which added complex carbohydrates and fiber for satiety and digestive strength.The cornerstone of this meal was a plant protein shake, providing clean, easily absorbable protein to stabilize blood sugar, improve focus, and reduce mood agitation—particularly relevant given his ADHD and anxiety profile. Together, this breakfast offered balanced energy, mental clarity, and metabolic protection.

Lunch was structured as a balanced plate, bringing discipline to both portions and food quality. It included 200 g steamed or sautéed vegetables, 100 g salad, 120 g cooked white rice or 2 medium rotis, and 150 g light vegetable curry. Protein sources rotated across 60 g chicken, 65 g fish, 1–2 eggs, or 60 g paneer/whole legumes on vegetarian days, ensuring variety and consistent intake. To further support gut health, 75 g hung curd or Greek yogurt was included as a probiotic source, while 1 teaspoon of ghee was added intentionally to aid absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, crucial for correcting deficiencies and improving mood balance. This structure of half the plate of lightly cooked vegetables, controlled carbohydrates, palm-sized protein, probiotic support, and good fats ensured that his triglyceride levels were addressed, his digestion improved, and his energy levels remained steady during his workday.

In the evening, Abhilash was advised not to skip food or reach for processed snacks, but instead to include small, nourishing options. Choices such as 30 g nuts, 25 g makhana, or a small dal tikki were provided. These offered protein, minerals, and healthy fats that supported his lipid profile and provided mental calmness, without adding unnecessary sugar or unhealthy fats. This small intervention also prevented overeating at night, helping him transition into his evening hours with steadier energy and improved mood control.

Dinner was deliberately kept lighter than lunch but sumptuous enough to ensure there were no hunger pangs, a critical strategy for someone with high triglycerides and a disrupted sleep cycle. His meals alternated between vegetable-rich soups, 2 green rotis with light curry, or modest portions of lean protein such as fish, chicken, paneer, or tofu. Occasionally, restorative options like paya soup or mutton broth were included in moderation. Root vegetables and heavy cereals were avoided to minimize night-time glucose spikes. The most important element was timing: having dinner by 7:30–8:00 pm was emphasized as a lifestyle anchor, supporting digestion, metabolic reset, and a healthier sleep cycle.

This plan was more than a diet; it was a comprehensive therapeutic intervention. Every element was intentional: protein-rich meals to stabilize neurotransmitters and reduce mood agitation; vegetables and antioxidant foods to reduce systemic inflammation; probiotics and fiber to improve gut health and digestion; and early, portion-controlled dinners to regulate sleep and triglycerides. By aligning with his personal goals to lead a healthy, happy life, enhance immunity and energy, improve digestion, ease mood agitation, and restore sleep, the plan gave Abhilash a structured yet sustainable pathway to better mental and metabolic health.

Result:

Abhilash’s consistent adherence to his personalized nutrition and lifestyle plan brought about remarkable transformations in both his physical and mental health. Over the course of his journey, his weight reduced from 68 kg to 62 kg, reflecting steady and sustainable fat loss without compromising muscle strength or energy. This shift was accompanied by dramatic improvements in his lipid profile — his triglycerides dropped from 354 mg/dL to 77 mg/dL, an excellent correction that significantly reduced his cardiovascular and metabolic risks, while his VLDL improved from 70.8 mg/dL to 15.4 mg/dL, moving into a healthy range. These measurable outcomes reflected how effectively the plan worked with his body to reverse early signs of metabolic dysfunction.

Beyond the numbers, the most meaningful changes were in Abhilash’s everyday life. His anxiety levels eased, giving him greater calm and focus during his demanding workdays. His gut health improved, with better digestion and reduced discomfort that previously aggravated his mental stress. His sleep quality transformed, with earlier, more restful nights that restored his circadian rhythm and contributed to a natural energy boost through the day. As a result, he began to experience higher energy levels, enhanced immunity, and less mood agitation, aligning directly with the goals he had set out for himself.

Deepika Chalasani is a Clinical Nutritionist, Mind and Body Transformation Coach, and co-founder of Fit4Life India, an integrated nutrition and wellness organization for Indians that provides complete solutions, addressing health and wellness challenges of individuals by working on their overall well-being. Deepika, the best nutritionist in Hyderabad for weight loss and online dietician can be contacted via email at deepika.chalasani@gmail.com or Mobile at +91 9381525943

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