Why food may be affecting your mood
Problem foods can contribute to anxiety in a number of ways, including inflammation and physical stress due to the production of antibodies. Another possible mechanism, is a histamine imblalance, often related to allergies or sensitivities to both foods and environmental allergens, such as pollen, dander, or mold.
While only 1 percent of the U.S. population has celiac disease (when eating gluten triggers an autoimmune response that damages the intestines and keeps nutrients from being properly absorbed), many more may be living with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. For these people , consuming even a small amount of gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye — causes digestive problems, drops in energy, and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Gluten sensitivity can limit the availability of tryptophan and therefore lead to decreases in levels of seretonin. Another possible mechanism is indirect effects of gastrointestinal damage due to eating problem foods, resulting in nutrient malabsorption.
Clinical experience and specific studies support the connection between gluten and anxiety, and depression. Sensitivity to gluten may result in digestive problems like gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. If you have digestive issues in addition to anxiety, its likely that the microvilli of your intestinal wall are damaged and need time to heal.
You may also have nutrient deficiencies as a result of this damage, including low levels of the B vitamins, Vitamins A, D, E, K, Iron, and tryptophan. Some of these deficiencies could be contributing to your anxiety symptoms.
Also, patients with untreated Celiac disease have been found to have reduced blood flow to certain areas of the brain. This could have a bearing on anxiety, depression, focus, and cognitive functions.
Specific tests can determine whether gluten is an issue for you, or you can do an elimination-challenge trial, in which you quit eating the potentially problematic food for two weeks to see if symptoms resolve, and then reintroduce it to see if symptoms reappear.
If you feel better when you don't eat gluten, I recommend avoiding it to prevent possible long-term health consequences. If you are interested in learning which supplements improve the well-being of people with celiac -disease , sign up under my fullscript dispensary and check category under "Celiac-Disease, well being. You can also DM here if you have any questions or drop me a note below.
Stay well and Stay Healthy.
The content of my page is for Informatinal/Educational purposes only. Nothing should be constructed as medical advise.
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