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  • Essay / The Impact of Gluten on Mental Health

    When a doctor diagnoses a brain/mental disorder, the first thought after diagnosis is what medication should be prescribed to the patient. Although medication is necessary for most and is an effective method of treatment, what the average person doesn't know is that many symptoms related to mental illnesses can also stem from a gluten allergy. It is also important to recognize that celiac disease is not the only gluten-related disease, but also the most well-known. Gluten has many effects, including on the brain and its daily functioning. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, insomnia, and brain fog can all be the result of or slightly influenced by a gluten allergy. For many, a gluten-free diet has relieved the symptoms of these disorders, prompting doctors to take this approach when treating a patient. Indeed, the allergy is caused by an immunological reaction. Testing can be difficult, so research needs to continue to help detect these reactions. More and more people are becoming aware of non-celiac gluten sensitivity and it is important to understand that gluten can also significantly affect the brain; Gluten can be the cause of many mental and brain illnesses and there is evidence that a gluten-free diet can relieve the symptoms of these disorders. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayGluten-free labels can be noticed on almost every visit to a grocery store, gluten-free sections are on almost every restaurant menu, and it's very It's common to hear someone say they're gluten-free almost everywhere. Everyone has heard this expression, but what exactly is gluten and why does it negatively affect the brain? Gluten is made up of protein and is found in foods containing wheat, barley and rye. In celiac disease, the allergy is caused by an adverse immunological reaction to wheat proteins. In cases of gluten sensitivity (non-celiac), the symptoms are caused by an increased immunological reaction to gluten and this reaction usually also comes from genetics. Gluten specifically degenerates the brain and nerve tissue significantly in an allergic person, causing neurological problems. to (Gaesser). Because people hear about these allergies, they may assume that a gluten-free diet is appropriate for a generally healthy person. Many people follow a gluten-free diet as a fad, assuming that because allergies and celiac disease are common, they immediately assume that gluten in general is harmful. This is not always the case, as much of the problem comes from genetics. It's crucial to start with the assumption that the gluten-free diet is for everyone's rest, because gluten has benefits if you're healthy and not allergic. In addition to spreading the trend based on these assumptions, the benefits of the diet for someone struggling with mental health is very important information to convey. When looking at depression, there are other ways symptoms can stem from gluten. In an article published in Functional Medicine Patient Education, the author states: “…the intestinal wall becomes too porous. This allows undigested food, toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream where they trigger inflammation throughout the body and brain” (“Gluten cancause depression, anxiety, brain fog and other brain disorders). Many different reactions can cause brain damage. This article focuses on the bacteria found in gluten that cannot be digested by most. This is why many celiac disease patients may also suffer from depression; there is a direct correlation. In addition to this, there is also a reaction called gluten cross-reactivity. Gluten has a structure similar to that of brain tissue. The immune system can then mistake gluten in the blood for brain tissue and attack the brain. All of these reactions associated with gluten cause an imbalance with bacteria (good and bad) in the digestive tract. Since the digestive tract is where many nutrients necessary for brain health are absorbed, many nutrients end up not being absorbed, thereby slowing down or stopping chemicals essential for preventing mental illness. In reality, these processes are very complicated and can be difficult to detect. Due to its complexity, a gluten allergy is usually diagnosed through either a test or a gluten-free diet test. To test gluten-related disorders and treatment, the University of Maryland conducted a six-year study involving 347 patients. . This study tested these patients' symptoms and their relationship, as well as treatment. The results showed that "the two most common gluten-related extraintestinal manifestations were 'foggy mind' (42%) and fatigue (36%)" (Reese Parish 44). Out of 347 patients, these numbers are very significant when assessing symptoms. These symptoms are also found in people suffering from depression, anxiety, insomnia, and many other brain disorders. It is also crucial to recognize that the majority of these subjects did not know that these symptoms could come from gluten; they were chosen at random. The study then looked at thirty-seven patients with similar symptoms and treated them by removing gluten from their diet and all symptoms were reduced. This topic is still the subject of much research and discussion by many scientists, but studies and research have proven the mental health benefits of a gluten-free diet and that allergy is in fact common in the world. Many other studies validate the reasoning of doctors recommending the gluten-free diet. diets for patients with mental disorders. The publication Gastroenterology Research and Practice includes another case study of a five-year-old girl with extreme psychiatric problems. Until the age of four, the girl was healthy, but suddenly she began to have visual and auditory hallucinations. From the hallucinations of fairies to the horrific scenes of a young boy, this girl suffered extremely. At first, her mother tried eliminating soy, corn and dairy from her diet, but to no avail. While attending nutrition classes when she was older, she came across the idea of ​​eliminating gluten, which made her hallucinations disappear completely. “She describes being able to dedicate herself sustainably to her studies for the first time in her life, which allowed her to obtain her degree in biology and obtain a job” (Genuis). Without the gluten-free diet, this girl may never have been able to continue her education and succeed. A second case study also validates the improvement. This study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia by Monash University. The researchers specifically focused.