Gluten Can Make You Depressed Even If You Don’t Have Celiac Disease

A lot of people are eliminating gluten from their diet, and discovering surprising mental health benefits. You don’t have to be a celiac to feel ill after consuming gluten. Milder forms of gluten sensitivity are becoming increasingly common.

Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune condition that can cause severe destruction to the small intestine, with potentially devastating consequences. Celiac disease is becoming increasingly prevalent, and better diagnosed; therefore a lot more people are following a gluten free diet and reaping the benefits.

In May 2014, a study was published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics titled “Gluten May Cause Depression in Subjects with Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity”. The study was led by Dr. Simone Peters. 22 people participated in the study and the researchers observed a marked rise in depression in the individuals consuming gluten.

The researchers came up with several hypotheses as to why gluten promotes depression in some people:

• Eating gluten can reduce the amount of serotonin in the brain. This has been shown to occur in animal studies. Lower levels of serotonin are correlated with lower mood.
• The breakdown components of gluten can act as “exorphins” in the brain. Similar to endorphins (produced inside the body). Exorphins can temporarily raise mood and then later promote feelings of depression.
• Gluten may modify the composition of bacteria that lives in the gastrointestinal tract in a way that promotes dysbiosis. That is, it can skew the balance between good and bad gut bugs. Certainly a great deal of research has already shown there is a strong relationship between the intestinal microbiome and mental health. For some people, removing gluten from the diet alters the microbiome in a way that promotes better mood and emotional health.
  If you wish to exclude gluten from your diet, we recommend you base your diet on inherently gluten free foods, such as unprocessed, natural foods including vegetables, fruit, poultry, eggs, seafood, meat, nuts, legumes and gluten free grains such as rice. The majority of gluten free packaged foods are high in sugar, vegetable oil and artificial additives, which can negate the benefits of a gluten free diet and promote weight gain. It is not difficult to achieve a healthy, balanced gluten free diet if you include a variety of natural foods each day.

For more help with natural ways to improve your mood, see the book Help for Depression and Anxiety by Dr Cabot.

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