Celiac Depression – An Inevitable Consequence of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease because it damages our body’s immune system. It is estimated that approximately 3 million Americans suffer from gluten allergy or celiac disease. Many others suffer from a relatively milder gluten sensitivity.
Celiac disease creates problems in your villi (the lining of your small intestine) when you consume gluten. Gluten is usually found in wheat, rye, barley. Gluten can be considered a “poison” for people with celiac disease. Naturally, they must follow a gluten-free diet for the rest of their lives.
Even if celiac patients follow a gluten-free diet, they may develop depression due to their difficulty adjusting to the disease and the diet they are on. It’s only natural that if a person is told not to eat certain foods for the rest of their life, they get upset and upset at the very idea! And then the changes in his diet can cause many nutritional imbalances, leading to a depressed state of mind.
One of the misdiagnosed symptoms of celiac disease is depression. This happens because celiac disease targets your small intestine where nutrients from your food are absorbed. If you have celiac disease, the gluten in your diet acts as a barrier between your food and your body. It seals the villi in your small intestine which absorb nutrients. When you don’t get the essential nutrients required by your body or your brain, you will gradually begin to exhibit mental health imbalances. Additionally, gluten is considered an “excitable amino acid” which can make many people anxious or “excited” when gluten is digested.
The effects of celiac depression are devastating. From sleep problems, they can lead to suicidal thoughts. And the solution is simple: a strict gluten-free diet.
Many people with celiac disease are unaware of the serious consequences of eating gluten. They try to avoid products that apparently contain gluten, but usually get caught up in cross-contamination issues. Many foods available at the supermarket like peanut butter, chicken broth, flavored coffee and others may contain gluten. Sometimes there is a sudden change in labels and people are used to accepting things based on their prior knowledge. The consumption of these “contaminated” products leads to attacks of depression.
What starts in your gut seems to travel throughout your body, affecting how the body and your brain function. There are many antidepressants on the market and many therapies are offered to eliminate depression. But the first solution for the majority of depressed celiacs seems to be a strictly gluten-free diet!
Note: This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice.
