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Mental Health
Is Your Diet Affecting Your Mental Health?
Date: 12/08/11
The idea that food affects the mind and may even cause mood
disorders is an alien concept to many people. However, since
the brain is one of the most delicate organs in our bodies — using up to 30 per cent of all the energy we derive from
food, this should come as no surprise.
Food allergies have the potential to upset hormones levels and other key chemicals in the brain. This can result in symptoms ranging from depression to schizophrenia. The shocking truth is that doctors have known about this link for years... Yet, instead of testing for food intolerances and allergies, patients suffering with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues are automatically handed prescription drugs without any investigations being carried out to detect what the root cause of their problems may be.
Even in the case of migraines, studies show that up to 90 per cent are caused by food sensitivities.
One man’s food is another man’s poison
In the 1950s and ‘60s some doctors in the US began to notice that their patients’ mental and emotional health were affected by food. Drs Rinkel, Randolph and Zeller described in their book entitled ‘FOOD ALLERGY’ how depression, feeling drugged, suffering from hallucinations and suffering from insomnia could all be caused by food. In fact, Dr. Randolph went so far as to say that 60-70 per cent of symptoms, initially diagnosed as psychosomatic, are in fact undiagnosed reactions to food, inhalants and chemicals.
One of the first studies linking food allergies and mental health was conducted in Germany. In this double-blind placebo-controlled trial, thirty patients suffering from confusion, poor concentration, depression and anxiety were given either their allergenic or their non-allergenic foods, in such small quantities that they didn't know they were eating them.
The results showed that the food allergens alone provoked severe depression, nervousness, feelings of anger, loss of motivation, and severe mental blankness. Not surprisingly, the foods that caused the most severe mental reactions were common food allergens: milk, wheat, cane sugar and eggs. Favourite foods are often the offending foods.
However, most sufferers find that when problem foods are identified and eliminated from their diet, many of their symptoms diminish or even disappear, making it easier to manage their condition.
When food harms
Another controlled trial looked at food allergies and sensitivity to naturally occurring salicylates — found in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, spices, spreads, teas and coffee, juices, beer and wines and in medicines like aspirin.
The study followed 96 patients diagnosed as suffering from alcohol dependency, major depressive disorders, or schizophrenia. The mental health patients were compared to 62 control subjects selected from adult hospital staff members. The study found that patients diagnosed with depression had the most allergies: 80 per cent were allergic to barley and all were allergic to egg white.
The study also found that:
There is also a strong link between coeliac disease — an intolerance to gluten — and mental health problems.
Dr. Lauretta Bender was one of the first researchers who noticed a relationship between the malabsorption of cereal grains and schizophrenia, back in 1953. She noted that schizophrenic children were much more prone to having coeliac disease.
Identify problems effectively with an elimination diet
The most reliable way of detecting food intolerances is through an elimination diet. This involves avoiding all foods likely to cause allergies for at least two weeks, then re- introducing them one at a time. You should do this under the supervision of a nutritionist, who will assess your nutritional status before you start and monitor your progress. Once you have identified the offending foods, keep them out of your diet. Typical foods include wheat, eggs, soya or milk. Unless you have a ‘true allergy’ to a food you may be able to re-introduce it in small amounts after six months and continue to eat it occasionally.
The integrity of your gut mucosa – the layer of cells lining your gut – often underlies food allergies. It should be selective about what it lets into your bloodstream, to be transported to your liver. But if it becomes damaged, due to a yeast infection, medication, or poor diet, it can let undigested proteins through. This is called ‘leaky gut syndrome’, and can cause chronic diarrhoea, bloating and abdominal pain. The presence of these ‘foreign’ food molecules in your blood often triggers food allergy responses. Maintain the health of your gut by avoiding sugar and refined carbohydrates, cutting down on coffee and alcohol, and eating plenty of fresh vegetables and essential fatty acids (from oily fish, nuts and seeds).
If you suspect you have a food intolerance, see a nutritional therapist and follow an elimination diet. Alternatively, York Test Laboratories (www.yorktest.com) can help determine food sensitivities through a finger-prick blood test. If you suspect a food allergy, which directly affects your immune system, consult your doctor who can arrange for you to get tested.
In the August issue of his monthly journal, Nutrition and Healing, Dr. Jonathan V. Wright, writes extensively about the effects food allergies and intolerances can have on your health. To learn more about this and how to become a premium member of Nutrition and Healing, click here:
Sources:
Lancet ii:865-9,1987
Boris, M & Mandel, E. (1994) Food additives are common causes of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children. Annals of Allergy 75(5); 462-8
Carter, C M et al. (1993) Effects of a few foods diet in attention deficit disorder. Archives of Disease in Childhood (69); 564-8
Egger, J et al. (1985) Controlled trial of oligoantigenic treatment in the hyperkinetic syndrome. Lancet (1): 540-5
Loblay, R & Swain, A. (1986) Food intolerance In Wahlqvist M and Truswell, A (Eds) Recent Advances in Clinical Nutrition. John Libby, London. pp.1659-177.
Rowe, K S & Rowe, K L. (1994) Synthetic food colouring and behaviour: a dose-response effect in a double-blind, placebo- controled, repeated-measures study. Journal of Paediatrics (125);691-698.
Ward, N I. (1997). Assessment of chemical factors in relation to child hyperactivity. J Nutr & Env Med (ABINGDON) 7(14):343-342.
‘Vitamin B’ published online, netfit.co.uk
Food and Depression, published online, nutritionalmedicine.org.uk
Food, Mood And Behaviour, published online, asehaqld.org.au
Back to topFood allergies have the potential to upset hormones levels and other key chemicals in the brain. This can result in symptoms ranging from depression to schizophrenia. The shocking truth is that doctors have known about this link for years... Yet, instead of testing for food intolerances and allergies, patients suffering with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues are automatically handed prescription drugs without any investigations being carried out to detect what the root cause of their problems may be.
Even in the case of migraines, studies show that up to 90 per cent are caused by food sensitivities.
One man’s food is another man’s poison
In the 1950s and ‘60s some doctors in the US began to notice that their patients’ mental and emotional health were affected by food. Drs Rinkel, Randolph and Zeller described in their book entitled ‘FOOD ALLERGY’ how depression, feeling drugged, suffering from hallucinations and suffering from insomnia could all be caused by food. In fact, Dr. Randolph went so far as to say that 60-70 per cent of symptoms, initially diagnosed as psychosomatic, are in fact undiagnosed reactions to food, inhalants and chemicals.
One of the first studies linking food allergies and mental health was conducted in Germany. In this double-blind placebo-controlled trial, thirty patients suffering from confusion, poor concentration, depression and anxiety were given either their allergenic or their non-allergenic foods, in such small quantities that they didn't know they were eating them.
The results showed that the food allergens alone provoked severe depression, nervousness, feelings of anger, loss of motivation, and severe mental blankness. Not surprisingly, the foods that caused the most severe mental reactions were common food allergens: milk, wheat, cane sugar and eggs. Favourite foods are often the offending foods.
However, most sufferers find that when problem foods are identified and eliminated from their diet, many of their symptoms diminish or even disappear, making it easier to manage their condition.
When food harms
Another controlled trial looked at food allergies and sensitivity to naturally occurring salicylates — found in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, spices, spreads, teas and coffee, juices, beer and wines and in medicines like aspirin.
The study followed 96 patients diagnosed as suffering from alcohol dependency, major depressive disorders, or schizophrenia. The mental health patients were compared to 62 control subjects selected from adult hospital staff members. The study found that patients diagnosed with depression had the most allergies: 80 per cent were allergic to barley and all were allergic to egg white.
The study also found that:
-
* Over half the alcoholics tested were found to be
allergic to egg white, milk, rye, and barley.
* 80 per cent of schizophrenics were found to be allergic to both milk and eggs.
There is also a strong link between coeliac disease — an intolerance to gluten — and mental health problems.
Dr. Lauretta Bender was one of the first researchers who noticed a relationship between the malabsorption of cereal grains and schizophrenia, back in 1953. She noted that schizophrenic children were much more prone to having coeliac disease.
Identify problems effectively with an elimination diet
The most reliable way of detecting food intolerances is through an elimination diet. This involves avoiding all foods likely to cause allergies for at least two weeks, then re- introducing them one at a time. You should do this under the supervision of a nutritionist, who will assess your nutritional status before you start and monitor your progress. Once you have identified the offending foods, keep them out of your diet. Typical foods include wheat, eggs, soya or milk. Unless you have a ‘true allergy’ to a food you may be able to re-introduce it in small amounts after six months and continue to eat it occasionally.
The integrity of your gut mucosa – the layer of cells lining your gut – often underlies food allergies. It should be selective about what it lets into your bloodstream, to be transported to your liver. But if it becomes damaged, due to a yeast infection, medication, or poor diet, it can let undigested proteins through. This is called ‘leaky gut syndrome’, and can cause chronic diarrhoea, bloating and abdominal pain. The presence of these ‘foreign’ food molecules in your blood often triggers food allergy responses. Maintain the health of your gut by avoiding sugar and refined carbohydrates, cutting down on coffee and alcohol, and eating plenty of fresh vegetables and essential fatty acids (from oily fish, nuts and seeds).
If you suspect you have a food intolerance, see a nutritional therapist and follow an elimination diet. Alternatively, York Test Laboratories (www.yorktest.com) can help determine food sensitivities through a finger-prick blood test. If you suspect a food allergy, which directly affects your immune system, consult your doctor who can arrange for you to get tested.
In the August issue of his monthly journal, Nutrition and Healing, Dr. Jonathan V. Wright, writes extensively about the effects food allergies and intolerances can have on your health. To learn more about this and how to become a premium member of Nutrition and Healing, click here:
Sources:
Lancet ii:865-9,1987
Boris, M & Mandel, E. (1994) Food additives are common causes of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children. Annals of Allergy 75(5); 462-8
Carter, C M et al. (1993) Effects of a few foods diet in attention deficit disorder. Archives of Disease in Childhood (69); 564-8
Egger, J et al. (1985) Controlled trial of oligoantigenic treatment in the hyperkinetic syndrome. Lancet (1): 540-5
Loblay, R & Swain, A. (1986) Food intolerance In Wahlqvist M and Truswell, A (Eds) Recent Advances in Clinical Nutrition. John Libby, London. pp.1659-177.
Rowe, K S & Rowe, K L. (1994) Synthetic food colouring and behaviour: a dose-response effect in a double-blind, placebo- controled, repeated-measures study. Journal of Paediatrics (125);691-698.
Ward, N I. (1997). Assessment of chemical factors in relation to child hyperactivity. J Nutr & Env Med (ABINGDON) 7(14):343-342.
‘Vitamin B’ published online, netfit.co.uk
Food and Depression, published online, nutritionalmedicine.org.uk
Food, Mood And Behaviour, published online, asehaqld.org.au
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