• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hashi Mashi

Fitness Tips for Your Mind and Body

  • Body Transformation
    • Change Your Body: the Ultimate Guide
    • How deadlifts change your body
    • Getting Fit at 50 before and after photos
    • Swimming body transformation
    • 12-week body transformation plan
    • How rowing changes your body
    • Running body transformation
    • Rock climbing body transformation
    • How cycling changes your body
    • Assault bike body transformation
    • Skinny fat to muscular
    • CrossFit Body Transformation
    • How kickboxing changes your body
    • Types of Workouts for Body Transformation
  • Diet
    • How to lose 20 pounds in 3 months
    • Deadlift calories burned
    • Lifting weights to lose belly fat
    • Clean Eating for Beginners
    • Benefits of losing 20 pounds
    • How to lose 75lbs in 6 months
    • The Obesity Code summary
    • Deadlift for fat loss
  • Exercises
    • Deadlifts
      • Deadlift muscles worked
      • Benefits of deadlifts
      • How to deadlift
      • Deadlift accessory lifts
      • Deadlift alternative for bad back
    • Squats
      • Squat muscles worked
      • Benefits of squats
      • How to squat
      • Squat accessory lifts
      • Squats for body transformation
    • Bench Press
      • Bench Press Benefits
      • Improve Your Bench
      • Incline vs Flat Bench Press
      • Floor Press VS Bench Press
    • Power Cleans
      • Power Cleans Muscles Worked
      • Power Clean VS Deadlift
      • Power Clean VS Squat Clean
    • Overhead Presses
      • Overhead Press Muscles Worked
      • Overhead Press Accessory Exercises
    • Chin-Ups / Pull-Ups
      • Neutral grip pull-ups muscles worked
      • Pull Ups benefits, muscles worked
      • Chin Up Muscles Worked
      • Chin-Ups vs Pull-Ups
    • Push-ups
      • 100 pushups a day
      • Pushup muscles worked
      • Benefits of pushups
      • Exercises to Improve Pushups
  • Workouts
    • 3×5 workout program
    • Army prt exercises
    • Strength Training for Men Over 50
    • Bodybuilding over 50 workout routine + PDF
    • Weight lifting for weight loss
    • Minimalist training
    • Powerbuilding program + PDF
    • Strength Training for Women Over 50
    • Beginner deadlift workout routine
    • Deadlift Program
    • Beginner squat workout routine
    • 5/3/1 for Beginners
  • Equipment
    • Weightlifting
      • Olympic Barbells
      • Elbow Sleeves
      • Knee Sleeves
      • Weightlifting Shoes
      • Weightlifting Belts
      • Gifts for Weightlifters
      • Bumper Plates
      • Dumbbells
      • Weight Benches
      • Cable Machines
    • Deadlift Equipment
      • Best shoes for squats & deadlifts
      • Deadlift shin guards
      • Deadlift bars
      • DIY deadlift platform
      • Best lifting straps
      • Deadlift socks
    • Calisthenics
      • Calisthenic Equipment
      • Weighted Vests
      • Resistance Bands
      • Power Towers
    • Supplements
      • Best Protein Powders
      • Supplements for Men Over 50
      • Multivitamins for Men Over 50
      • Best Budget Probiotics
    • Cardio
      • Best Air Bikes
      • Rowing Machines Under 500
      • Walking Shoes for Men
      • Compact Treadmills
      • Treadmills for a Heavy Person
      • Recumbent Bikes
      • Budget Ellipticals
Home » Is there a Connection Between Gluten and Depression?

Is there a Connection Between Gluten and Depression?

Updated December 16, 2021 by Rich

0 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Is there a link between gluten and depression?

You might have been wondering for months, years, or decades as to why you are down, depressed, in a brain fog.

There might be dietary links to your depression.

Here is an excellent article that discusses the relationship between gluten and depression.

Several years ago, out of desperation, I cut grains completely out of my diet.

I was sitting and noshing on my second blueberry muffin at midnight.

After having had a full day of grains.

Egg sandwich in the morning, pizza in the afternoon, pasta late lunch and a hero at night.

I was just totally beside myself because I knew that I was not hungry.

How could I be hungry?

But if I was not hungry, why was I craving more at midnight?

The information below might shed some light as to why after only six months, I was 75 pounds lighter.

I looked dramatically different and the effects of lifting my mood were palpable.

It sure seemed to me like there was a connection between gluten and depression.

As well as between gluten and obesity.

If you are struggling with depression, you might want to check out a similar approach to real food.

No grains, lifting your body off the couch to do pushups, walk, run, swim.

Lift weights to lift yourself out of your depression!

Gluten and Depression – Is There a Connection?

The Link Between Gluten and Depression
Published on May 24, 2011, by James M. Greenblatt, M.D. in The Breakthrough Depression Solution

I recently consulted with a 24-year-old patient diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and depression.

He was prescribed a different medication for each diagnosis: Adderall for ADHD, Valium for anxiety, and Zoloft for depression.

He was on three medications, one for each diagnosis, yet he continued to struggle with attention problems, anxiety, and depression!

Moreover, he wanted additional medication to help him sleep.

Before prescribing medication to any patient, I recommend a comprehensive panel of blood work to rule out hormone or nutritional deficiencies.

In the case of my 24-year-old patient, I discovered that he was anemic with very low iron and zinc levels and a significant B12 deficiency.

For a physically healthy, meat-eating young man these were unusual lab results.

Why hadn’t his other doctors caught these results?

His previous psychiatrists never ordered any blood work and his last visit to his PCP was for the flu and blood work was not done.

Based on his nutritional deficiencies I ordered additional tests.

Further testing revealed that he was positive for antibodies to gliadin, a protein found in wheat often used as a marker for the presence of celiac disease.

A biopsy confirmed that he had celiac disease.

Celiac disease, commonly thought of as only a GI disorder, can cause profound psychological symptoms.

One of which is depression.

In celiac disease, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley.

In its attack on gluten, the immune system damages the small intestine, producing intestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramps and swelling, pain, gas, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.

Once damaged the small intestine may not absorb essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins as well as it should.

The health consequences of celiac disease, however, extend beyond gastrointestinal issues and may affect every organ system, including the brain.

Other consequences of celiac disease include:

  • Anemia
  • Anorexia
  • Arthritis
  • Behavioral changes
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Infertility
  • Joint pain and inflammation
  • Migraine headaches
  • Missed menstrual periods
  • Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
  • Osteoporosis
  • Seizures and other neurological problems
  • Skin lesions
  • Tooth decay and discoloration
  • Weakness
  • Weight loss

Researchers have long observed an overlap between celiac disease, gluten and depression.

Reports of depression among celiac disease patients have appeared as early as the 1980s.

In 1982 Swedish researchers reported that “depressive psychopathology is a feature of adult celiac disease and may be a consequence of malabsorption.”

A 1998 study confirmed that about one-third of those with celiac disease also suffer from depression.

Adolescents with celiac disease also face higher than normal rates of depression.

Adolescents with celiac disease have a 31% risk of depression, while only 7% of healthy adolescents face this risk.

How does depression relate to the damage done to the small intestine in celiac disease?

The intestinal damage wrought by celiac disease prevents absorption of essential nutrients that keep the brain healthy, especially zinc, tryptophan, and the B vitamins.

These nutrients are necessary for the production of essential chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, a deficiency of which has been linked to depression.

In particular, low zinc levels have been linked to depression.

In addition to keeping the immune system strong and the memory sharp, zinc plays an important role in the production and use of neurotransmitters-brain chemicals that help modulate mood.

This is why low levels of zinc have been linked to major depression, and why supplemental zinc enhances the effects of antidepressant medications in many people.

A 2009 study found that zinc supplementation significantly reduced depression scores in people who had not been helped by antidepressants in the past.

Sadly, in cases of depression related celiac disease these nutritional deficiencies are often ignored by physicians who are more comfortable in treating the symptoms of depression with medication.

Why does this happen?

Physicians may think that the nutritional deficiencies are unrelated to depression.

Celiac disease is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as disorders with similar gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia nervosa, chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), or Crohn’s disease.

Physicians, as with many people, tend to separate the gastrointestinal issues of celiac disease from the psychological problems and treat them separately.

If celiac disease is suspected, a blood test is administered to look for the antibodies to gluten-anti-gliadin, anti-endomysial, and anti-tissue transglutaminase.

High antibody levels indicate the presence of celiac disease.

However, the only way to make a definitive diagnosis is to perform an endoscopy of the intestinal lining.

Once diagnosed, how do you treat celiac disease?

The tragic news is that no treatment will cure celiac disease.

But the disease can be managed with a gluten-free diet.

By avoiding foods containing gluten, the symptoms of celiac disease, including the psychological symptoms, will resolve and the body can heal some if not all of the intestinal damage.

Most people who begin a gluten-free diet feel better almost immediately, although the psychological symptoms may require months of nutritional support before seeing any improvement.

After making a definitive diagnosis for my 24 year-old patient, he was started on a gluten-free diet.

After nearly two years, he’s no longer on any psychiatric medications and no longer has three psychiatric diagnoses.

His symptoms of anxiety and depression slowly subsided with a gluten-free diet.

There is a clear link between gluten and depression.

Undiagnosed celiac disease can exacerbate symptoms of depression or may even be the underlying cause.

Patients with depression should be tested for nutritional deficiencies.

Who knows, celiac disease may be the correct diagnosis and not depression.

Related Posts:

  • What is Gluten Free and Why you Should Care
  • Is Wheat Bad for You? Here are 11 Reasons for You to Be Wheat Free.
  • 4 No Bread Diet Benefits
  • Paleo Diet for Weight Loss and Stamina
0 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Filed Under: Depression Help

About The Author

Rich Hashimashi AuthorRich is a NASM-CPT (Certified Personal Trainer), Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and the author of Crossing the Bridge From Depression to Life. At the age of 55, he lost 75 pounds in 6 months, and discovered if you transform your body, you can change your life. You can read about his story here and send Rich a message here.

Get Your FREE Body Transformation Guide

Primary Sidebar

Body Transformation Guides

  • Body Transformation: Ultimate Guide | The Fit Apprentice®
  • Strength Training for Men Over 50 + Full-Body Workout
  • The Minimalist Training Home Workout Guide for Strength & Fitness
  • 8 Week Bodybuilding Over 50 Workout Routine + Free PDF
  • 12-Week Body Transformation Workout Plan at Home

Recent Posts

  • Squat Clean vs Power Clean: Benefits + Differences
  • How to Do Supersets to Save Time and Burn More Fat
  • The 20 Pull-Up 50 Push-Up Program – How to Train
  • How to Build an Unstoppable Workout Habit That Gets Results
  • These 10 Benefits of Sleep Transform Your Health and Fitness

One Rep Max Calculator – Fit Apprentice

Enter weight or reps

1 Rep Max:
Show / Hide Intensity Table
% of 1RM Weight Reps

Deadlifts for Beginners

  • How to Deadlift for Beginners – A Step by Step Guide
  • 37 Remarkable Benefits of Deadlifts to Unleash Your Fitness
  • 12 Week Deadlift Program for Beginners in Fitness or Powerlifting

Footer

Change Your Body

Recent Posts

  • Squat Clean vs Power Clean: Benefits + Differences
  • How to Do Supersets to Save Time and Burn More Fat
  • The 20 Pull-Up 50 Push-Up Program – How to Train
  • How to Build an Unstoppable Workout Habit That Gets Results
  • These 10 Benefits of Sleep Transform Your Health and Fitness
  • Isometrics Exercises: How to Build Strength Without Moving
  • Clean Eating for Beginners: The Guide to Getting Started
  • The Best Calisthenic Equipment for Better Home Workouts
  • 7 Best Strength Training Exercises for Boxers + Workout
  • Calisthenics Bicep Workout: 7 Best Exercises for Bigger Arms

Change Your Life

Change Your Life

  • Bench Press
  • Body Transformation
  • Deadlifts
  • Motivation
  • NASM Certification
  • Pushups
  • Squats
  • Weight Loss

Follow Hashi Mashi

Pinterest

The Fit Apprentice® is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Never Give Up

Remember when you were
in shape back in the day?

Do you think that transforming your
physique is a pipe dream?

You are in the right place if you want
to learn how to get fit, change your
body, and change your life.

But do not know where to start.

Here is how...
Start Here
  • About
  • Privacy policy
  • Affiliate link disclosure
  • Terms of use
  • Contact

The Fit Apprentice® Fitness Blog is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, treatment or diagnosis.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.



Copyright © 2012–2023 The Fit Apprentice® powered by HashiMashi.com - Hosted on BigScoots
DMCA.com Protection Status