Re: Re: ~*Gut Health Linked to Depression, Anxiety and Autism*~

[Guest guest]

There is what appears to be a " genetic link " in my family too.. Many people in

my family have OCD, anxiety, Asperger's, ADHD, etc.  However, what we found out

is that we all have a gluten intolerance, and that is what the true genetic link

is for us.  My mother was recently diagnosed with celiac disease after a

lifetime of issues.. As a child she was diagnosed as hyperactive and

learning

disabled (probably ASD).  This was before ADHD was put in the DSM so they

called

it " hyperactive " .  She went on to receive diagnoses such as anxiety,

OCD, depression, panic disorder, etc.. More time passed and she was diagnosed

with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, degenerative disk disease, migraines, sleep

disorders, irritable bowel syndrome.  She was finally diagnosed with Celiac

disease earlier this year at the age of 56..  She would have been saved a

lifetime of torment if she had cut wheat out earlier on. 

So when you think of OCD being a genetic thing in your family, it's helpful to

think about the genetic link being something that causes the OCD.  In our case,

it was a gluten intolerance.  I also have celiac disease as well as one of my

daughters.  My other two daughters are gluten intolerant, but do not have

celiac

disease (yet).  They have the gene for it, but it has not been turned on yet. 

A

celiac gene needs a trigger to be turned on.  It lies dormant until then, but

still does major damage to those who have the gene.  They just don't have the

intestinal distress that those with full blown celiac disease have, so gluten

intolerance doesn't even cross their minds.  Usually the only signs are

anxiety,

depression, and/or ADHD, as well as headaches for some and eczema for others. 

For more info, you can read the other article that I forwarded called " The Side

Effects of Wheat Consumption:  It's Not Just About Celiac Disease " .

You can also google " leaky gut " or " GAPS diet " or " GFCF diet " .  There was a

study published in the Lancet this year about ADHD & Diet.  The study found

that

ADHD went away in 60-something % of kids who went on an allergen-free diet. 

These findings are phenomenal.  So this is all hitting mainstream medicine now

and doctors are becoming more aware of how diet and gut health affects the

brain.

But to answer your question, I would remove gluten, dairy, and possibly soy (for

some kids) from the diet.. Add a daily probiotic, fish oil, and multi-vitamin. 

And WAIT.  You can address other more specific symptoms with further

supplementation.. But that is a good start.  You have to wait several months

for

the gut to heal and replenish healthy flora.  But this is what worked for us. 

My 8yr old daughter was diagnosed with severe OCD, ADHD with severe

hyperactivity, and Asperger's Syndrome.  She is now completely med free and

only

has very mild anxiety, mild attention issues (no hyperactivity), and mild issues

related to Asperger's.  I am also now completely med free after suffering a

lifetime of pure obsessional OCD, social anxiety, and panic disorder.  I

previously could not function without my meds.  Couldn't even drive a car. 

Now

I have absolutely no issues (after being gluten free for 2 years and restoring

gut health with probiotics, etc.)

Please let me know if you have any other questions.  I can even help with food

sensitivity/intolerance blood testing.  This type of testing will let you know

exactly which foods to eliminate.  One thing to keep in mind is celiac testing

will not show a positive result on someone who has gluten intolerance.  In

fact,

it's not even accurate for people who have full blown celiac disease in some

cases.  IgG antibody testing is the best way to go and most doctors do not yet

do this testing.  We tested through Great Plains Labs with very accurate

results

http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com .  Alletess is another good reputable

place

for testing http://www.foodallergy.com .  You need the IgG food allegy panel

which tests for 90-something different foods.  Check to see if they take your

insurance.  Our insurance (Tricare) paid 100%.

Misty

________________________________

To:

Sent: Tue, July 5, 2011 1:20:43 PM

Subject: Re: ~*Gut Health Linked to Depression, Anxiety and

Autism*~

 

Thanks for this article, Misty. I am definitely pursuing avenues like this,

though my dd's illness has a clear genetic link. Where do you recommend I start

in improving gut health?

>

> This article is consistent with our experiences.  My daughters are OCD free

> today (not quite anxiety free though) after cleaning up their gut health,

> removing gluten, adding supplements, etc.

>

> Misty

>

>

>

>  

> (NaturalNews) Anxiety and depression are commonly thought of as mental

>ailments,

>

> but new research has found that they may actually originate from the gut. With

> more scientific backing added to the idea of preserving gut health, anxiety

and

>

> depression are now associated with gastrointestinal disease, including

>irritable

>

> bowel syndrome. The study even examines the role of poor gut health in the

> development of autism, a hot topic in the field of both mainstream and

> alternative health. Abnormal bacteria content in the gut, or too much " bad "

> bacteria, may play an integral role in the emotional and psychiatric health of

> humankind.

>

> The average person has about 1,000 trillium bacteria living in the gut. Some

of

>

> this bacteria is the result of lifestyle. Whether it be from taking

> pharmaceutical antibiotics or consuming meat containing antibiotics, the

> bacteria of the gut can easily be disturbed. This is particularly important

> considering that the gut is the powerhouse of the immune system. Gut bacteria

> performs vital roles to keep the body well, including fighting infections and

> extracting energy from nutritional intake. Therefore, upsetting the

environment

>

> in which good bacteria resides -- or even altering the ratio of good to bad

gut

>

> bacteria itself -- can result in infection and disease. Superbugs are a

special

>

> danger to those with poor gut health, as the immune system is left to its own

> devices when antibiotics cannot aid in the fight.

>

> Considering the essential role of gut bacteria in performing many of the

body's

>

> most precious tasks, it is no surprise that gut health also plays a role in

the

>

> development of depression, anxiety, and even autism. During the study, lab

mice

>

> were given antibiotics in order to disrupt normal bacteria in the gut. As a

> result, there was an increase in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

> examined in the mice, which has been linked to depression and anxiety. When

the

>

> antibiotics were discontinued, the gut bacteria returned to normal -- along

>with

>

> the brain chemistry of the mice. The difference between the mice and most

>humans

>

> is that these mice were only exposed to pill-based antibiotics. Many humans

are

>

> exposed to not only antibiotics in their food, but a variety of other

> gut-altering chemicals and substances as well. From pesticides to

>preservatives,

>

> the gut is under constant assault.

>

> " The exciting results provide stimulus for further investigating a microbial

> component to the causation of behavioural illnesses, " said , a

> professor of medicine and associate dean research at the G. DeGroote

> School of Medicine.

>

> Premysl Bercik, an assistant professor of medicine and fellow researcher, said

> that the study highlights the possibility of using probiotics to help aid in

>the

>

> fight against depression and anxiety. Probiotics can help improve the ratio

> between " good " and " bad " bacteria in the gut, leading to improved overall gut

> health. Probiotics, however, cannot make up for poor lifestyle choices.

> Consumption of antibiotic-laden meats and produce sprayed with a cocktail of

> pesticides will ultimately lead to poor digestion and severely damaged gut

> health. Switching to locally grown organic foods in addition to supplementing

> with probiotics will put your gut health on the right track to overcoming

> depression and anxiety.

>

> [Editor`s Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal

> testing. We fully support implementation of humane medical experimentation

that

>

> promotes the health and wellbeing of all living creatures.]

> Sources:

>

> http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-...

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7...

> http://www.health.harvard.edu/press...

>

> Learn more:

> http://www.naturalnews.com/032843_gut_health_anxiety.html#ixzz1R49Qdx2f

>

>