Got Anxiety? Ditch the Gluten

One of the quickest ways to improve your health if you are struggling with anxiety (or the anxiety-depression rollercoaster) is to eliminate gluten from your diet. Drop it like it’s hot! Gluten is a molecule found in many grains and often added in processed foods. You’ll find gluten in flour (wheat, white, whole-grain, spelt, rye, etc.), pasta, bread, crackers, some ice cream, packaged sauces, and sometimes hidden among ingredients where you would be surprised to find it. Make sure you check any labels if you used any processed products. It’s best to just eat whole, real food - one ingredient foods like fish, seafood, meat, fruit or veggies. It is totally fine to add salt and any spices that agree with your system to your food. Just be aware of any gluten added to spice mixes. 

Gluten is inflammatory in all people, but some folks seem to be okay with some gluten in their diets. I would argue that no human needs grains at all. In reality, I believe all humans would benefit from ditching at least gluten, but this is especially helpful in mental health nutrition. This is when many of my clients find starting on a Paleo-ish way of eating helps them to feel satisfied with their meals and yet see improvement in mental health. Paleo may not be your end game but it can certainly be a good place to begin healing. 

Clients that successfully eliminate gluten for a minimum of six-weeks report significant improvement in their anxiety. Just this one step toward better health has helped clients find more peace. If you’re struggling to put all the health tips into practice and need to pick just one - this is the one to pick for anxiety relief. Many clients with panic attacks find that focusing on a Paleo-style whole-foods diet, and eliminating gluten in particular, helped them reduce both panic attacks and overall generalized anxiety. 

If you’re thinking, what’s the end game? Completely healing any intestinal permeability (aka Leaky Gut) is the name of the game - however you get there. There are of course lifestyle and other factors like reducing stress, building coping, creating a support network, as well as using sunshine, ketosis and targeted nutrition/supplements to completely cure/heal anxiety. A good therapist is always a good idea - just don’t forget neurotransmitters are made in your gut and mood follows food. Fix your gut - heal your brain.