Removal of casein and gluten - (McDougall)

[Guest guest]

Thought some of you might find this of interest (from

a recent McDougall email.) I've added some highlighting.

 

 

 

 

 

" Western diet-also predicts the development of schizophrenia and depression,

according to research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.1 More

specifically, they found dairy products and refined sugars predicted a worse

two-year outcome for people with schizophrenia and an increased prevalence

of depression. Starchy vegetables (potatoes, pasta, etc.) were associated

with better mental health. The authors of this work also recommend a dietary

approach be tried to treat both of these mental health problems.

 

Schizophrenia, a mental illness commonly manifesting as hallucinations,

(hearing voices, seeing visions), delusions (false beliefs about commonly

held views of reality) and bizarre thought patterns, affects roughly 1% of

the population. The mechanisms by which diet causes schizophrenia (and a

similar condition of children called autism) are explainable.2-5 Diet, and

especially dairy products, can produce an excess of opium-like compounds,

which affect the brain.6 In addition, an unhealthy diet can damage the walls

of the intestine, increasing their permeability; causing what is commonly

referred to as a " leaky gut. " This permeable gut-wall now allows the

passage of neuro-active substances into the blood that can cause

hallucinations and delusions-similar to the effects of psychedelic street

drugs. Eliminating casein, a protein in cow's milk, and gluten, a protein in

wheat, barley, and rye products, from the diet reverses these effects-with

studies showing a drastic reduction, if not full remission, of schizophrenic

symptoms after the complete removal of casein and gluten.2-5

 

 

 

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder, characterized by a depressed

mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, low

energy, and poor concentration. Two studies using a low-fat,

high-carbohydrate diet with a primary intention of reversing cardiac disease

have shown significant improvements in mental health and quality of life, as

well as significant reductions in heart attack and stroke risk.7,8 One of

these studies showed response rates of approximately 90% for clinical

depression, 85% for stress, and 87% for mental health.7 Changes in brain

chemistry account for these benefits. A meal high in carbohydrates increases

the rate that an amino acid, tryptophan, enters the brain, leading to an

increase in the level of the neurotransmitter serotonin that improves mood.9

 

(For a review of the simple, highly effective dietary and lifestyle changes

that can cure depression see the March 2004 McDougall Newsletter).

 

Therefore, like Theresa, you should expect improvements in body and mind

when you change your diet, giving up both the chicken and the egg (and the

cheese, milk, beef, and fish). Contrary to popular opinion, giving up eating

fish may also be beneficial for relieving depression.10 Better mental health

will cause you to want to make even more changes to improve your physical

health. The end result is an uphill spiral, rather than the downhill one

that everyone else following the Western diet is on.

 

References:

 

1) Peet M. International variations in the outcome of schizophrenia and the

prevalence of depression in relation to national dietary practices: an

ecological analysis. Br J Psychiatry. 2004 May;184:404-8

 

2) Christison GW, Ivany K. Elimination diets in autism spectrum disorders:

any wheat amidst the chaff? J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2006 Apr;27(2

Suppl):S162-71.

 

3) Reichelt KL, Seim AR, Reichelt WH. Could schizophrenia be reasonably

explained by Dohan's hypothesis on genetic interaction with a dietary

peptide overload. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1996

Oct;20(7):1083-114.

 

4) Kalaydjian AE, Eaton W, Cascella N, Fasano A. The gluten connection: the

association between schizophrenia and celiac disease. Acta Psychiatr Scand.

2006 Feb;113(2):82-90.)

 

5) Millward C, Ferriter M, Calver S, Connell-Jones G. Gluten- and

casein-free diets for autistic spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database Syst

Rev. 2004;(2):CD003498.6)

 

6) Shah NP. Effects of milk-derived bioactives: an overview. Br J Nutr. 2000

Nov;84 Suppl 1:S3-10.

 

7) Vizza J, Neatrour DM, Felton PM, Ellsworth DL. Improvement in

psychosocial functioning during an intensive cardiovascular lifestyle

modification program. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2007 Nov-Dec;27(6):376-83.

 

8) Weidner G, Connor SL, Hollis JF, Connor WE. Improvements in hostility and

depression in relation to dietary change and cholesterol lowering. The

Family Heart Study. Ann Intern Med. 1992 Nov 15;117(10):820-3.

 

9) Wurtman RJ. Effects of normal meals rich in carbohydrates or proteins on

plasma tryptophan and tyrosine ratios. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003

Jan;77(1):128-32.

 

10) Ness AR, Gallacher JE, Bennett PD, Gunnell DJ, Rogers PJ, Kessler D,

Burr ML.Advice to eat fish and mood: a randomised controlled trial in men

with angina. Nutr Neurosci. 2003 Feb;6(1):63-5. "

 

 

 

 

 

Best,

 

Bob

 

Bob Farrell

PathOfHealth group

part of an exchange-based community

 

<blocked::http://health.PathOfHealth/>

http://health.PathOfHealth/

 

 

 

---subject line inspected and post trimmed in community spirit---

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Bob, for submitting that article about removing casein and

gluten. My autistic-spectrum son definitely reacts to casein. He is eating

about 70% raw but also wants to eat cooked food. I am not really sure about

the wheat but I might try a challenge with it. Since he is now 14, I need

to give him more choices over what he is eating. He has raw buckwheat

cereal (bought from HFS) for breakfast and lots of green smoothies

throughout the day (per Buotenko's books) and a fruit-type dish for lunch

along with a bowl of veggie soup. For dinner he has a salad and a cooked

grain dish or beans. I am wondering whether oats can be eaten. They are a

no-no on the GFCF diet for autistic kids.

 

 

 

Beth

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth,

 

Rather than guessing as to what your child is reacting to, consider allergy

testing that tests for immediate and delayed reactions. It's the delayed

reactions that are so hard to figure out on your own as they can happen 2

hours or even days later. I recently discovered I have severe delayed

reactions to most grains and all beans- even sprouted and to all citrus

fruits. I had no idea that the reactions were from these items as the

reactions are not immediate. Once I eliminated the items on my test

results, I am feeling so much better.

 

My acupuncturist told me about a website where you can order blood testing

for allergies without having to go see doctor. . It's intended for

uninsured people. If you have insurance, maybe your doctor can work

directly with US Biotek, who gives the tests results. Direct Labs gives you

the doctor requisition for the test and you go to one of their labs, which

are located all over the U.S. and have blood drawn. Then the blood is sent

to the lab where the testing is done. No skin pricks testing is done, so

this is a much safer way to test. The test results use a graph to show the

range of immediate and delayed reactions for the test panels you order.

 

The website to order the allergy testing is www.directlabs.com

<http://www.directlabs.com/> . They have some allergy testing listed on

their website, but you must call them at 1-800-908-0000 so you can order

specific tests done by US Biotek that shows immediate and delayed reactions.

They are less expensive than the tests offered on their website which

include a doctor consultation. You can see lists and types of allergy tests

offered at www.usbiotek.com <http://www.usbiotek.com/> so you can know

which tests you can tell Direct Labs that you want to order from US Biotek.

 

Good luck,

 

Kathleen Scheps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I just sent an email about Direct Labs and gave their phone number. I just

called them about the allergy test kits I had ordered for my daughter and

they didn't answer. Online I noticed that they are moving to a larger space

today and give a warning about their phones possibly not working today, so

if the allergy testing interests you, you might want to call another day.

They also offer many other types of blood and other lab tests at greatly

reduced prices.

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

 

Kathleen Scheps