Celiac disease – an inevitable consequence of celiac disease

Celiac disease – an inevitable consequence of celiac disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease because it damages our body's immune system. An estimated 3 million Americans suffer from gluten allergy or celiac disease. Many more suffer from a relatively milder gluten sensitivity.

Celiac disease causes problems in your villi (lining of your small intestine) when you consume gluten. Gluten is generally found in wheat, rye and barley. Gluten can be considered a “poison” for people with celiac disease. Of course, they have to eat a gluten-free diet for the rest of their lives.

Even if celiac disease patients follow a gluten-free diet, they may develop depression due to their difficulties in adapting to the disease and the subsequent diet. It is natural that when someone is told not to eat any food for the rest of their life, they become upset and bothered by even the idea! And then the changes in his/her diet can cause many nutritional imbalances that lead to a depressed mental state.

One of the misdiagnosed symptoms of celiac disease is depression. This happens because celiac disease targets your small intestine, where the nutrients from your food are absorbed. If you have celiac disease, gluten from your diet acts as a barrier between your food and your body. It seals the villi on your small intestine, which absorbs nutrients. If you don't get essential nutrients that your body or brain needs, you will begin to experience an imbalance in mental health. Gluten is also considered an “excitable amino acid” that can make many people anxious or “agitated” when gluten is digested.

The effects of celiac disease depression are devastating. Starting with sleep problems, they can extend to suicidal thoughts. And the solution is simple – strict gluten-free diet.

Many people with celiac disease are unaware of the serious consequences of gluten intake. They try to avoid obviously gluten-containing products, but usually run into cross-contamination issues. Many foods available in the supermarket such as peanut butter, chicken broth, flavored coffee and the like may contain gluten. Sometimes labels change suddenly and people are used to accepting things based on their prior knowledge. Consuming these “contaminated” products leads to attacks of depression.

What starts in your gut appears to move throughout your body, affecting how the body and your brain function. There are many antidepressants in the market and many therapies are forwarded to eradicate depression. But the first solution for most depressed celiac patients seems to be a strict gluten-free diet!

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Inspired by Chintamani Abhyankar