There\u2019s bad news for carboholics.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A growing body of research suggests that eating bread, pasta and other grain products may trigger or worsen a wide range of psychological symptoms, including depression, anxiety and even schizophrenia.<\/p>\n
Experts warn that some people could be especially at risk, with these mealtime staples\u00a0quietly sabotaging their brains every time they take a bite.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A protein widely found in bread, pasta and other grains could be why some people are depressed or anxious. Westend61 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n
The key culprit, researchers theorize, is gluten.<\/p>\n
This naturally occurring protein \u2014 found in wheat, barley and rye \u2014 acts as a binder that gives baked goods and other foods their structure and chew.<\/p>\n
For most, it\u2019s harmless. But in others, gluten sensitivity can trigger a range of unpleasant symptoms, including bloating, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, headaches and joint pain, according to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>. <\/p>\n In more serious cases, it can develop into celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the body mistakes gluten for a harmful invader, like a virus. The resulting immune response triggers inflammation and damage in the small intestine \u2014 but the effects may go far beyond digestion.<\/p>\n \u201cInflammation that starts in the gut doesn\u2019t stay in the gut. [It] can have a damaging effect on the brain,\u201d Dr. Emeran Mayer, a gastroenterologist and neuroscientist, told Psychology Today<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen immune cells are activated, the vagus nerve system sends a signal to the brain that can trigger fatigue and depression-like behavior,\u201d he noted. <\/p>\n Most traditional bread products contain gluten. bukhta79 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n In children, that can look like irritability or symptoms of ADHD. In adults, it may show up as brain fog, mood disorders or more serious psychiatric conditions.<\/p>\n Take depression, for example. While around 8% of the general population<\/a> is diagnosed with major depressive disorder at some point in their lives, studies suggest that people with celiac disease are hit much harder \u2014 with some research putting the rate as high as 30%<\/a>.<\/p>\n Celiac disease has also been linked to a greater risk of anxiety<\/a>, panic disorder<\/a> and even schizophrenia. In fact, one study<\/a> found that people with celiac are three times more likely to develop schizophrenia than those without the condition.<\/p>\n Beyond inflammation, research suggests that damage to the gut lining caused by gluten sensitivity may also contribute to these mental health issues.<\/p>\n That damage can interfere with the absorption of nutrients<\/a> essential for brain function, including B vitamins, iron, vitamin D, magnesium and zinc. Deficiencies in any of these can lead to a variety of psychological symptoms.<\/p>\n Some studies suggest a potential link between celiac disease and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. andriano_cz \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Scientists have also found that people with schizophrenia often test positive for high levels of antibodies linked to gluten sensitivity<\/a>, hinting at a possible connection between the two.<\/p>\n These antibodies can cross the placenta, and studies show<\/a> that mothers with elevated levels may increase the risk of psychosis in their children.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know everything. But it\u2019s another step closer connecting the dots about these illnesses,\u201d Deanna L. Kelly, a psychiatry professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who has spent the past 15 years leading clinical trials in schizophrenia and severe mental illness, told the Telegraph<\/a>.<\/p>\n Can a gluten-free diet help?<\/p>\n The research is mixed.<\/p>\n Some studies<\/a> have found that a gluten-free diet can ease anxiety, depression and neurological complications in people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.<\/p>\n Some people with gluten sensitivity experience mood changes, including depression. SHOTPRIME STUDIO \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n In one trial<\/a>, participants with celiac reported lower anxiety levels after following a gluten-free diet for a year.<\/p>\n But others show no significant improvement \u2014 and in some cases, anxiety levels remained elevated<\/a> even after cutting gluten.<\/p>\n Some experts think part of the problem may come from the psychological stress of managing a chronic health condition.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing on a gluten-free diet can also lead to some of these psychiatric or mental health issues, because you have to be somewhat hypervigilant,\u201d Debra Silberg, a gastroenterologist and chief science officer at Beyond Celiac, told Discover Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s also a fear of going out and becoming exposed to gluten,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n Across the country, about 1 in every 133 people \u2014 roughly 1% of the US population \u2014 is estimated to have celiac disease, according to Beyond Celiac<\/a>. That adds up to around 2 million Americans.<\/p>\n