Psycho-Babble Medication | about biological treatments | Framed
This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of forums | Search | FAQ

Re: Gluten-free/casein free diet and less anxiety » sukarno

Posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2007, at 10:38:07

In reply to Gluten-free/casein free diet and less anxiety, posted by sukarno on May 22, 2007, at 6:34:05

> It was hard giving it up (I'd almost say it was addictive!) in the beginning, but now I have no pasta/wheat/bread cravings whatsoever.

In fact, you very well could have gone through symptoms of opiate withdrawal, and cravings associated with that. There are at least three common food proteins which can be partially digested to produce opiate-active peptides: gluten and gliadin (from barley, rye, and especially wheat), and casein (from cow's milk). The fragments arise from incomplete fragmentation of the complex precursor proteins; very specific peptide fragments have the opioid activity. To distinguish these diet-based peptides from the naturally occurring endogenous peptides, the endorphins, they are collectively called exorphins. Individually, the peptides are named after the source protein, e.g. gluten exorphin A4, or the more evocative names gliadorphin, or beta-casomorphin-8. These are just examples. There are dozens of these peptides that we recognize, and likely many more yet to be discovered.

I recall discovering a food science (read, industrial food processing) paper online, perhaps a decade ago, which crowed about having isolated an enzyme which increased the yield of casomorphins 500% over the natural background levels produced during more typical industrial cheese-making. I shall forever after wonder just what is being added to a food when the ingredient list identifies "milk ingredients". Makes me think of the rephrasing that permits MSG to be called "natural flavor". Anyway.

I admire the discipline you demonstrate by eliminating these proteins from your diet. Modern food processing has put wheat and milk derivatives into foods that you might never have thought contained them. And you're not likely to discover just exactly what part of those sources has been included.

It would indeed take some weeks for the natural endorphin system to recalibrate after exclusion of the exogenous sources. More immediate effects could also explain the reduction in GERD; local intestinal effects of opiates include paralysis of normal peristalsis.

My sister is celiac. My dad and both of my sons have some degree of milk intolerance. At times, I absolutely crave dairy. Perhaps your post will serve as sufficient incentive for me to exert self-discipline, in this regard, and adopt an exclusion diet. Anecdotally, it has demonstrated efficacy in ADD, autism, schizophrenia, and mood and anxiety disorders. Couldn't hurt to stay away from overly processed foods, in any case.

Lar

 

Thread

 

Post a new follow-up

Your message only Include above post


Notify the administrators

They will then review this post with the posting guidelines in mind.

To contact them about something other than this post, please use this form instead.

 

Start a new thread

 
Google
dr-bob.org www
Search options and examples
[amazon] for
in

This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | FAQ
Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:Larry Hoover thread:758756
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070509/msgs/758817.html