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vegaslady Asked June 2014

Has anyone tried a gluten free diet for dementia or depression issues?

If you saw positive results, how long did it take?Saw Dr. David Perlmutter, author of Grain Brain, on public television explaining benefits of a gluten free diet. I have a friend who has been experiencing a lot of positive effects while being gluten free for five months (ildepression has improved, lost weight, skin stopped itching). Does anyone have close hand experience with gluten free diets for dementia?

MainCarer Mar 2015
We tried it for our dementia relative, and it made no difference. But she has never eaten much bread or had a problem with wheat products anyway. A much bigger difference came from excluding added sugar and reducing caffeine.

kazzaa Jun 2014
Just to let you know ive been wheatfree and dairy free for 3 days now and my bloated tummy is gone and i feel much better no nausea am a bit narky but thats normal i could kill a chocolate bar but am taking chromium which is great for "sugar cravings" i can close zip on my skinny jeans just not the button yet? So wheat and dairy free definetly helps me. I am determined to have a good summer and not wear a jacket to hide my bump! feels great not to be bloated but have a good few pounds to go yet!

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Countrymouse Jun 2014
I haven't tried it, but my ears pricked up. Or my eyebrows. Whatever pricks up when you read of an interesting idea, anyway.

Coming from a family tree that's littered with people with coeliac, people with Crohn's, IBS, depression, eczema and goodness knows what other genetically influenced/neurotic conditions, I'll look into this idea with great interest. Thank you for posting about it.

vstefans Jun 2014
Tried gluten free on advice and no major results good or bad. Reducing GMO gluten and substituting ancient grains and semolina and other wheats maybe takes my appetite down a half a notch.

Tried milk free and uh-uh. Worse inflammation, worse mood, and my vitamin D level tends to stay low as it is.

No one diet will work for everyone...way too many genetic variations have an influence...if you try stuff,,try it with an open mind, but not TOO open. I am NOT open to going back to a high fat lower carb diet like I used to eat and risking putting all my weight back on, for example, despite some research suggesting it might be better than eating tons of high sugar low fat items that have nearly as many calories and less satiety value.

For once I love my spell check... It gave me "sanity" for satiety and I'll tell you what, that's the real deal.

kazzaa Jun 2014
I dont think he meant Gluten as i have his book and he is against wheat in general. i am wheat intolerant and have found myself that im much more with it when i dont touch wheat also slimmer and more upbeat ive tried getting mum to do this but i think its impossible with a dementia patient id cook wheatfree for mum and if she was on her own shed bake a pie or bread or whatever when i was away SO i even stopped buying flour then she went shopping with my brother and he let buy flour whatever she wanted.

I would try but wheatfree also sugarfree does improve health and i should know as ive been on these diets but they are very hard to stick to when youre out i carried chicken and stuff around with me as theres wheat in everything you really have to be committed Emjo like me cant eat wheat or dairy so she may have some advice. Id say try but dementia patients dont register that youre trying to help them as im sitting here typing mum is having another biscuit and thinks i havnt noticed so good luck.

vegaslady Jun 2014
I understand there are lots of gluten free products on the market now, much more than even a few years ago. Of course it would be useful only to those who are gluten sensitive. Now about 1 in 133 people have celiac disease, and many more are gluten insensitive and haven't a clue, never even thought about that, especially if your symptoms aren't particularly digestive. I'm in Vegas...we walk around with water bottles glued to our hands!

freqflyer Jun 2014
I think such a diet will only work if a person has gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity. Going on a gluten free diet isn't easy, I tried many decades ago when it was thought I had a sensitivity to gluten. You'd be amazed how many products contain gluten [wheat, barley, and rye].

Otherwise, it would be just mind over matter. You think it is helping, thus you will better. Drinking more water is always a good bet :)

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