Dr Dr. Wilson,
What tests are recommended to figure out whether extreme anxiety/bipolar episodes are due to gluten sensitivity? A close family member has had two episodes this year and was put on resperdal, which was finally tapered off and stopped last week. We eat a very balanced, cooked from scratch home food and supplement a largely vegetarian diet with eggs and now sardines. But this person went extremely low on Iron. Feels tired and lethargic. I know there is some underlying issue that her physician is missing out and I would like to know how to go about finding the root cause of anxiety / mania (when it occurs).
I follow Dr Mercola’s site and I know that mainstream medical system just treats the symptoms, without understanding the root cause and finding a cure. Your advise would be very much appreciated. We live in NC. …Pradeep
Dr Wilson’s Response:
Although gluten intolerance can sometimes be diagnosed with blood tests or a small bowel biopsy, some people who don’t have obvious gluten intolerance seem to do better when grains are eliminated from their diet. It can be very difficult to eat a healthy diet that is based mainly on plants. I recommend reading Loren Cordain’s “The Paleo Answer” for a perspective on pre-agricultural eating. Many people find that this type of diet is very beneficial for anxiety and mood swings.
For anxiety I recommend taking l-theonine 100-200 mg up to three times daily. This safe supplement that comes from tea can be very effective at relieving anxiety.
