Gluten-free diet - worthwhile?
 

A number of sources I've seen suggest that eliminating gluten (and sometimes grains completely) from diet can help reduce brain inflammation and facilitate healing. Has anyone had experience trying this (or researching it further) and gotten results?

There may be something to it... here is a list of inflammatory foods to eliminate from your diet...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_2838643.html

I try to follow this... there is also something out there about increasing ketones in your diet...

For some, gluten is an issue. For others, it is not. It would not hurt to reduce gluten levels since most gluten grains have excessive amounts of gluten due to modern hybriding for increasing crop yields. Heritage wheats and such have much lower gluten levels that the body is more able to process.

A week or two of a gluten free diet should give you a good idea. It may be tough to eliminate all gluten since it is in many foods.

I didn't really associated gluten free with brain fog and anit-inflammatory benefits until my doctor noticed I kept having sinus infections and mentioned I should try it.

I'm glad she did. THe benefits for me were instantaneous. I think gluten free, like head injuries, really are person specific. But having said that, if they are going to work, the benefits will reveal themselves within 6 weeks and are worth it. This is different than those who are suffering from celiac disease, a true allergy to gluten.

There are numerous books, and I worked with an auto-immune paleo book as well as gluten free to maximize my changing diet lifestyle which seemed to help.

My rationale was that by switching to brain boosting fats and minimizing the glutens that slow down the body I would help my body heal as much as possible. I feel better.

But, I am now almost two years since the accident in two weeks. My vision is still problematic, but I can tell my cognition is clearer.

My neurologist and neuro-opthalmologist still have not released me back to work, but I guess my daily life at home is better. I am healthier with my kids and husband.

So in some ways- in balance - I am glad I am on this diet- because my brain feels clearer and my body healthier. There are new "flours" to bake with (I haven't lost my sweet tooth) and coconut oil is awesome.

As with PCS/mtbi-there are new realities out there!
:)s

I have celiac disease (pre brain injury!) so have been gluten free for over a decade. I hope it helps my brain!

The good news is there are way more choices for gluten free diets than before.

I am looking for a gluten free non alcoholic beer now! I found one from Europe but it is not available in the aMericas yet :(

A small niche market, I know!

About a year ago I minimized my wheat and processed sugar intake. I recently stopped the vitamins I'm taking because of the expense and insurance company difficulties. They cover the vitamins, similar to drugs. So, the point is that the brain fog has not returned so much and in that respect my diet change seems to be helping. I try to get 7-9 servings of vegetables and fruit each day and it has made big difference. I've lost over 20 pounds, I feel much better and I'm sleeping better.