We love this topic, as it’s a hard one. Most of the research this is based on comes from the last 10 years or so, and because it often takes 17 years (!!) to become mainstream medical advice, this can become a contentious topic. We also understand that it can be difficult to consider and implement these diets, as the responsibility for the change rests on individuals or parents (even harder!), and that can create another issue of contention.
The main reason you or your child would try a gluten or dairy free diet is because your health practitioner has recommended it, based on one or more dysfunctions picked up in consultation. The gut, brain and body are all intrinsically connected, each one affecting the other in ways you really might not expect.
While the brain, joints and muscles etc are all connected through the nervous and blood systems, so too are the organs and the brain- in this case specifically the digestive system and the brain.
Examples of symptoms your health practitioner MAY see could include (but are not limited to):
Poor Coordination/ Body Control (3),(7), Poor Balance (3),(5)
Poor Concentration or memory/ Hyperactivity (1), or learning difficulties associated with this
Constipation/ Diarrhea (1), Bloating/ Farting (1), Abdominal Pains (1)
Headaches/ neck and back pain (1), Tight muscles/ cramps (1)
Anxiety/ Depression (1), or Poor emotional control
Skin irritation eg eczema (6) (Also, dark circles under eyes could be lack of sleep or a mild allergy response)
A couple of things to note about recommended gluten or dairy free diets:
These diets are not a cure for any condition, but simply the removal of a possible irritant and stressor to your system. Removing gluten and/or dairy as an irritant allows the system to work more efficiently and effectively, often reducing the symptoms listed above. Dietary changes are not a one-size-fits-all solution either, which is why it is worth speaking to your health practitioner before embarking on a diet. (See this article from the American Contemporary Paediatrics website from 2016).
Coeliac Disease is NOT the same as Non Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS). Therefore NCGS will not show up on the blood test for Coeliac Disease and a blood test negative for coeliac disease does not rule out NCGS. The only way to really test this (and same for dairy intolerance as opposed to allergy as well) is to trial a gluten or dairy free diet for 4 weeks, notice any changes, then reintroduce the potential irritant and look for any changes.
You will almost never be recommended dietary changes as a sole source of treatment. Improving brain-body-gut function and communication is a multifaceted approach, and as such will come with varying individual-specific recommendations. Talk to your chiropractor or other health practitioner for more information.
If you need to maintain a gluten or dairy free diet for the long term, we recommend speaking to your chiropractor, nutritionist or dietician about the best way to maintain good nutrition. (The training your chiropractor receives at university means their scope of practice includes nutrition and lifestyle advice, as well as exercise and movement advice and whole-body treatment- yay!).
To keep this blog post short (ish!), find further reading here- a slightly fuller article on this topic containing the references for this blog posts information. You will also find this article on our Read Me page, along with other various articles. Happy Reading!!