Brain Awareness: Milk Addiction/Withdrawal is Real

Milk Addiction?

Yes, brain function may become impaired through the odd mystery of milk withdrawal.

mmmmm, good!

After a reader’s offline request for clarification a few weeks ago, it’s time we take a few moments away from wheat and gluten sensitivity to explore brain function downstream [yes, intended] from our old friend, milk.

In that previous post on opiate withdrawal from gluten and casein I addressed the frequency and challenges of going off wheat and milk after recognizing gluten/casein sensitivity. The culprit: opioid peptides which appear to mimic the effect of opiates in the brain, and can result in withdrawal symptoms in some sensitive people.

The name of the two peptides with links here for further review [noting that authorities don't yet completely agree on this phenomenon] are casomorphin [a milk peptide] and gliadorphin or gluteomorphine [two names for the opioid peptide arising from partially broken down gliadin portion of the gluten protein in wheat.

While some may not agree, we have regularly seen "withdrawal symptoms" quite commonly after testing reveals wheat protein or milk protein sensitivity associated with psychiatric problems.

A brief clinical example may help make the point on covering both the milk and the wheat sensitivity questions with your family or your clients:

A 12 yo boy presents with refractory ADD and moods, just not getting better. He not only has problems focusing, but has an exquisite sensitivity to all of his peers, and can be quite irritable and depressed. Relationships with parents: great.

Concerned, informed parents spent hours and considerable money on evaluation of the possible causes of the moods and ADD with SPECT scans at the Amen Clinic in Fairfield CA [about 2 years ago to evaluate his brain function].

Multiple bowel symptoms arise in the first interview including chronic constipation, GI upset, “touchy stomach,” sensitivity to many foods and picky eating. Testing at Enterolab [easily accomplished with a stool specimen and no needles] revealed casein and gluten sensitivity.

The parents had already taken him off wheat with an elimination diet as I suggested straightaway after hearing his history. Interestingly, in their compassion with the dietary changes, they had continued milk. He experienced withdrawal and regression going off his addictive wheat, [felt foggy, more irritable and shaky] but continued symptomatic with the initial symptoms while still on milk.

My prediction: He will have more difficulty with milk withdrawal, is already in an opiate withdrawal process in the first place, and will likely get worse with milk withdrawal.

Having spent years working with “drug addicts and alcoholics” [as some call them] in withdrawal, I suggested they go low and slow, but stay on complete withdrawal as an objective. The rationalization is: “he won’t feel so bad if he stays on these happy foods.”

But consider the other option: those sensitivities and the opiates will continue to diminish brain function if not corrected.

Brain Awareness: Milk Addiction/Withdrawal is Real

Digitally available now at Nook, Kindle, Barnes and Noble.
ADHD Medication Rules – PDF For Your Desktop
ADHD Medication Rules | Paying Attention To The Meds For Paying Attention – Kindle Version

Tagged as: ADD, Amen Clinics, brain function, Casein, casein sensitivity, Conditions and Diseases, Gluten, Gluten sensitivity, Health, Milk, milk opiate peptides, psychiatric symptoms, SPECT imaging, wheat opiate peptides, withdrawal phenomenon

http://www.corepsychblog.com Dr Charles Parker

Lucy,
It does take awhile to get over the cravings as they have to do with the bare receptors, the down regulation of receptor activity and often the diminished 5HTP, serotonin or dopamine, it all depends. Best arm chair advice: exercise, take multivits, get your sleep and satisfy your cravings with a suitable substitute. With chocolate, could be coffee!
cp
http://www.corepsychblog.com Dr Charles Parker

Got Milk,
It’s important in these matters to not speculate, as the field is rife with speculation and maybes – I don’t make an ‘allergy diagnosis’ unless I have evidence in hand on the IgG or IgE levels, the two most commonly witnessed measures in an office practice.

Withdrawal issues differ depending on the associated biomedical vulnerability created by the primary addictive process and, most importantly, the compromised reserves with poor healing.
cp
http://www.corepsychblog.com drcharlesparker

Sad,
Girl, you likely have a serious milk allergy, but an amorphous set of “blood tests” almost always misses that mark. I strongly suggest IgG testing, and a careful review of neurotransmitters – sounds like you may have a modification of your “chickens in the ranch” http://www.corepsychblog.com/2011/01/adhd-and-pea/ – We can consult on all of these long distance and have worked with several folks from SF on these matters! [See the Services page.]

There’s definitely hope, and you haven’t started the downward turn with too much weight gain…
cp
Pingback: La ciencia por detrás de la prohibición de mezclar carne con leche | Articulos externos
http://www.corepsychblog.com drcharlesparker

Excellent question – see the recent post with the video by Robyn O’Brien on this topic – and we can both await someone who knows to weigh in!
cp
Kel-Bel-Au

I wonder if the same is true about the A2 milk sold here in australia…the proteins are different…I would like to know what the thoughts on that are.
http://www.injust10pages.com/blog/gluten_intolerance_blog Gluten Intolerance

Maybe we have to tell the mothers to introduce foods including cereals along with breastfeeding so that the child develops a taste for different kinds of food early in life. And food intolerance can cause addiction to the very foods which are sensitive. I think we must completely exclude gluten because of the effect it has on mental health.

http://www.corepsychblog.com drcharlesparker

Experts far more experienced in these matters than myself recommend not starting gluten until after the first year of life for the very reason that significant antigen/antibody reactions can be stimulated too early.
cp

http://www.corepsychblog.com drcharlesparker

I added a new reference and some specific links with new references on this similar posting just today: http://www.corepsychblog.com/2007/08/celiac-notes-opiate-withdrawal-from-gluten-and-casein/

Thanks for asking!
cp
Asdf

Where are your references for this article?
pablo

thx for sharing….i have been looking for something about milk addiction for a while and have found nothing until now….sometimes i drink so much milk in one sitting i make myself sick although that is rare i have done it and realized it was going to make sick but i didnt care i know that sounds weird but anyway…..i have at times down a half gallon in one sitting…..i would say i average a gallon a day but hey at least its not alchohol right …

http://www.CorePsychBlog.com Dr Charles Parker

pablo,
Better than alcohol, but potentially quite dangerous nevertheless – if you are allergic to it. Milk allergies are the most frequently seen challenges in my regular testing for IgG, and those that are “addicted” are much more likely to suffer chronic medical problems downstream.
cp

Sherri Olson

Hi Dr. Parker,

Thank you for posting info on casein withdrawal. I am having it right now and it is pretty bad. I woke up several times during the night and woke up this morning with bad body aches. Been feeling extremely fatigued for the last few days since I stopped dairy. I know I’m doing the right thing, as I have always been allergic to milk, but it’s hard right now to feel this bad. Do you know how long the withdrawal normally lasts? Thanks!

Sherri

http://www.CorePsychBlog.com Dr Charles Parker

Sherri,
Everyone’s different Sherri. The variables that seem to mitigate duration and intensity of withdrawal have to do with several factors:

1. Nutritional status previous to discontinuing the allergen – vitamin cofactors and protein neurotransmitter precursors especially.
2. Bowel status and degree of leaky gut before discontinuing.
3. Inflammation secondary to the allergen in the first place.
4. Comorbid depression and anxiety before hand, secondary to the alteration in neurotransmitters with the leaky gut and relative malabsorption. Those neurotransmitters always need rebalancing as part of the fastest, most effective recovery.
5. Pre-existing VitD3 levels – often deteriorated with allergen attacks.
6. Specific healing activities post withdrawal: Strongly recommended – various detox protocols for liver correction and this specific GI Repair protocol for 6 weeks, to follow with another 6 weeks of specific healing probiotics and supplements.
7. Other overlooked allergen can encourage ongoing problems: e.g. garlic, peanuts, soy, eggs.

Hang in there! Set up a time with me if we can help out.
cp

http://www.corepsychblog.com Dr Charles Parker

Janice,
Thanks for the references – looks like the Gut and Psychology book is out of print. Will chase down the other connections. Appreciate your comments-
cp
Janice Curtin

Two things that I find help: 1– Udos Choics Probiotics ..one per day for one week, 2 per week for two weeks..not too many helps brain-gut connection and assim. of minerals

Also read Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD on the gut brain connection and healing the gut..www.bodyecologydiet.com to purchase & read article in Wise Traditions Journal by http://www.westonaprice.org
FRANCES TANNER

My late father , myself [68yrs.]my son [40yrs] , my younger daughter [37yrs.] possibly my elder daughter [41yrs.]my granddaughter [7yrs.] blood tests negative ,had started diet already so refused biopsy. So many years of suffering . Why don’t G.P.s know more about this disease ? So much expense for us and the N.H.S.
http://www.corepsychblog.com Dr Charles Parker

JRB
One of the most frequently overlooked additional problems that occurs following the diet change is the gut healing issue. Opiate withdrawal, covered in several posts here, is but one aspect of recovery.

After withdrawal, gut healing deserves its own plan.

B vitamins are helpful, as are several other nutritional products that actually heal the several broken, leaky layers of gut [my term: "the bowel lasagna"] – corrupted by the gluten sensitivity in the first place.

Look forward to sharing more info on these matters soon,
Thanks,
Chuck
JRB

I’ve found vitamin B6 (50 mg) and B-complex (B-50) supplements to be an important addition to our GFCF diet.

The GFCF diet has solved 75% of our difficulties– but moods seem more stable and tempers don’t flare when we remember to take the Bs too. It’s especially helpful when the kids have been having sweets or irregular meals, so perhaps it helps to regulate blood sugar (?).
http://www.corepsychblog.com Dr Charles Parker

Hey Personal Growth,
You have a very interesting site, -would like to contribute to your excellent efforts at spreading the word. Problem is easy: Time.

Thanks for your note, blog on!
Chuck
http://www.growthpop.com Personal Growth

Thanks for the health update that you have given, i have to be more concious.