My therapist keeps talking about “leaky gut” and how addressing it has helped patients of theirs with anxiety and other issues. If you’re not familiar with “leaky gut,” it’s the theory that all healing (physical, mental, and emotional) is linked within your gut, and our current American diet and food system is so completely changed from our ancestors (think grandparents and great-grandparents) that it’s actually causing gaps within our intestinal system, and these miniscule leaks are causing bad material to circulate within the body. These bad materials are then causing or physical issues, and the physical issues are multiplying into actual diseases such as IBS, diabetes, and Crohn’s disease. Additionally, these leaks are causing imbalances within our chemical systems in the body, and can be responsible in part for depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders, among others. Since Amy Myers, M.D. was recommended to me as an author in the “leaky gut” phenomenon, I checked out her book The Autoimmune Solution from my local library system.
Myers recommends a four-pronged approach in the system (The Myers Way) that she uses in her practice. Paraphrasing from the book, she wants readers to do the following:
- Heal your gut through removing bad foods, restoring good enzymes and bacteria through supplements and vitamins, and working actively to repair your gut
- Eat healthy by following her meal plan of removing all gluten, dairy, nuts, nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, etc.), and various other foods, while adding in foods such as organic and farm-fresh produce, grass-fed meats, and farm-free fish.
- Remove toxins from your life including all plastics touching your food (e.g. plastic storage containers, bottled water), installing water filters, using gluten-free body and skin products, and using HEPA filters in your HVAC and other appliances such as vacuums.
- Destress yourself using a multitude of ways including yoga, therapy, acupuncture, exercise, and your passions.
All of these, especially the change in diet and the addition of supplements and vitamins, are to be done within a 30-day period. The biggest issue with this for those suffering from bipolar disorder, depression, and/or anxiety is that the side effects Myers lists for the first few weeks mimics both manic AND depressive episodes. The first week of side effects includes fatigue, lack of energy, restlessness, loss of sleep, or headaches. The second week of side effects includes feeling more energy, improved mood, and weight loss. (pg. 188) How is someone suffering from bipolar/depression/anxiety supposed to distinguish between the side effects of the diet and the effects of an episode when the symptoms are similar?
Furthermore, the rigidness of the diet routine might not be good for those who already have a routine that works for them, and change, including disruption of routine, is a common trigger for anxiety/depression/mania. The diet is very strict and very regimented, and while that might work for some, others might find the limitations too constraining. There is a time/cooking element that a lot of people might not be able to do, and Myers does not take that into account, especially for those who are having issues just getting into a kitchen or even getting up in the morning. The suggestions of bringing your own meal to friends, a struggle to find something in a restaurant to fit, or giving suggestions to friends for restaurants that fit within the dietary constraints could be an issue for those with anxiety or those who aren’t used to speaking up for themselves.
A third barrier to this program is the expense. While eating organically and non-GMO has become somewhat easier in normal grocery stores (think shopping the edge of the supermarkets instead of the aisles), and while places like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and your local farmer’s markets are great places to find natural products, these advances in accessibility don’t mean that the prices have come down. Additionally, there are a lot of supplements and vitamins recommended for each of the specific gut issues addressed within the book, and while some can be found in the local natural market or perhaps in one of the big-box stores, some have to be special ordered. And each supplement and vitamin costs money. Moreover, each additional pill and powder can add to what may already be a complicated medical cocktail for someone who ISN’T anxious/depressed/bipolar, let alone someone who is on medication for those conditions. Keeping medications and their timing straight is sometimes all one can do, and adding more and more pills might not be a good idea, especially when there is a possibility of interaction between prescribed medications and supplements.
Once chapter I found especially helpful was the chapter on Destressing (pgs. 157-171). Its practical suggestions for how to get rid of stress within your life, from acupuncture to exercise, and how they relieve stress, help to explain exactly what goes on within the body, and why it’s important to get stress out. On the outside we all know it’s important to rid ourselves of as much stress as possible, but to realize what a toll it actually takes on the body, and to have practical, concrete ways to get rid of such a trigger really helps.
Another section that could be helpful is the recipes within the book. While somewhat involved, they are healthy (taking into consideration your dietary constraints), and some sounded really good. A lot could be made in advanced and frozen so that all you have to do is heat them up, which would be a really easy way to take care of yourself within a depressive or anxious episode.
Finally, a HUGE warning flag to the book was the promises that you could get off your medications within thirty days of starting the Myers Way. It is repeated over and over within the book, with patient results by Myers about how this person got off some medication and that person got off another medication, and the Myers Way changed their lives. Myers touts over and over that the program will “fix” physical and physiological issues, and you’ll see results within 30 days of starting the program as long as you stick with it. It isn’t until page 179 that Myers mentions that if you’re on medications for illnesses such as bipolar, depression, or anxiety that you shouldn’t go off medication without the advice of your doctor. That’s assuming you read the book cover to cover, and didn’t skip through as a lot of readers of non-fiction do. If you skip that particular page, you could very well think that it’ll be OK to go off your medication, especially if you have a tendency to withdraw from your medical protocols. That is NOT healthy, NOR is it recommended.
I don’t know how healthy it is to completely cut out entire sections of the food chain from your diet. I understand the theory is that by cutting it out you will feel completely different, and by adding the vitamins and supplements that replace what you’re missing the theory is that you could feel better. And it might work for some people who have some diseases. However, considering everyone tells me that my bipolar, depression, and anxiety is chemical I think I’ll stick to working on eating a healthy diet and staying on the medical protocol that’s been recommended by the medical team with whom I actually speak.
VERDICT: An extreme (or at least modified) version of a paleo lifestyle that adds in removing toxins, stress, supplements, and vitamins. It might be OK for some. However, with side effects that mimic both manic and depressive episodes, and a host of supplements and vitamins to add to your medicine routine, and significant expenses all around, I would think it would be best to work with a nutritionist to get on a healthy lifestyle and eating routine, and then discussing The Myers Way in detail together before adding it to your life.
This is my personal opinion, based on the copy a checked out from the local library.
No money was exchanged for this review.