Food Sensitivities and the Brain During Quarantine

COVID-19 isolation has extended typical winter “cabin fever” into the spring and summer months, and social distancing has many of our patients grieving cancelled vacations, graduations and proms, and many of the other activities they typically enjoy this time of the year. The mental health consequences of the current pandemic may be profound for some patients. Add in snacking that has arisen from boredom, depression, and change of routine, and many are not only struggling with extra poundage, but also a food-driven amplification of anxiety and depression.

In this webinar, Dr. Chris D. Meletis, ND, discusses how food sensitivities, true allergies, and the consumption of histamine-rich foods may lead to brain fog, lethargy, and even neuroinflammation, increasing the load of an immune system that may be already stressed during these uncertain times. He also covers how correlating organic acids can further fuel anxiety and depression. 

We discuss the following cases where food sensitivities had an impact on mental health:

1. An elderly woman in a nursing home who has been displaced from her room of four years to a new wing of her facility to make room for COVID-19 patients. 
   
   
2. A high school senior going to graduate with a drive-thru diploma event, allowed to get out of the car for a photo.
   
   
3. A couple with four kids experiencing the burden of home schooling as a dual-income family, cancelled vacation plans, and more.