Meet Alex. Read How He CURED His Depression.

Feb 22, 2019

happy wayhappy way

This is Alex’s story in his own words about how he went from the depths of severe depression to living a vibrant depression-free life. He did this with the help of Dr. Mike, a Chiropractic Neurologist and Functional Medicine Practitioner. This will change the way you think about the gut/brain connection. Please share this important article for all the many people out their suffering. Please also see (and share) the preview of our upcoming documentary FOOD=MOOD, which features Alex’s story.


Look To Your Biology To Cure Your Depression

Just over a year ago, and only 23 years old, I was in the throes of a debilitating depression which plagued me for 8 long years. I had a choice: to cope in utter despair and misery, or, end my life—both not great options. It was not through typical treatments, but by changing my chemistry, that I CURED my depression. I’m sharing my story with you to provide an alternative solution, one you probably never heard of . . . until now.

THE 300- POUND GORILLA

My name’s Alex Laudani, some call me “Lau” and I am writing this because depression kicked my ass for a long time. It tormented me like that bully in high school torments the helpless nerd: relentlessly, viciously and without rhyme or reason. The only difference is that the nerd could at least escape the vice grip of its formidable foe upon graduation. I, on the contrary, had a 300-pound gorilla on my back that wasn’t going anywhere. It clinched to me tight, suffocating my will to live throughout the entirety of high school and college. It was weighing me down on a daily basis and there seemed to be no end in sight. I tried taking preventative action. I took the anti-depressants, went to therapy, meditated, participated in yoga, lied in float tanks, I even ventured to the middle of the Amazon jungle to ingest potent psychedelic brews (story for another day). Though I benefited from some of these things in other areas, they weren’t the cure. In hindsight, they were merely distractions. And yes for some people they aren’t distractions; they are a source of solace. I totally understand that. But, for me, they were failing to get to the core of my problem because my depression was still there lingering. By this time I had come to a tipping point and was convinced I had only two options: cope in misery or end it. Neither option was promising, but then, while walking the metaphorical plank of fate, with my hands tied, guns pointed in my direction and ravenous sharks underneath me, a third option appeared out of the blue.

THE DIAGNOSIS

That option came when a family friend made a life changing recommendation. She referred me to a doctor, but not your typical doctor: a chiropractic neurologist. This doctor specialized in biochemical and neurological diseases. Skeptical yet willing to give anything a shot, I scheduled an initial appointment. During my first visit I explained to him exactly how I felt, and after talking we speculated that my depression may not have been a byproduct of emotional trauma but rather a series of biological imbalances. This was an interesting take, one I really never thought about. Was my own biology failing me? How could that be?  I grew up eating extremely clean and lived an active lifestyle. There was only one way to find out; through testing of my gut microbiome, blood and urine.

“Depression may not have been a byproduct of emotional trauma
but rather a biological imbalance.”

I proceeded to take the tests, and within a few weeks I received results. The data was shocking. They were able to tell by my samples that I wasn’t as healthy as I presumably thought. I had something called Leaky Gut Syndrome as well as a compound homozygous MTHFR gene mutation. Both findings are considered red flags in the newly emerging field in healthcare called functional medicine and are said to potentially link to depression. We were on to something and for once in a long time I was struck with a glimmer of hope.

LEAKY GUT SYNDROME AND MTHFR

Leaky gut syndrome has become a topic of discussion in the health world in recent years. In layman’s terms, it is a condition where food and toxic particles leak through your intestinal lining into the blood stream rather than be absorbed by the small intestine. For more detailed information on leaky gut check out this link.

The more important finding was that I had (and still have) an MTHFR mutation. This is a less known diagnosis, which is astonishing because, according to cousnyl.com, 40% of us have this genetic mutation!  MTHFR is a gene that produces an enzyme responsible for the conversion of a certain B vitamin called folate into a form that we can use in the human body. If you have a mutated MTHFR gene (in my case two mutations) your body is unable to absorb these compounds, which at the end of the day, are responsible for the production of serotonin and dopamine (you’re happy). Without proper levels of these neurotransmitters your quality of life is dulled. For more details on MTHFR check out this website.

“40% of us have this genetic mutation!”

In addition to the Leaky gut and MTHFR findings, my gliadin levels, which were detected in my test results, were raised to exorbitant levels. This meant that I was highly sensitive to gluten. Gluten, which is found in wheat, certain oats, and rye can reek havoc on people insidiously because often times you can not feel the physical side effects. Gluten, in my case, was causing a host of problems that effected my brain function.

All fingers were pointed at these two culprits for potentially causing my depression but the only way I was to know for sure was to make a serious change in my diet and to strategically supplement. For the next few months I was put on a protocol meticulously designed by my doctor to heal my gut and replenish my lack of essential nutrients caused by my MTHFR mutation. So it began . . .

THE CURE

Per my doctor’s direction, I began a strict dietary regimen to heal my intestinal lining. This entailed eliminating most foods from my diet with the exception of dark green vegetables, nuts and healthy fats. The purpose of this was to start with a clean slate and establish a basis for a healthy gut and to progress from there. It was especially important that I avoid inflammatory foods during the protocol.  In conjunction with the elimination diet, I was given a handful of natural supplements that would help restore my gut. From then on, on a weekly basis, I was instructed to slowly implement clean food such as grass fed meats, chicken, fish, eggs and low glycemic fruit back into my diet along with new supplements and probiotics. While I was healing my leaky gut, I was simultaneously trying to cater to my MTHFR mutation which was limiting my body’s ability to absorb the essential vitamins such as B12, B6 and Folate. Because I was deficient, I needed to somehow increase my intake of these vitamins but it wasn’t as simple as just supplementing with B12, B6 and Folate because, as I brought up earlier, I was lacking the enzyme to absorb them. This meant I needed to bypass that enzyme and instead ingest the already methylated form; one that my body could imbibe. The solution was to drink this powerful protein blend (and later this supplement) which would flood my system with methylated B, methylated folate and a plethora of other essentials my body needed. This proved to be a crucial step in managing my deficiency and ultimately conquering my depression.

REVITALIZED

Sticking to the protocol was an arduous task, I will admit. In the beginning I was hungry, tired, and still depressed. I was also skeptical but part of me knew that I needed to soldier on in order to reap the true benefits. Luckily things got easier and slowly but surely I began to feel the difference in my overall health. Within weeks of starting my protocol I experienced a significant boost in energy. My head felt clear. My senses were sharp. I was no longer a victim of constant fatigue, and I would actually catch myself smiling. Most importantly, I noticed that I wasn’t experiencing the frequent dips in my mood. It was remarkable. I felt like the veil of depression and sadness that was draped in front of my eyes had finally lifted. I was no longer living a mundane world; life was vibrant!

COULD YOU POSSIBLY CURE YOUR DEPRESSION TOO?

The point of my story is this: If you want to rip that 300- pound gorilla off your back once and for all and rid yourself of that depressed feeling, you must first look within. It makes sense, if your body isn’t functioning properly internally everything you try outside of that will not work. If you no longer want to be dependent on something like pharmaceuticals and want to explore the ultimate cure, I implore you to start by checking yourself for leaky gut syndrome and MTHFR (There are many other possibilities as well, but this is a great place to start.)  You can even try to simply eliminate gluten from your diet. This approach may very well be the answer you have been looking for and the chance to conquer the beast once in for all.

And again the purpose of my article isn’t to entirely knock the mainstream approaches for coping with the disease nor is it a selling point for me to make money. I am not a professional or here telling you that this will 100% cure your depression too. Rather, I’m sharing my personal story in hopes of helping others knowing I would be doing a disservice if I kept this life changing information to myself. Remember…always look to your biology first.

Learn more about testing here! Note: It is important to follow a protocol under doctor’s supervision. Everyone is different therefore protocols will be unique to the individual.  For any other questions or more information email me at [email protected].


Now depression-free, Alex also happens to be living it up with his awesome band called Sir Cadian Rythym. Check them out on Facebook

 

 

Recent Posts

Archives

well humans logo

Fix Your Gut and Feel Your Best

carla alpert functional medicine practitioner

Hello and Welcome! My name is Carla Alpert, and I’m a Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach and Diagnostic Practitioner, focusing on the gut and how it affects your overall health. Think of me as a health detective and wellness coach working in partnership with you to restore your health. We work together to uncover the contributing factors to your chronic symptoms, to eat well, sleep well, move more and stress less.

I love the GI MAP test because it helps my clients and I discover gut dysfunction that may be contributing to daily digestive issues as well as other chronic symptoms like anxiety, fatigue and brain fog. I created this GI MAP Coaching Package to help you stop struggling with your health and get back to living your best life.

functional medicine health coaching logos

What Clients Are Saying

Carla really helped me to figure out my gut pain and issues after so many years. I finally feel like I have energy and clarity around my health! She was so easy to talk to and helped me discover problem areas that were causing me so much distress, when no other doctors could help.
VICTORIA

Well Humans changed my life. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis accompanied by chronic hives. It sprang up out of nowhere and caused bizarre “food allergies” that I’d never had before. Because of Carla’s coaching and dietary recommendations as well as GI Map testing, I can happily say that I am now symptom-free, and I have been in remission for over a year now. All of the doctors I saw told me I would have to deal with my symptoms because there was no cure, but here I am, back to living a mostly normal life. I highly recommend Carla and Well Humans for anyone looking for real answers and treatments that work.
KALYN

When working with Carla, you are in capable, compassionate, knowledgeable and caring hands. Carla truly cares about your well being and wants to help you be the healthiest that you can be. My health was truly suffering and with her guidance and suggested testing, we uncovered some issues that nobody else had uncovered, despite my going to some of the top rated medical institutions. My health and pain improved greatly due to Carla’s sleuthing…she knew where to look. Through many health challenges, I was quite emotional and Carla showed me what compassion looks like. If you want to truly improve your health, start with Well Humans.
BETH

Over years, I’ve tried various “alternative” medicine as well as conventional “western” medicine approaches. Skin ailments are hard to treat – so many aspects of a life can produce skin symptoms. I enthusiastically recommend Well Humans and Carla for a simple reason – I’ve experienced sustained, substantial improvement! I have hardly ever posted a review of anything, but writing this was an easy choice to make. I wish you all the best in your journey towards better health!
JON

I searched the U.S. to find someone who does what Carla does. Carla has used her knowledge, support and expertise to optimize my health and well-being with a blend of scientific medical tests, supplements and diet changes. I wasted a lot of time on my hunches, the internet and experiments with supplements and food and NOW i have an actual plan. Superb supportive knowledge and guidance. I highly recommend Carla. Grateful.
LISA

I never knew that I had a gluten allergy and intolerance until Carla discovered it in my blood work! I’m so grateful that she made this discovery and I have been gluten free ever since. I sleep better, don’t feel bloated and have much more energy. It was a life-changing insight.
ROB

Carla is very knowledgeable and kind. She helped me navigate a health issue with grace and the utmost care. Carla goes above and beyond with her clients and I highly recommend her. She genuinely cares!
ALLISON

I have been working with Carla for quite some time and she has helped me turn my life and health around. She is non-judgmental, and always wants the best for her clients. She is extremely knowledgeable and has a fantastic bedside manner. She has truly changed my life for the better and I will always be grateful for everything she has done.
ROB

Pin It on Pinterest