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Interesting Info About Gluten Withdrawal

Sunny1008

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Sunny1008 Rookie
Sunny1008
Posted

Hi everyone,

I have been reading the book Healthier Without Wheat by Dr. Stephen Wangen, and he says that gluten may act like an opioid in our brains, which is why some people crave or feel they are "addicted" to bread and other gluten-containing products. He says that also may be why many of us experience withdrawal symptoms when we cut out gluten. (He says dairy is the same.) Forgive me if you've already heard this...I had no idea!!!

I don't know about the rest of you, but since cutting out gluten I have been feeling even worse - EXTREME fatigue and depression to be exact. Just waiting this out and hoping it will pass soon... ;)

Sunny

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frieze Community Regular
frieze
Posted

Hi everyone,

I have been reading the book Healthier Without Wheat by Dr. Stephen Wangen, and he says that gluten may act like an opioid in our brains, which is why some people crave or feel they are "addicted" to bread and other gluten-containing products. He says that also may be why many of us experience withdrawal symptoms when we cut out gluten. (He says dairy is the same.) Forgive me if you've already heard this...I had no idea!!!

I don't know about the rest of you, but since cutting out gluten I have been feeling even worse - EXTREME fatigue and depression to be exact. Just waiting this out and hoping it will pass soon... ;)

Sunny

yup, casein can be the same, so i have heard. Get outside in the sun, and move around; as you are able.

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mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Yes, Dr. Wangen is right, you are undoubtedly going through gluten withdawal. Hang in there and you will come out the other side. We always crave the things that are actually harming us. :blink:

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IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

oh boy, have we have heard of it, Sunny and many of us went though it and soon, it will pass. It's a frequent question on here and many of us can relate to the weirdness of it all.

Sorry you feel icky right now. :(

I know you have been struggling mightily the last 2 weeks, but I have to applaud you for being so strong and following through like a champ.

Drink a lot of water. Get some exercise, if you can and KNOW it's going to pass.

How's the GI tract doing? a little better?

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roxieb73 Contributor
roxieb73
Posted

Wow I had no idea. I guess I am just a lucky one and have not had any problems. My only issue is eating too much fruit. Causing lots of bathroom visits but I am sure as I learn to cook gluten free it will all even out. lol :D Hope you feel better soon!!!

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nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I too am more tired this first week gluten-free. I've been falling asleep on the couch at least an hour earlier than normal, and have to set the alarm to wake up after 8+ hours of sleep.

... And the headaches! I'm looking forward to that being gone.

Grumpy too... don't tel my husband I admitted that though! LOL :P

Wheat Belly is another really good book that's enough to scare a non-celiac off wheat. I read it months ago and was already cutting way back on my family's wheat consumption.

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Sunny1008 Rookie
Sunny1008
  • Author
Posted

Yes, Dr. Wangen is right, you are undoubtedly going through gluten withdawal. Hang in there and you will come out the other side. We always crave the things that are actually harming us. :blink:

Interesting how we always crave stuff that is bad for us. For me, it's not just a diet change, it's a lifestyle change!

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Sunny1008 Rookie
Sunny1008
  • Author
Posted

oh boy, have we have heard of it, Sunny and many of us went though it and soon, it will pass. It's a frequent question on here and many of us can relate to the weirdness of it all.

Sorry you feel icky right now. :(

I know you have been struggling mightily the last 2 weeks, but I have to applaud you for being so strong and following through like a champ.

Drink a lot of water. Get some exercise, if you can and KNOW it's going to pass.

How's the GI tract doing? a little better?

Hi IrishHeart,

The GI tract is doing a little better now that I have identified foods that irritate it. But still have a ways to go. Thank you for all the support! I would really be lost without it! :)

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Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

I was feeling sorry for myself at the store yesterday. I was at Costco and they do samples of like a bazillion things. Pretty much all of it had soy and/or wheat so was off limits to me. As we meandered down one of the aisles I said to my husband that barring an anaphylactic to milk I am not giving it up. That may be an exaggeration, but it really stresses exactly how attached to my milk I am. I was also not a pleasant person to be around that first little while gluten free. I sure didn't want to be around me.

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beachbirdie Contributor
beachbirdie
Posted

Hi everyone,

I have been reading the book Healthier Without Wheat by Dr. Stephen Wangen, and he says that gluten may act like an opioid in our brains, which is why some people crave or feel they are "addicted" to bread and other gluten-containing products. He says that also may be why many of us experience withdrawal symptoms when we cut out gluten. (He says dairy is the same.) Forgive me if you've already heard this...I had no idea!!!

I don't know about the rest of you, but since cutting out gluten I have been feeling even worse - EXTREME fatigue and depression to be exact. Just waiting this out and hoping it will pass soon... ;)

Sunny

Yep. I had a terrible time for nearly a month. I was grumpy, irritated at everything, losing temper at the most trivial stuff. I was sleeping a lot but still SOOOO tired! And headaches. Ugh.

My mom went through the same thing. We took her off gluten in April, she became a raging maniac. She is older, 85 years, and we were starting to think it was time for assisted living as she also has some mild dementia. Going gluten free made her AWFUL. It also was about 6 weeks before she stopped with the irrational thinking and paranoia, as well as the terrible rage.

Hope you'll be on the upswing soon!

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Salax Contributor
Salax
Posted

Interesting. I also found a link ( Open Original Shared Link ) about gluten and casein, which is interesting as well. Since many of us have had to go off casein and I definitely notice the withdraw there. B)

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IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Interesting. I also found a link ( Open Original Shared Link ) about gluten and casein, which is interesting as well. Since many of us have had to go off casein and I definitely notice the withdraw there. B)

Since I did both at the same time--gluten and dairy---oh, and soy, I did not think about both of them causing w/d, but I suppose that makes sense. Whatever it was, it was not pretty for a while.(but I was also very ill from celiac, so I cannot differentiate)

All I know is....the whole thing just plain sucked...until it didn't.

(sorry, usually I am more temperate in my speech, but "sucked" is the best word I can use without using the word I really want to use to describe how "sucky" it all was. )

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Salax Contributor
Salax
Posted

Irish, I think sucked/sucks is the perfect word. :D

I know when I did both together 3 years ago it was horrible, but since I did casein and gluten together it prolly wasn't that bad because I didn't know there was such a thing as casein withdraw. When I added casein/dairy back into my diet 6 months later, no issues I went back on it. Now, with colitis and constant D, I have removed it and I feel much better but I have been getting strange headaches and other withdraw like symptoms. Silly casein! I had no idea. Then to add "insult to injury" I stopped chocolate, soda and caffeine. :ph34r:

So sucked and is still a little bit sucking (almost done through the withdraw, I hope) for now. B)

We some tough folks for sure to be able to do what we do to modify and change our diets so heavily. Even my mom said to me last night, she doesn't know if she would have the strength to do what I have done with regards to my ability to follow a strict gluten free, casein free, nightshade free and caffeine free diet.

So kudos to all of us!

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IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

We some tough folks for sure to be able to do what we do to modify and change our diets so heavily. Even my mom said to me last night, she doesn't know if she would have the strength to do what I have done with regards to my ability to follow a strict gluten free, casein free, nightshade free and caffeine free diet.

So kudos to all of us!

Tough? we're warriors!!

Salax, Girl, this is why I say "Celiac...it ain't for sissies!! :lol:

NO ONE gets it like we do. NO ONE! :)

P.S. sadly, I think I may have to ditch the dairy again, too....I added it back in, but now, I do not feel quite right & my horrid joint/muscle pain is amplified again....total bummer.

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Salax Contributor
Salax
Posted

Dang that sucks (there's that word again, lol) but yeah its amazing what food has the capacity to do to our bodies. I feel ya. ;)

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RL2011 Rookie
RL2011
Posted

I can say that I have not craved gluten foods except beer. One day I will find a tasty gluten-free beer... And there is not a single gluten-free beer on the market today tastes good so no recommendations needed.

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IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I can say that I have not craved gluten foods except beer. One day I will find a tasty gluten-free beer... And there is not a single gluten-free beer on the market today tastes good so no recommendations needed.

I'm with you --I do not crave gluten.

I miss cheese more than gluten. (dammit, I love cheese.)

hey, you ditched the helmet! nice pic!

Hubs agrees about the beer, but will slug down a New Planet or a Green's and say "it's okay!!". (and he gave it up voluntarily! his beloved Guinness--mother's milk of the Irish! I know--he's a G D saint!)

I just drink GIN. :lol:

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ChelseaBelle Newbie
ChelseaBelle
Posted

So I was just diagnosed Thursday. My diagnoses came quickly & unexpectedly, which I know is rare, so I am very grateful. I have been reading & trying to gather as much info as possible before I make the big switch. I'm married & have 2 small kiddos (6 & 3) and thankfully they show no signs of celiac. We've decided to make our home completely gluten-free, we don't plan on regulating the kids 100% but because they are with me most of the time it will naturally happen with the occational indulgence away from home. We've decided to use up what we have in our house & bring nothing with gluten into the house from this point forward and I've actually planned a party for the last weekend in July for my last meal so to speak. ;) Anyway I say all that to ask this, do you think 2 1/2 weeks is enough time to transition my kids? Will they suffer from gluten withdrawals as well? My oldest understands that things are going to change but my youngest is an extremely picky eater & I always joke that all I can get that boy to eat is bread & cheese. Any advice would be greatly appreciated or is there a better place to post my rambling question? TIA! :)

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heather806 Rookie
heather806
Posted

Oh my gosh, I've been getting wicked headaches each day, late afternoon usually, for the past week. I didn't know there was such a thing as gluten withdrawal til I read this thread.

Today is only day 21 of being gluten free. Ughhh, I hope these go away soon! The rest of my diet, work day, etc is the same so maybe it is withdrawal. :( Can I expect any relief soon?

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IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Anyway I say all that to ask this, do you think 2 1/2 weeks is enough time to transition my kids? Will they suffer from gluten withdrawals as well? My oldest understands that things are going to change but my youngest is an extremely picky eater & I always joke that all I can get that boy to eat is bread & cheese. Any advice would be greatly appreciated or is there a better place to post my rambling question? TIA! :)

We do not want to go too far off the topic or the original poster's question, but I will quickly suggest this: Children will transition faster.

The "picky eater" ? this suggests to me that he has a gluten/dairy issue. (I was a picky eater as a child, too)

That's all he wants? That's a big clue.

Just approach this as "food" we are eating, not "gluten-free food'.

Kids are resilient and easily adapt. Make your meals tasty---they will not know the difference. If you present it as weird or difficult, that's what they will run with.

The more we make of it, the more they pick up on it.

Make some yummy gluten-free breads, muffins, pancakes, etc and top them with pure maple syrup, and they will be happy.

Here's something to read:

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IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Can I expect any relief soon?

yes! Drink a lot of pure water. Eat healthy, whole foods.

It's temporary.

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katjones Newbie
katjones
Posted

I have been gluten-free for about a month and I definitely was having gluten withdrawls the first three weeks. I tried to balance it with five or six smaller meals a day.I am sure I was having blood sugar issues.Headaches, dizziness,grouchy. But I was so happy to have my gut better that I just tried to work through it. I am so relieved to be gluten-free !!

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