Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

I'm So Hungry....

Guest ~jules~

By Guest ~jules~
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Guest ~jules~
Guest ~jules~
Posted

After you were diagnosed and began your diet, were you super hungry all the time? I am always hungry, I just started this on the 19th of august. Before I got really ill I was at a healthy weight for my frame, when I got sick I dropped 15 lbs. in one summer. I don't mind gaining the weight back at all cuz, I think I look sick thin. I'm just worried that at this rate of hunger I'm at now I could balloon! Did anyone else go through this psycho hunger I'm experiencing? Thanks! Julie (aka ravenous beast) :P

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


2kids4me Contributor
2kids4me
Posted

My experience with hunger is related to diabetes - as in I am still hungry but cant have any more without risking hyperglycemia....but if popcorn or chips are involved I have been know to give a little extra insulin :D

When I am feeling hungry, and shouldn't eat, I have tea with lemon juice or a cold glass of water with a teaspoon of lemon juice. It worlks for me in terms of losng the craving for food. Or I stick to low carb veges - celery, tomatoes or even a fruit like a small apple ( has carbs but not many).

I would think its very normal - your guts are healing and are absorbing more nutrients - your body is hungry for all it has been missing :)

When both kids were first on the gluten-free diet - their appetite went up for awhile - I figured it was because now they could eat without feeling crappy and they were enjoying food more.

LOL I just had to fix a spelling error - what I noticed after posting:

( has crabs but not many ) :lol::lol::lol:

Chrisser Explorer
Chrisser
Posted

I've been gluten-free for almost 6 weeks now, and only a couple of weeks ago did I start getting incredibly hungry. I seriously eat like 8-9 times a day...and we're talking almost full meals (like a steak, baked potato, and sometimes a side veggie). It's ridiculous. About a week and a half ago I went to Sam's and spent $100 on meat, and I went back this past weekend for more. Sometimes I feel so hungry that I feel nauseas and sick and like "I HAVE TO EAT NOW" or I'll pass out. It's driving me crazy! I can't just snack or graze...when I eat, I have to EAT.

Kaycee Collaborator
Kaycee
Posted

Fortunately I am the opposite.

Before diagnosis, not too long ago, I was always ravenously hungry.

But now thankfully, as I can do without weight gain, I am not as hungry.

The worst thing for me would've been to have put on weight again, and then I would've not been able to stop. Weight is a problem for me to say the least.

Cathy

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

Many people who go gluten-free and start healing become ravenously hungry. Your body is craving the calories and nutrients it hasn't been getting.

richard

Sweetfudge Community Regular
Sweetfudge
Posted

Hmm, well, I've always been a hungry person, not really noticed much change since going gluten-free, except that now I crave things I can't have...lol

In high school, my friends called me "the girl who eats everything" cuz I was always hungry, always eating, and never gained anything...ah, to be back in those higher metabolism days again...

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

I was always hungry. If we ate out, I'd come home and make myself another meal. Whenever we'd get done cleaning the kitchen after one meal, I'd start making a snack. All I did was eat! I lost 15 pounds when I was sick, too, but only gained 10 back (now it's down to 7 as I've lost three again). I think Richard is right, you are finally getting some nutrients out of your food. I still eat a lot, probably more than my husband who's a lot bigger than I am, but it's nothing like before. I'm down to four to six feedings per day!!

One thing I've done is to never eat any garbage whatsoever. Since my body is craving nutrients, it's going to be hungry until it gets them. I think when you eat junk food, you will get hungry sooner because you didn't get the nutrients. In the beginning, I intentionally ate Ruffles after a meal and in between meals so I would gain weight. Now, it's healthy food only, I just wasn't feeling good. I've lost a couple pounds again, but I'm finally starting to feel better (still got a long way to go!).

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


dionnek Enthusiast
dionnek
Posted

Yeah, I'm always hungry and always eating (everyone I work with comments about how I always seem to be eating) :lol:

I've only been gluten-free for 3 1/2 months and at first I thought it was just b/c I wasn't eating bread anymore, which fills you up more, but now I'm not so sure. Wondering if I'll ever get back to a "normal" appetite (i.e., 4-5 meals per day instead of 7-9!).

wacky~jackie Rookie
wacky~jackie
Posted

Could trace amounts of gluten cause this hungry sensation?? I had it continually when I first cut out gluten. At the time I didn't know that Quaker rice cakes can be CC and was eating them at almost every meal. I was starving all the time. Since I have cut out those rice cakes the hunger has gone away (except when I haven't eaten in awhile - of course). Does anyone know or has anyone else had this same situation?

Guest ~jules~
Guest ~jules~
Posted

I've been eating rice cakes on and off since I started, I haven't had a problem with them, that I know of.

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted
I've been eating rice cakes on and off since I started, I haven't had a problem with them, that I know of.

Just be sure you're not eating Quaker rice cakes, they're contaminated.

ÆON Newbie
ÆON
Posted

Before I went gluten free I felt like I was starving all the time. I couldn't figure why I wasn't gaining a bunch of weight.

I was craving sugar all the time, too.

Now that I've given the bad stuff (gluten) up, I'm hardly ever hungry by comparison.

aikiducky Apprentice
aikiducky
Posted

I was constantly hungry for a while after going gluten free, well, before that, too. I've been gluten free for almost two years now and my appetite is more normal than it ever was really. :D I eat 3-4 times a day.

When I first went gluten free I decided to allow myself to eat enough to feel satisfied, but I did try to stick to good stuff to get as much nutrients as possible. I didn't worry about calories at all, but I've still lost 10kg in the two years I've been gluten free. Which is a good thing in my case!

Pauliina

Chrisser Explorer
Chrisser
Posted
I was constantly hungry for a while after going gluten free, well, before that, too. I've been gluten free for almost two years now and my appetite is more normal than it ever was really. :D I eat 3-4 times a day.

When did you start eating more "normally?" Having to eat like 9 meals a day is so frustrating!

Mayflowers Contributor
Mayflowers
Posted

I haven't read any posts saying the same thing but since I went gluten free, food....really tastes better! My taste has improved like when you quit smoking..ya know? Maybe that has something to do with eating more. I've noticed I'm hungrier too and I can't afford to gain weight. I'm one of those who gained weight ..about 40 pounds worth. Personally I think it's the rice that's increasing insulin in the blood and causing cravings.

aikiducky Apprentice
aikiducky
Posted

It was a gradual change so I'm not sure, but I think by one and a half years into the diet I was consistently doing ok with three four meals a day.

I know, probably not what you hoped to hear. :(:)

Pauliina

  • 5 years later...
glassroseheart Newbie
glassroseheart
Posted

I've been gluten-free for a little over 2 weeks and I'm starting to get hungry more frequently and I can eat much more when I do. Before going gluten-free, I was nauseous most of the time and could barely eat, but I was also usually hungry. My ability to eat properly is slowly coming back. I still can't eat all that much at one time yet, but it seems like I'm hungrier than I was before going gluten-free, probably because eating doesn't usually make me feel nauseous anymore. I lost 10 lbs that I couldn't afford to lose 8 years ago and just started gaining it back, though I've been trying to gain it back for the entire time.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I've been gluten-free for a little over 2 weeks and I'm starting to get hungry more frequently and I can eat much more when I do. Before going gluten-free, I was nauseous most of the time and could barely eat, but I was also usually hungry. My ability to eat properly is slowly coming back. I still can't eat all that much at one time yet, but it seems like I'm hungrier than I was before going gluten-free, probably because eating doesn't usually make me feel nauseous anymore. I lost 10 lbs that I couldn't afford to lose 8 years ago and just started gaining it back, though I've been trying to gain it back for the entire time.

Just an FYI - The last post in this thread is 6 years old.

heather806 Rookie
heather806
Posted

I am hungry much more often since going gluten-free. I eat 6 or seven times per day. But small items like a banana or a cup of chex or some cherries or carrots. It's not a bad thing in my book to eat more often and I feel I am eating mainly healthy whole foods. I did chow down on a snickers bar at the airport the other day. (too bad milky way bars have gluten -- they used to be my fave)

Sunny600 Rookie
Sunny600
Posted

This is funny, because since I went gluten free about six months ago, I STOPPED being hungry all the time. It,s very pleasant to not have to find snacks all the time in the middle of the morning and afternoon.

Tilley

Free-form07 Newbie
Free-form07
Posted

Have you heard of secondary celiac reactions? You will often find low hydrochloric acid and fungal candida teamed up with celiac disease.

I lost twenty pounds in a month right before I found out about celiac disease. I was already very underweight. I was ravenously hungry all the time and even after going gluten free, couldn't manage to feel satiated. The food often went right through me and ended up in the toilet bowel. Gross, I know. I ended up getting on a fungal candida and detox plan by Dr. McCombs ( Which has accelerated my healing from celiac damage) and found that I had severe hydrochloric acid deficiency. This complication invites all kinds of trouble and interferes with the assimilation of much needed nutrients. You may look into supplementing with HCL. Once I did this, My starvation feelings completely disappeared.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,332
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Nicolah
    Newest Member
    Nicolah
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.