Rice Products Suddenly Cause Extreme Hunger?!

[r0ckah0l1c]

I have been eating gluten free for about 5 months now and suddenly I have been experiencing extreme hunger and I am curious if it could be from all of the rice products I am eating? Because I heard the rice in chinese food makes people hungry shortly after eating a full meal. I usually eat very healthy and watch my calorie intake very closely but lately I'm like a black hole! I am very concerned about weight gain and I am trying to eat more vegetables and fruits but it's not working! Could it be that my body is now just absorbing nutrients? Please help! Thank you!

[missy'smom]

You should report this to your doctor as soon as possible. It can be a sign of diabetes.

[samcarter]

Are you simply replacing all the foods you can't have (wheat bread, pasta, cookies, et cetera) with rice-based ones? White rice is high on the glycemic index, and yes, it doesn't have the "staying power" that other foods have. If you're just having rice bread toast for breakfast, or Rice Chex, with a glass of juice, that's not going to last long or give you a lot of energy.

Try eating more whole foods. If you're eating Rice Chex every morning, instead try eggs and fruit. Protein and fiber. If you're eating rice-based bread for lunch, instead try a salad with protein. Sometimes I make a tuna salad with lots of finely-chopped veggies in it, and dip with brown-rice based crackers (Mary's Gone Crackers are great, they have other grains like quinoa, not just brown rice).

Variety will keep your body from going hungry. Keep a food diary to see if you're eating protein at every meal (quality protein, like eggs or fish, beans, meat).

And yes, it is true, when your body starts to heal and can absorb nutrients, you may find yourself wanting to eat more. If that's the case, just make sure you're eating whole foods, not snack type foods or white carbs.