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

Never Used To Crave Sweets Like This...

healinginprogress

Recommended Posts

healinginprogress Enthusiast
healinginprogress
Posted

I used to always be a salt fiend, a savory lover, and very very very rarely eat things like chocolate, ice cream, or baked goods. I always ate very healthy and didn't even crave those things.

But since going gluten-free, I'm still eating healthy...just eating the right KIND of healthy for my body now :P But I find I'm craving all those things now!!!

I don't get it...often when one craves sugar it's because they may be low on carbs...I feel sometimes cravings can be the body wanting something. But I'm eating carbs: fruits, veggies, rice, etc. I'm also eating proteins. And healthy fats.

So what's the deal? Is anyone else experiencing this? I'm 2 months gluten-free now, so I wouldn't think it would still be withdrawal. I'd love to stop these cravings, any help would be much appreciated :)

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Camp Laffalot Newbie
Camp Laffalot
Posted

Hi. My name is Mary Ellen and I'm a Pamela's Chocolate Cookie addict.

To answer your question: yup.

Cattknap Rookie
Cattknap
Posted

All carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars that are absorbed into the bloodstream. The carbs in some foods (mostly those that contain simple sugars and highly refined grains, such as white flour and white rice) are easily broken down into sugar. Whole grains are broken down more slowly and their sugars are released more slowly into the bloodstream. If you are used to eating white bread but it is no longer in your diet, then you have eliminated a daily source of quickly absorbed sugar from your diet - thus your craving for simple carbs (quick sugar).

Takala Enthusiast
Takala
Posted

Sugar and sweet cravings can mean things besides lack of simple carbohydrates.

You listed relative lightweights first, such as rice and fruit. You may have to up the proteins and healthy fats to feel sated, longer. You can also try adding in a form of grain carb which is higher protein than rice - any time you combine gluten free grains,seeds, or nut meals it is better as you get the full range of amino acids your body needs to use the protein. Hence I will mix two or more of the darker, more intense gluten free grain flours together in ziplock bags, ready to use. And I will make it with olive oil and sometimes eggs. My toast might be ugly, but I guarantee it lasts longer than a piece of styrofoam type "white" bread. :P

If you are not healed up yet you are not absorbing nutrients properly. The body will be trying to regulate certain levels of these chemicals in the bloodstream to function.

Try taking a gluten free calcium supplement, with vitamin D, magnesium, and a B complex. This helps with cravings, also.

Strawberry-Jam Enthusiast
Strawberry-Jam
Posted

Strange! I used to eat sweets CONSTANTLY and crave them always. Now I have a spoonful of peanut butter for "dessert" instead of a spoonful of sugary icing. I still keep butterscotch around and have it sometimes but no more cookies and ice cream every day. It's weird.

although I noticed when I accidentally got soy'd I shotgunned like two packets of Skittles. idk!

so basically I'm like the opposite of you :P

Jill0711 Rookie
Jill0711
Posted

I'm still eating skittles as a food group :unsure: I think it is a normal thing for our bodies to crave the things it is used to and needs. Personally, I'm hoping that once the B12 kicks in I will no longer eat them so often. I know that my body wants them for energy and sugar is always a quick energy thing...of course, the crash comes later.

aeraen Apprentice
aeraen
Posted

Strange! I used to eat sweets CONSTANTLY and crave them always. Now I have a spoonful of peanut butter for "dessert" instead of a spoonful of sugary icing. I still keep butterscotch around and have it sometimes but no more cookies and ice cream every day. It's weird.

although I noticed when I accidentally got soy'd I shotgunned like two packets of Skittles. idk!

so basically I'm like the opposite of you :P

Another lifetime sugar addict who can now eat sweets in moderation. I figured that my body was craving the fastest energy it could get, since it wasn't absorbing the nutrients from the food I was eating.

Not that I'm the picture of self-denial, but I actually passed up a BUTTERFINGER today, simply because I didn't want it. Unheard of!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


MsCurious Enthusiast
MsCurious
Posted

Another lifetime sugar addict who can now eat sweets in moderation. I figured that my body was craving the fastest energy it could get, since it wasn't absorbing the nutrients from the food I was eating.

Not that I'm the picture of self-denial, but I actually passed up a BUTTERFINGER today, simply because I didn't want it. Unheard of!

WOW... I hadn't thought of that! I have been a sugar addict for ever... and never could understand why... now it makes more sense. I sure hope I have the same results... less sugar craving would be wonderful! As I "study diligently" for my test on Monday... my "study materials" of choice today... rich gooey chocolatey brownies with home made chocolate butter frosting... SINFUL! I feel like tonight is "The Last Supper!" LOL :P:blink::lol:

aeraen Apprentice
aeraen
Posted

WOW... I hadn't thought of that! I have been a sugar addict for ever... and never could understand why... now it makes more sense. I sure hope I have the same results... less sugar craving would be wonderful! As I "study diligently" for my test on Monday... my "study materials" of choice today... rich gooey chocolatey brownies with home made chocolate butter frosting... SINFUL! I feel like tonight is "The Last Supper!" LOL :P:blink::lol:

Wish I could get my teenager to study his chemestry with the same enthusiasm. :lol:

healinginprogress Enthusiast
healinginprogress
Posted
  • Author

All carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars that are absorbed into the bloodstream. The carbs in some foods (mostly those that contain simple sugars and highly refined grains, such as white flour and white rice) are easily broken down into sugar. Whole grains are broken down more slowly and their sugars are released more slowly into the bloodstream. If you are used to eating white bread but it is no longer in your diet, then you have eliminated a daily source of quickly absorbed sugar from your diet - thus your craving for simple carbs (quick sugar).

I NEVER ate white bread...well, pretty much never. Always whole grain bread, pasta, brown rice, etc.

healinginprogress Enthusiast
healinginprogress
Posted
  • Author

Sugar and sweet cravings can mean things besides lack of simple carbohydrates.

You listed relative lightweights first, such as rice and fruit. You may have to up the proteins and healthy fats to feel sated, longer. You can also try adding in a form of grain carb which is higher protein than rice - any time you combine gluten free grains,seeds, or nut meals it is better as you get the full range of amino acids your body needs to use the protein. Hence I will mix two or more of the darker, more intense gluten free grain flours together in ziplock bags, ready to use. And I will make it with olive oil and sometimes eggs. My toast might be ugly, but I guarantee it lasts longer than a piece of styrofoam type "white" bread. :P

If you are not healed up yet you are not absorbing nutrients properly. The body will be trying to regulate certain levels of these chemicals in the bloodstream to function.

Try taking a gluten free calcium supplement, with vitamin D, magnesium, and a B complex. This helps with cravings, also.

Yeah, I'm still healing up, so that could definitely be the case! I've been wanting to add quinoa, but the non-contaminated quinoa is so expensive! Any other grain suggestions?

color-me-confused Explorer
color-me-confused
Posted

I used to always be a salt fiend, a savory lover, and very very very rarely eat things like chocolate, ice cream, or baked goods. I always ate very healthy and didn't even crave those things.

But since going gluten-free, I'm still eating healthy...just eating the right KIND of healthy for my body now :P But I find I'm craving all those things now!!!

I've had the complete opposite experience. Going gluten-free has largely killed my snack habits. In hindsight I had some real addictive behavior going on with gluten - whenever I'd feel stressed or frustrated I'd grab a wheat-filled snack and munch away. Anything with a crunch (pretzels! oreos!) but I wasn't too picky provided there was refined wheat flour involved. And with untreated ADD the stress and frustration was pretty constant!

However breaking the gluten addiction combined with treating the ADD have conspired to make me shed 8 lbs in 3 weeks. Going gluten-free has completely restored a normal appetite and the ability to know when I'm full - it had been gone for years! I'll still snack but it'll be on just a few really crunchy and savory gluten-free crackers with lots of flavor. The appetite suppressive effects of Ritalin are actually causing some problems during the workweek where I don't eat enough and start to get dizzy and lightheaded in the afternoons, so I am working on stocking my office with more gluten-free snacks and sort of forcing myself to eat something now and then. I don't medicate on the weekends which sabotages this a bit 'cause the ADD brain is not so good at remembering shopping lists to purchase said snacks...

healinginprogress Enthusiast
healinginprogress
Posted
  • Author

I'm wondering if candida could play a part? Anybody have experiences with it? But would candida get worse after going gluten-free? Although my multis apparently aren't gluten-free, just realized, so I guess I can't really say I've been 2 months gluten-free :(

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • 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.