Elimination Diet

[bbdailey]

I went gluten free back in may and cut out soy and dairy since august but seem to have taken a few steps back for some reason. So im trying an elimination diet and this is day 6. Is it typical to have your mental symptoms(depression/brain fog/anxiety) get worse before getting better?

[frieze]

sounds like pretty typical withdrawl..

[bbdailey]

How long do the withdrawl symptoms usually last?

[Skylark]

It's not withdrawal if you were already off gluten and dairy. Those are the two foods that can have an opiate-like effect.

Did you start eating a lot of a new/different food? Or did you cut out supplements you were taking before you started the diet?

[bbdailey]

Im basically having chicken and vegetables and fruit. I have been gluten free for a while but suspect that I may have been getting little bits of gluten here and there becasue I was not making any progress.

[eatmeat4good]

The mental effects of gluten hit me the hardest and the fastest if I've gotten traces of gluten. If you have been gluten free for that long, it seems this could be cross contamination rather than withdrawal like Skylark said. The mental fog and almost deliriously ill feeling were always directly related to gluten. I hope you find the source soon.

[bbdailey]

Well the last week on the elimination diet I have made sure that I havent had any gluten. Im thinking the "withdrawl symptoms" could be from having CC issues the last few months? Either that or possibly another food allergy like corn, egg or something?

[Skylark]

Im basically having chicken and vegetables and fruit. I have been gluten free for a while but suspect that I may have been getting little bits of gluten here and there becasue I was not making any progress.

Were you eating starches before? That can be a pretty big adjustment, getting off of starchy foods. Sometimes you have some yeast or bad intestinal bacteria die-off, which is a good thing but can make you feel a little "off".

[bbdailey]

Hey skylark I dont believe I was eating alot of starches before. I was pretty much depending on my mother to cook my meals and having alot of "gluten free" processed foods that I didnt double check to see if they were safe or not. I was having alot of "enjoy life" cookies and sugary candies so maybe im having withdrawls from sugar?

[Skylark]

Hey skylark I dont believe I was eating alot of starches before. I was pretty much depending on my mother to cook my meals and having alot of "gluten free" processed foods that I didnt double check to see if they were safe or not. I was having alot of "enjoy life" cookies and sugary candies so maybe im having withdrawls from sugar?

I'd think suddenly cutting out processed foods and sugar could have quite an effect on how you feel! I'm not crazy about using the word "withdrawal" because it has a precise physiological meaning. I suspect you're having more of a detox/die-off reaction from suddenly going off junk food. A little milk thistle might do you good.