Anyone Who Can Explain The Science Of Gut Bacteria To Me?

[MitziG]

Summing it up, been gluten-free for over a year, recently discovered casein was an issue for me as it was causing acne. Cut it out completely about 2 weeks ago. Weight is falling off me every day (yay!) Skin clearing up (yay!) Energy thru the roof (double yay!) But....(there is always a but with Celiacs) my guts are a MESS. Anything I eat leaves me nauseous, gassy and gurgly. Also a bit constipated. Now, I also developed a yeast infection, which I haven't had in years.

I am not worried, I have come to learn with celiacs that this too shall pass, but...I am a curious girl and am just wondering what and why is happening in my gut? Is this withdrawal? Can going off gluten or casein disrupt the intestinal flora? I didn't have this issue when I went gluten-free, and I gave up dairy products months ago without incident. It is just ditching the little bits of casein that seem to have triggered this.

I am taking digestive enzymes, but it is a patented blend and I don't know specifically WHAT enzymes are in there. Is there something else I should be doing? Any thoughts?

[benXX]

I am not worried, I have come to learn with celiacs that this too shall pass, but...I am a curious girl and am just wondering what and why is happening in my gut? Is this withdrawal? Can going off gluten or casein disrupt the intestinal flora? I didn't have this issue when I went gluten-free, and I gave up dairy products months ago without incident. It is just ditching the little bits of casein that seem to have triggered this.

Going off gluten and casein is certainly affecting your gut flora, you are less feeding it. Whatever is not absorbed by the small intestine is food for the gut flora to thrive on.

I'd suggest to go a bit further and cut all starch and all dairy and all sugar and all legumes. In other words go a dairy free anti-Candida version of SCD or on a Paleo diet. This will starve your gut flora even more. After a few months it is time to build up the gut flora again, by slowly re-introducing the items you can tolerate.

You will need to take extra minerals and vitamins while on the diet, as it does not contain enough to meet the daily advised amounts. You might also consider pro-biotics, but there are continents full of people who do not get bacteria based on milk in their gut and they seem to do OK. These bacteria form only a very small spectrum of what may live in the gut, yet many claim to have great benefit from them.

Withdrawal symptoms should only last a few days. But too much protein and too much fat may cause nausea and flatulence too, it's a matter of finding the right balance meat/vegetables/fruit.

On this diet it is hard to get enough calories per day, so you will lose weight (while not feeling hungry!). Do set a minimum limit for yourself, you don't want to become anorexic. And do exercise in order not to lose muscle weight.

Hope this helps.

[MitziG]

Hmmmm, well that is kind of how I have been eating- though I haven't completely removed starches and sugars, I did quit refined sugars and I cont have a lot of starchy stuff, cuz when I eat any, rice, potatoes, a fruit-juice sweetened cookie, I feel worse. Yesterday I got a root beer cuz it was hot out and sounded good. A few sips in and I felt yucky, so I gave it to my husband. I have noticed I am just not having any cravings at all, which is crazy for me!

So, I will step it up a notch and starve my flora then, see what happens!