Withdrawal syndrome from gluten, anyone? - PaleoHacks.com

Withdrawal syndrome from gluten, anyone?

2011-01-26T20:30:46Z

Dear Ladies and dear Gentlemen,

After reading a bit here and bit there about the now famous Paleo diet, I decided to give it a chance hence cutting initially my daily intakes of gluten, grains and legumes (couldn't get out of dairy yet). Well, I noticed that most of the propagandists state that after just a few days, one would feel more energy, less hunger and generally better all around. Unfortunately, that's not what happened to me.

Soon after starting the Paleo diet, I found out that my hunger was substantially increased; my cravings for wheaty bread over the roof; I started having running nose and a crisis of rhinitis; and finally, after I finally banished the last bastion of gluten from my diet early this week, flu-like symptoms including aching muscles, headaches, nausea, bad digestion, hyperthermia and general tiredness. Also, my chronic depression got a tad worse.

Now, it can't be the flu as I'm in mid-summer. Nor a cold, because this would be too strange a cold. I started digging and discovered that people that ditch gluten and/or casein can develop a withdrawal syndrome much akin to opiate withdrawal. In fact, this is quite common in celiac patients. Then, I was curious.

Anyone else who started going Paleo also felt the same? Anyone here experienced gluten withdrawal syndromes? Why so many people are propagandizing a gluten-free diet without first pointing out the road might be long and bumpy?

Answer by Dave S. for Withdrawal syndrome from gluten, anyone?

2011-01-26T20:41:42Z

Many people experience a "low carb flu" syndrome when going paleo, since carbs are typically lower when you cut out wheat and sugar. Google "Atkins flu" or "induction flu" for details. Paleo is not the same as low carb (although it can be low carb) - you may want to add some carbs back with sweet potatoes or fruit until you feel better.

The other option is to tough it out and replace your minerals like magnesium, potassium and sodium, which are excreted quite a lot during the initial stages of a lower carb diet. I would only recommend staying lower carb if you need to lose weight or control your blood sugar, however.

Answer by paleonyc for Withdrawal syndrome from gluten, anyone?

2011-01-26T20:45:07Z

The stories of low-carb flu for beginners to paleo are pretty common. You might want to restrict your use of the loaded term "propoganda" until you are better versed.

Answer by Ruby for Withdrawal syndrome from gluten, anyone?

2011-01-26T21:10:42Z

Welcome to Paleohacks! We love newbies and are more than willing to help those who are finding the road to be long and bumpy. Check out the tags - they are a great way to find out if someone has already addressed the issues that you might be having.

Here's a smattering to get you started:

http://paleohacks.com/questions/11477/are-there-ways-to-make-the-transition-to-paleo-easier#axzz1CAn4ieSK

http://paleohacks.com/questions/20311/low-carb-flu-what-was-your-experience#axzz1CAn4ieSK

http://paleohacks.com/questions/20494/could-low-carb-flu-actually-be-wheat-withdrawal#axzz1CAn4ieSK

http://paleohacks.com/questions/6108/will-my-energy-return#axzz1CAn4ieSK

http://paleohacks.com/questions/6246/side-effects-of-low-carb-paleo-zone#axzz1CAn4ieSK

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19206/new-with-fatigue#axzz1CAn4ieSK

http://paleohacks.com/questions/16238/newbie-new-symptoms-on-paleo#axzz1CAn4ieSK

http://paleohacks.com/questions/4004/drastically-reduced-appetite#axzz1CAn4ieSK

http://paleohacks.com/questions/6548/transition-pains#axzz1CAn4ieSK

Answer by wjones3044 for Withdrawal syndrome from gluten, anyone?

2011-01-27T00:05:21Z

Not me. No withdrawal and no magic transformation. I've been working on this diet stuff for 3 years and it's been full of toil, setbacks, and occasional breakthroughs and epiphanies.

Answer by Stephanie for Withdrawal syndrome from gluten, anyone?

2011-01-27T04:33:18Z

I did a lot of research when I heard about eating Paleo and I continue to this day as it keeps me fresh and motivated. I knew that it was likely to be rough going at first or at least it was a solid possibility. I felt sick for about two weeks and my husband thought he would die for about a week. Did you research at all? I wonder only because I found this information readily available at pretty much all the big 'propaganda' websites >.< I'm not serious when I use that word, to be clear. My husband's tests after his 30 day challenge were so good his doctor was in tears, we have the paperwork framed on the wall and while I haven't had any tests done, my weight loss and general health improvements have been vast. Going back to nature and ditching the trash and chemicals is hardly something that requires propaganda. It's just common sense and a willingness to realize that everything we've been told is wrong. Hard to swallow but true and we figure it out in varying degrees as we make our individual journeys in health and wellness.

Answer by tnlakegirl for Withdrawal syndrome from gluten, anyone?

2011-01-28T14:00:26Z

For most people, Paleo is a lifestyle and not specifically a diet. I think of "diet" as being short term. With Paleo eating, the health benefits are so great that most who stick with rarely return to SAD.

As far as my experience goes, I had cut out gluten entirely about a year before stumbling across Paleo. The physical improvement from removing the gluten alone was dramatic. Unfortunately, I starting eating too many gluten-free carbs and sweets and gained a few pounds. About six months ago, I cut out the sugar which helped a lot with insulin fluctuations and weight loss. Now, I am grain free and sugar free. It is amazing how different my body feels eating this way.

The Wheat/Sugar addiction is very real. It is normal to have flu-like symptoms for up to 3 weeks according to Dr. Davis at The Heart Scan Blog. You need to ask yourself what your motivation is for choosing Paleo and determine whether you can hang in there through the rough spots. I assure you it will pass. If the cravings are the problem, try the amino acid L-glutamine. Break open a capsule on your tongue. It will stop the craving.

Best of luck!

Answer by jeepsurfs for Withdrawal syndrome from gluten, anyone?

2012-03-05T17:51:47Z

I read on a forum similar to this one a while back that 85% of people with restless leg will lose all their symptoms if they go gluten free. I thought 85% were pretty good odds and that I could experiment with this diet on my own. Next I looked up what is gluten free? And it is simple. Everything I needed was available in the very small rural market I go to.

I had been up 3 times a night for about an hour each doing stretches, yoga and isometric exercises trying to use the energy in my muscles for more than a decade.

Three weeks into the gluten free diet I slept through the night. I was a bit nervous going to bed the next night, but I slept through the night, and on and on. I did a test about 4 months into it and ate a slice of bread. 2 nights later I was up and doing the same routine. That lasted only 2 nights and I have been able to sleep uninterrupted ever since.

To eat gluten free is simple, cheap, non-medicinal. Let me say there are more "gluten free" foods available these days. They are NOT cheap. It is just the American way of convincing you through advertising that you really need these products. You don't

Answer by Lisa for Withdrawal syndrome from gluten, anyone?

2012-09-02T22:23:38Z

I was a vegetarian for 25 years and have had celiac disease symptoms for many years. I started eating salmon and eliminated gluten from my diet approximately two weeks ago. As a result, on the upside, I definitely feel more on an even keel, have more energy, and my celiac disease symptoms have significantly lessened. On the downside, I am experiencing severe headaches and insomnia. I am also experiencing something strange - when lying down to sleep, it is as if I can feel the nerves throughout my body tingling or vibrating. It is a strange and disturbing sensation. And please know, I am not the type of person to imagine things. I am a proponent of "reason and science" and am a skeptic. I hope that these negative symptoms pass soon :(