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I turned Paleo about three months ago, didnt have any noticable problems in my guts before starting the diet, but now i'm almost every day bloated and gassy. Frustrating, because i love the diet and I love being around other people (instead of suddenly running to another room whenever i feel gas coming, LOL). Also i have a little acne that seems to have worsened slightly.

I eat grassfed meat, fish, eggs (3 a day), vegetables, fruits (3 a day, including dried) and nuts (a hand every other day). I also eat potatoes (twice a week) as i lost a lot of weight in the beginning and was already quite skinny. The biggest change in my diet compared to before is that i eat more coconut products, more vegetables, more eggs, more (but of a better quality) meat, no dairy (as i heard it's better if your acne-prone) and grains any more.

Should I be more patient and let my body get used to this, or should 3 months be enough? I'm afraid of cutting a lot more food out, as I dont want to lose weight.

Thanks for your ideas on this!

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Try cutting the fruit for a few days (use vegetables in in its place). – meta Aug 3 at 11:43
Thanks i'll try that! It it the fructose that might cause the problem? I used to eat at least two fruits a day and that didnt cause any problems, do you know how that might be possible? – Marianne Aug 3 at 12:16
I second the fruit thing, especially dried fruit. Also, I notice a difference if I have fruit with/after a meal as opposed to on it's own. I get more bloated and gassy when the fruit is eaten near a meal with protein/other stuff. – Dan Aug 3 at 12:53
What are you eating now that you did not eat before? – Matt Aug 3 at 14:35
Gas is related to gut bacteria. Bacterial populations are to some extent innate (colonisation occurring at birth) but the relative proportions of gut bacteria species can change with diet, health and medication (eg antibiotics). So it could be that the change in your diet is causing certain gas producing bacteria to proliferate more. – meta Aug 3 at 20:40
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5 Answers

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You mentioned more coconut products. Are you using coconut flour? I had some trouble with that and if you are making baked goods, do they have added sugar, honey or other sweeteners.

If you are having any elimination problems at all, that will cause gas and bloating. Usually the cure for me is to make sure I'm cutting all the sugar, maybe the potato too, take some Floragen and maybe some fermented foods like kraut to get the gut back on track.

Too many grapes or apples will mess me up a bit. Peaches and berries tend to be better.

We don't go out to eat a lot, but one thing I noticed with salad is that if there is iceberg lettuce, it gives me a gut ache every time and corn is not a veggie, but lots of places think so. Just a few thoughts.

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I second on the coconut and fruit as likely causes, and that eating some fermented foods (not pill probiotics!) can help. Perhaps cut the coconut and fruit out for a week or two, then pick one to add back in? Vegetables can cause some gas too but if you're getting a variety I find vegetables to be a less likely source than the coconut or fruits. – Varelse Aug 3 at 23:29
Thank you all, this is very helpful. I think fruits right after a big meal indeed cause some problem. I dont use coconut flour but i do eat dried grated coconut, i could try to leave that out. And sometimes i've noticed that i'm afraid to get hungry and just eat to much - that also doesnt make your belly happy :-) – Marianne Aug 4 at 15:40
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Coming from experience it could be the nuts. I can only have nuts every once in a while otherwise I am so sick with intestinal issues. So if I make "paleo pancakes" it has to be coconut flour not almond flour. Pecans and almond (almond butter) I just can't eat much of.

Another reason could be the veggies you eat. You didn't list but certainly some will cause gas.

What are you drinking? Any alcohol? Now that I have been Paleo since Sept. 2011 Beer is almost out of the question. That gets me horrible bloated with heartburn. Even wine I have to go easy on or I will be sick and gain weight.

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Thanks for your ideas! Nuts would seem weird to me, as i ate those in almost same amounts before turning paleo. The same goes for the veggies: i eat all kinds, but i did that before too. Or does the amount matter that much? I hardly drink alcohol (once every 2 weeks or so), and than it's a glass of whine.. – Marianne Aug 3 at 12:48
I want a beer right now. I've recently started having beer again with no stomach issues at all. In fact it's a fun post workout drink if you will. Hit the gym, whey and coconut water shake there, then right home and nice bottle of beer. Gives a good whack of carbs and makes for a pleasant afternoon. – ben61820 Aug 3 at 20:43
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Low stomach acid may present more problems along these lines. It seems to surface when processed foods are replaced with real ones. Also, people tend to eat more FODMAPs on Paleo, so that could be an issue.

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ok thanks! And what do you do against low stomach acid, would you know? – Marianne Aug 4 at 15:41
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Chris Kresser just did a post on how vegetables can contribute to digestive problems. Things like broccoli give me gas pretty easily and fruit never ever does. http://chriskresser.com/got-digestive-problems-take-it-easy-on-the-veggies?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thehealthyskeptic+%28Chris+Kresser%29

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Some people i introduced to paleo and myself got pretty bad constipation and gas for weeks after switching to paleo. It's pretty obvious that a sudden dietary change would have those effects. The gas could be simply the effect of mild constipation keeping the gases in. Otherwise, you may be consuming more fiber, which allows the gut bacteria and yeasts to ferment more. My recommendation is to soften your diet to have a macronutrient and fiber ratio closer to your previous habits, and make a slower switch to paleo. You could try taking some probiotics as well. They can shift your gut flora balance to a more balanced one, by "bossing out" bad bacteria. Finally, raw carrots or kiwi fruits eaten as a snack between meals seem to have a good gut cleansing effect according to some people.

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thank you for all the good ideas. definately gonna try eating Sauerkraut. Not sure which food contains little fiber, but ill see if i can find out! – Marianne Aug 4 at 15:48

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