Your Weight May Change
If you have celiac disease and experienced malabsorption of nutrients that led to weight loss and/or other health issues, a 2019 review published in BMC Medicine found that a gluten-free diet can lead to weight gain, since many gluten-free foods tend to be higher in vegetable fats.
But not all people with celiac disease are underweight prior to their medical diagnosis. A 2010 study published in Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology observed the effects of a gluten-free diet on 61% of newly diagnosed celiacs who were considered normal weight, 17% percent who were underweight, 15% percent who were overweight, and 7% who were obese.
The researchers noted that a gluten-free diet helped to regulate body weight to normal levels in the subjects who were either underweight or overweight.
Therefore, your weight could normalize as a side effect of the gluten-free diet. Many people also mistakenly believe a gluten-free diet will automatically lead to weight loss. If you indulge in too many gluten-free snack foods , you could find yourself packing on a few extra pounds.
You Might Experience Frequent Constipation
A lot of the whole-grain foods you cut out on a gluten-free diet are good sources of fiber. If you simply ditch them without compensating for the loss in other areas of your diet, your digestive system could get all out of wack which is what you were trying to avoid. By upping your intake of leafy greens and legumes, you’ll avoid this issue.
Things That Happen To Your Body When You Go Gluten
It might get worse before it gets better.
For most people, gluten isn’t the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad protein it’s made out to be, and doctors insist you shouldn’t avoid it just to follow a trend. But if you’re sensitive to gluten about 1 in every 133 Americans cutting it out of your diet is a necessity. Like with any other major change you make to what you’re putting in your body, there could be side effects. Here are some things you might want to prep for.
Don’t Miss: What Is Bhb In Keto Diet
Celiac Disease And Gluten
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition where consuming gluten in any form can cause serious harm, like long-term organ damage. For people with celiac disease, going gluten free isnât a new way to lose weight. Itâs a strict, medically-necessary diet that affects what they eat, the medications they take, and even the hygiene products that they use.
People diagnosed with celiac disease experience a lot of negative effects when they ingest gluten, even when they eat something as small as a few crumbs of bread. Symptoms include digestive issues like bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation. As a celiac, you can also experience nutritional deficiencies that cause anemia, weight loss, or even failure to thrive. Eating gluten could also cause skin rashes, neurological issues, and depression or anxiety. Celiac disease is very serious and those diagnosed need to follow a strict diet, free from gluten.â
Will I Go Through Gluten Withdrawal If I Start Eating Gluten
Theres no scientific evidence to suggest that people actually go through withdrawal when they stop eating gluten. Some people report feeling dizziness, nausea, extreme hunger and even anxiety and depression when they suddenly go from eating a lot of gluten to being gluten-free. These symptoms usually go away after a few weeks on a gluten-free diet, but talk to your health care provider if they persist.
Recommended Reading: 1500 Calorie Diet Weight Loss
What Should I Do If Im Exposed To Gluten
Gluten is in countless foods, drinks and other products. Even if you stick to a gluten-free diet, you might accidentally eat gluten at some point. If you experience side effects from accidental gluten exposure, you can:
- Drink plenty of water to flush out your system.
- Eat small meals that arent spicy or fatty.
- Try ginger or peppermint tea to soothe an upset stomach.
Dont Miss: Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer Gluten Free
What To Eat And Avoid On A Gluten
“Gluten is a protein found in some grains including wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and kamut and in extracts of these grains including some malt and yeast,” Sherman says.
Common foods that contain gluten include:
- Many baked goods
But that doesn’t mean all carby foods are off-limits. Some starchy foods that you can still enjoy on a gluten-free diet include:
Thanks to the gluten-free diet’s popularity, there are many products on the market that now advertise as “gluten-free.” According to the FDA, a product can only be labeled as such if it meets the three following criteria:
- It contains no more than 20 parts per million of gluten, which is the smallest amount that instruments can reliably detect.
- It does not contain any single type or combination of barley, rye, and wheat.
- It does not contain an ingredient derived from barley, rye, or wheat.
However, a product doesn’t have to always don the FDA-approved “gluten-free” label.
All plain cuts of fresh meat and produce are naturally gluten-free. It’s when you get into more processed meats like bacon, hot dogs, and sausage and processed produce like frozen, canned, or dried that you should check the ingredients label before eating.
Recommended Reading: 30 Day Fruit And Vegetable Diet Plan
People With Celiac Disease
A gluten-free diet is necessary for people with celiac disease, an autoimmune response to gluten that causes the body to attack the small intestine, causing belly pain, nausea, bloating or diarrhea. People with celiac disease cant tolerate gluten in any form, and need to follow a gluten-free diet for the rest of their lives. If you have celiac and accidentally eat gluten, youll probably experience the same symptoms you did before you went gluten-free.
How To Know If You Suffer Gluten Intolerance
First, avoid eating products that can contain gluten for 60 days. To do so, it is not enough to just stop eating bread and pasta with gluten. Lets not forget that gluten is also a food additive in many processed products. Therefore, read the product label carefully. Moreover, you will have to order a gluten-free meal if you go to a restaurant.
It may be difficult to give up the products that you usually eat as well as the belief that whole bread is always healthy.
You May Like: Anti Inflammatory Diet For Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Ingestion Of Extra Acellular Carbohydrates
Foods with carbohydrates that do not have intact cells are called acellular carbohydrates. These foods have become popular in recent times as a rampant item of the gluten-free diet list. But the side effects of a gluten-free diet are undermined with these too.
Acellular carbohydrates generally are flours and various flour-based products which are gluten-free. For example, bagels, cakes, pastries, and the likes available as gluten-free varieties, are acellular carbohydrates. Since these acellular carbohydrates have no intact cells, they are much faster in aiding the digestion and fat absorption process.
Whereas cellular carbohydrates, which have the intact cells, have carbohydrates in their natural form. These intact cells in the cellular carbohydrates come out of dietary fibers. These dietary fibers help to slow down the digestion and thus the absorption of the molecules of carbohydrates.
In turn, these create a low carbohydrate density food. Some common examples of such cellular carbohydrates are sweet potatoes and many whole fruits.
Editorial Sources And Fact
- Gluten-Free Diet. Mayo Clinic. December 11, 2021.
- Kim H, Patel KG, Orosz E, et al. Time Trends in the Prevalence of Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Diet in the U.S. Population. JAMA Internal Medicine. November 2016.
- Niland B, Cash B. Health Benefits and Adverse Effects of a Gluten-Free Diet in Non-Celiac Disease Patients. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. February 2018.
Read Also: Diet After Distal Pancreatectomy And Splenectomy
Biggest Side Effect The Gluten Free Diet
Back to TopThe biggest side effect is getting used to the gluten free diet once you are off eating gluten foods. It will take some time for your body to get adjusted to the new diet. However, over time, your body will adjust. It is recommended that before you begin to start eating gluten free grains that you wait thirty days to allow your body to adjust. Otherwise you may develop sensitivities to gluten free foods that are good for you to eat.
Advice On Feeding Your Baby
Do not introduce gluten into your baby’s diet before they’re 6 months old. Breast milk is naturally gluten-free as are all infant milk formulas.
If you have coeliac disease, Coeliac UK recommends foods containing gluten are introduced gradually when a child is 6 months old. This should be carefully monitored.
The Coeliac UK website provides more information about feeding your baby.
Also Check: Physicians Elemental Diet Dextrose Free
When Should I Call My Doctor
Some symptoms of gluten exposure can be severe. Seek medical attention if you experience diarrhea or vomiting. Dehydration can lead to dangerous electrolyte imbalances.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Gluten intolerance may make you feel sick after eating gluten. You might get bloated, nauseous or gassy. Gluten intolerance causes a lot of the same symptoms as celiac disease, but its not the same condition. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to damage to the digestive tract. People with gluten intolerance usually find relief from their symptoms by following a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free diets do have some health risks. Its important to work with your healthcare provider and a dietitian to build the right treatment plan for your needs.
Best Supplements For People With Celiac Disease
If you have recognized nutrient deficiencies, your doctor may advise that you take one or more the following supplements. Keep in mind that once you restore these nutrient levels and your intestines heal, youll likely no longer need to take that specific vitamin or mineral. Many nutrients have store houses in the body once you replete the stores, you can go off the supplement, says Beringer.
Your doctor should also monitor you periodically to ensure that your body is properly nourished, adds Mukherjee. Dont supplement unless recommended by your doctor or registered dietitian. Your doctor may advise:
Also Check: Water Diet To Lose Weight
If You Make A Mistake
Following a gluten free diet is a learning process, not only for you but also for your family and friends. Mistakes can happen, especially if you have only recently been diagnosed.
If you have coeliac disease and eat gluten by mistake, you would usually start to have symptoms a few hours after eating it and the symptoms can last from a few hours to several days. The effects vary from person to person and depend on how much gluten youve eaten, how sensitive you are and how long you have been on a gluten free diet.
If you make the occasional mistake and eat gluten by accident, its unlikely to cause lasting gut damage. It’s a learning process and we can support you and help you because we understand what you are going through. Our helpline is staffed with dietitians and food experts who are here to help you with advice and support. Call us on 0333 332 2033.
Increased Morbidity And Mortality
Undiagnosed or untreated CD patients are at risk for acute or chronic morbid manifestations and associated diseases. However, when compliant to GFD the risk for morbidity and early mortality continues. The background might be inherent to GFD content or to their continued intestinal inflammation. Table 2 summarizes the morbid conditions that CD population on gluten restricted diet might risk.
Table 2. Summary of the causes of increased morbidity on GFD.
The increased mortality in CD populations was previously reported. In the largest survey of mortality in CD, mortality was increased in CD, in latent CD and in patients with intestinal inflammation, hazard ratio 1.39, 1.35, and 1.72, respectively .
Recommended Reading: Carbs In Rum And Diet Coke
Financial Cost Of A Gluten
Studies have shown that gluten-free alternatives are more expensive than their gluten-containing counterparts.72–74 Stevens and Rashid performed a cost-comparison analysis of gluten-free and gluten-containing foods in 2 large-chain grocery stores.74 All 56 gluten-free products were more expensive, with a mean unit price of $1.71 compared with $0.61 for gluten-containing products . On average, gluten-free products were 242% more expensive than regular products. In the Austrian study mentioned previously,68 gluten-free foods were also substantially higher in cost compared to their gluten-containing counterparts cereals as well as bread and bakery products were upwards of 205% and 267% more expensive, respectively, compared to similar gluten-containing products.
Favorite Blogs For Gluten
Created by food writer and former pastry chef Daniela Dewar, Baking Backwards is a vegetarian baking blog devoted to recipes for sweet and savory gluten-free treats. Chocolate chip quinoa cookies, , and minty hot fudge cream cakes are just some of the mouth-watering recipes youll find that are all safe to eat on a gluten-free diet.
Also Check: 21 Day Diet Plan For Weight Loss
Reason For Weight Loss
Not only gluten-free diet helps in losing weight, but also it encourages weight gain. Some gluten-free food products contain high amounts of sugar and fat.
To avoid the risk of having extra sugar as well as fat content, one must always carefully go through the labels.
One should thoroughly read the nutrient levels, calories from sugar, and calories from fats.
Are There Risks To Trying A Gluten
If you cut all gluten out of your diet, theres a risk that you could miss out on nutritious whole grains, fiber and micronutrients. Getting enough whole grains in your diet is especially important if youre at risk for heart disease or diabetes. Whole grains can lower cholesterol levels and even help regulate your blood sugar. In addition, some gluten-containing foods are sources of important vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins, iron and magnesium.
Keep in mind that some processed gluten-free foods contain high amounts of unhealthy ingredients such as sodium, sugar and fat. Consuming these foods can lead to weight gain, blood sugar swings, high blood pressure and other problems. So, a gluten-free label doesnt necessarily make a food healthy.
If you dont have celiac disease or gastrointestinal irritation, Rajagopal recommends removing highly processed foods from your diet before removing gluten. Add in more fruits, vegetables, whole-grain bread or pasta, and lean proteins. Many people find they feel better just by eating better, not by removing gluten.
Don’t Miss: Lose 30 Pounds In 1 Month Diet Plan
Lactose Intolerance Symptoms And Gluten Symptoms Can Be Similar
Lactose is a sugar found in milk. Lactase is an enzyme that is used to digest the sugar. The enzyme is found on the very tip of the villi of the small intestine.
Villi are finger-like projections in the intestine where absorption occurs. These villi are damaged in newly diagnosed celiac patients and possibly in gluten sensitivity. When this happens, the enzyme is washed away and is not there to digest the lactose .
This creates symptoms of painful gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Often, after some time on a gluten-free diet , the enzyme comes back as the villi repair. Dairy products can once again be introduced into the diet.
Sometimes, however, this doesnt happen, and patients are forced to use a lactase supplement or avoid dairy altogether. Some patients find they can tolerate products such as yogurt or kefir in which the sugar is predigested.
The Gluten Free Diet All You Need To Know About The Diet That Will Make You Well Again
- If you have coeliac disease you will have to avoid gluten for life.
- A gluten free diet is the only treatment for the condition.
- Gluten is found in the grains wheat, barley and rye.
- On the gluten free diet you can eat many foods including meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, rice and potatoes.
- You can also eat gluten free substitute foods and processed foods that don’t contain gluten.
- You can tell whether gluten is in a food by learning about allergen labelling – it sounds scary, but you get used to it once you know how.
If you have been medically diagnosed with coeliac disease then your immune system has been reacting to gluten and damaging your gut. To get better, you must remove gluten from your diet, which is the only treatment for coeliac disease. Gluten is found in the grains wheat, barley and rye.
You may have heard the term ‘gluten free diet’ before. This can be a bit confusing to some people because it isn’t a diet in the way that most people understand it – it’s not designed to help people lose weight. It’s just a way of eating that helps you heal your gut so you can start absorbing all the nutrients you need from your diet.
Also Check: Diet Dr Pepper Vs Dr Pepper Zero
It May Reduce Inflammation
One of the most common signs of gluten intolerance is inflammation, which can cause result in digestive discomfort or even joint and muscle pain. By removing the source that’s causing inflammation in the body, you may begin to have regular bowel movements again, as well as a reduction in joint and muscle pain. There’s even a connection between gluten and arthritis!6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Up To 40% Of People With Celiac Disease Have Symptoms After Starting A Gluten
THIS ARTICLE IS COPYRIGHTED BY AMY BURKHART, MD, RD.
Dr. Amy Burkhart is a doctor , Registered Dietitian, R.D., and fellowship-trained in integrative medicine. She specializes in treating chronic digestive disorders from an integrative/functional medicine perspective.
Don’t Miss: Keto Diet Rules For Beginners
