Gluten And Celiac Disease Weight Gain: Causes Myths And More
In this post, I will explain why some people with celiac disease gain weight while others shed the pounds.This post contains affiliate links.Please see my disclosures.
A lot of people start the gluten-free diet with hopes of losing weight. They think of the gluten-free diet as a fad diet that will help them magically lose undesired weight. In fact, many celebrities have turned to the gluten-free diet to help them shed unwanted pounds.
However, the truth is that the gluten-free diet isnt and shouldnt be a weight loss diet rather, its a medically-necessary diet and way of life for the millions of people suffering from celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance, and other gluten disorders.
Almost A Year Following A Gluten
Well, since June of last year, Kelly has not had any gluten, dairy or corn. Its been the best thing for her both mentally and physically. Mentally, because she is a completely different person without these foods in her diet. Night and day. Really. When she ate those foods she could be meaner than mean and then some. I discuss it more in my blog post, Glad to Have My Daughter Back How Gluten Affects the Mind.
Amazing Weight Loss!
And physically, theres no doubt removing these foods has really helped my daughter, too. Yesterday we finally found our scale. Its been packed up since the move. Kelly got on it and could not believe what she was seeing she had lost an incredible 44 pounds!
Amazing!
And she looks so good! Im so happy for her, because for anyone carrying around extra weight, no matter what you say, can really slow you down and just isnt healthy. Im happy to say that I even lost ten pounds since the last time I had checked. And for a cookbook writer whos always testing food, thats more than great news!!! You know what they say never trust a skinny chef! Still, a few pounds from skinny so I guess I can still be trusted.
Maintain A Healthy Diet
People with UC should eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet full of nutritious foods, including:
- Fruits and vegetables: People should try a variety of fruits and vegetables and remove the peel and seeds if they trigger a flare.
- Fiber-rich foods: These include whole grains, beans, nuts, oat bran, and barley. These foods are unsuitable for people with an ostomy or intestinal narrowing, and a person should avoid them if a doctor has advised them to follow a low fiber diet.
- Calcium-rich foods: These foods include milk, yogurt, kefir, lactose-free dairy products, and collard greens.
- Protein: Lean meats, fish, tofu, nuts, and eggs are good sources of protein.
- Food with probiotics: People can try including more yogurt, miso, sauerkraut, tempeh, and kimchi in their diet.
When experiencing a flare, a person may tolerate moderate portion sizes of the following foods:
- low fiber fruits
- lean protein, such as fish, poultry, soy, and eggs
- refined grains, such as sourdough, white pasta, potatoes, and oatmeal
- vegetables that are fully cooked and do not contain seeds or skin
Specific diets that a person may wish to discuss with a healthcare professional include:
- the Mediterranean diet, also known as the anti-inflammatory diet or IBD-AID
- the Paleolithic diet
- semi-vegetarian diets
- fasting diets
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Watch Your Total Calories
Many people do find they drop weight seemingly effortlessly when they go gluten-free, but only up to a point. That point, says Dr. Davis, seems to come at about 15 to 20 pounds worth of weight loss for many people.
The truth is, going gluten-free tends to decrease your cravings and appetite overall , and a decreased appetite leads to fewer calories consumed.
To keep the weight-loss ball rolling, you’ll probably need to start counting calories and try to stay within recommendations for your body.
Gluten Free Diet For Weight Loss
The popularity of gluten-free diets for weight loss is increasing around the world. It is believed that gluten free diet weight loss is real and that a gluten free diet can promote weight loss in a healthy manner. How much of this claim is true? We find out, in this section. When an individual decides to go gluten-free, they have to forego any kind of food with gluten as an ingredient. It could be sauces, food additives or food staples such as wheat, rye and so on. In most cases, the person can no longer enjoy their bread, most desserts and processed food. Initially, the person loses some amount of weight for cutting these out from their diet, as these food products also happen to be high in calories. Besides this, when a person resolves to go gluten-free, they have to make a practice of reading food labels before buying anything at the grocers or supermarket. Its a healthy habit to keep and promotes healthy dietary practices. When a person makes an informed choice about what they put inside their body, they are less prone to binge eating or consuming unhealthy food. Moreover, one has to keep a tab on the portions that they eat. No matter what diet you are on, if you cannot control your portions you will gain weight. Theres really no other alternative to portion control when trying to lose/maintain your weight.
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Why Would Someone Want To Live Gluten Free
The major reason many people cut gluten out of their diet is Celiac Disease. This autoimmune disease triggers an immune reaction to gluten that damages the intestinal lining, which over time, can prevent the absorption of nutrients.
Others can experience gluten sensitivity, which causes gastro-intestinal distress after consuming gluten. If you believe you experience either of these conditions, please consult your physician!
Your Brain Isnt In Sync With Your Mouth
Another reason people with celiac disease gain weight is that they were so used to feeling full and bloated after eating, and this painful bloating is what triggered their brains to stop eating.
This is true for me. Id stop eating once the bloating commenced. My painful bloating told my brain to stop eating, so I did. I rarely would overeat because I felt so painfully full all of the time.
After removing gluten, I no longer experienced painful bloating after each meal, so I would continue to eat without realizing I was full.
The truth is, I didnt know what it felt like to feel full without the painful bloating, so I kept eating and eating, and gaining and gaining.
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Youre Ditching Wheat An Appetite Stimulant
Finally, your weight might go down after breaking up with gluten because, as Dr. William Davis says, wheat is a potent appetite stimulant.
He says wheat is highly addictive and eating just some of it triggers appetite-stimulating compounds in your brain that demand you eat more of it.
However, when you eliminate wheat, you eliminate the stimulant telling your brain to eat more wheat.
Dr. Davis writes on his website, Wheat is addictive in the sense that it comes to dominate thoughts and behaviors if you dont have any for several hours, you start to get nervous, foggy, tremulous, and start desperately seeking out another hit of crackers, bagels, or bread, even if its the few stale three-month-old crackers at the bottom of the box.
He adds, But the high of wheat is not like the high of heroine, morphine, or Oxycontin. This opiate, while it binds to the opiate receptors of the brain, doesnt make us high. It makes us hungry.
He says that a protein inside of wheat, gliadin, is capable of causing a person to consume an excess of 440 more calories per day.
That means if youre losing weight after losing wheat, it might be because youre no longer controlled by these intense cravings for wheat, and perhaps youre consuming 440 less calories per day as a result.
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.
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I Dont Have Celiac Disease Or Gluten Intolerance Is It Safe To Avoid Gluten
Absolutely! Some people choose to follow a gluten-free diet merely because it provides structure to eating healthier and adopting a healthy lifestyle.
DiGeronimo says, Its safe, but not necessary. Gluten free foods tend to lack certain vitamins/minerals and fiber.
Just remember to consume a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and legumes to avoid vitamin/mineral deficiencies and promote a healthy weight and lifestyle.
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.
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How To Lose Weight On A Gluten Free Diet
SHANNON SLABAUGH August 29, 2018
For those of us with Celiac Disease, or gluten sensitivities, a gluten-free diet is not always the most simple approach to weight loss. These days, there are gluten free alternatives for virtually anything. Cookies, cake, brownies, pizza, you name it – there is a gluten-free alternative available. This is why it can be very challenging to actually lose weight on a gluten-free diet. With this being said, here are some strategies to trigger weight loss while following a gluten-free diet.
So Why Do People Lose Weight On A Gluten
According to The Cleveland Clinic, the reason that some people experience healthy weight loss when they take on a gluten-free diet is simply that they eat more fruits, vegetables, and healthier foods than when they were on their previous diet. A gluten-free diet also means that you canât eat a lot of fast food, junk food or processed food.
People who adopt this diet also tend to be more mindful of nutrition labels and are more informed about the contents of their food. With so-called âbadâ foods being cut out of your diet and more room for healthier, or more nutritionally-dense foods, weight loss can happen.
However, this same weight loss can happen from simply limiting junk food, eating a balanced diet, and being mindful of the contents of your food. A balanced diet can include gluten. Gluten is in foods that are a great source of vitamins and nutrients that are good for your body. Those foods can also be a good source of filling and nutritious fiber. Making smart choices without eliminating gluten completely can have better results than a completely gluten-free diet.
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What Is A Gluten Free Diet
In order to understand what is a gluten free diet , we will first attempt to acquaint ourselves with gluten. Gluten is a protein which is found commonly in grains like rye, barley and wheat. Gluten consumption can be harmful for people with diseases such as celiac disease. A gluten free diet is recommended for these individuals and others who suffer from gluten-related medical conditions. Gluten free diets claims to improve energy, health and weight loss efforts. However, such a diet, changes your dietary nutritional intake and for this reason, it is not advisable to start a gluten free diet without consulting a health professional first.Your doctor or dietitian may recommend you to begin a gluten free diet if you have any of the following health complaints
Gluten ataxia Gluten ataxia is an autoimmune disorder which affects some kinds of nerve tissues. It interferes with voluntary muscle movement and muscle control.
Celiac disease In celiac disease, immune system activity damaging to the lining of small intestine is triggered. It is an autoimmune disorder which gradually begins to prevent normal nutrient absorption.
Wheat allergy When a person is subject to wheat allergy, their body mistakenly perceives proteins found in wheat for disease causing agent. The immune system gets triggered to action and forms an antibody which could result in breathing difficulties, congestion and other unwanted symptoms.
Gluten Free Weight Loss Diet: How Much Weight Can You Lose Cutting Out Gluten
Elijah Morman8 – 10 MIN.
Following a gluten-free diet can be difficult. Limited options have you sacrificing convenience and taste. Our mission is to deliver better-for-you snacks that taste just as good as the original Go ahead…snack again! Try our most popular Gluten-Free products like our High Key cookies.
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How Much Weight Can You Lose Cutting Out Gluten 08
*Results May Vary. Always Consult Your Doctor Before Making Any Diet Changes.
It all started when I saw a picture of my Uncle and was shocked to see that he had lost 80 pounds! After finding out he was sensitive to gluten, he had gone on a gluten-free diet, which played a huge part in his weight loss! After hearing what his gluten sensitivity symptoms were I realized that I had a lot of the same ones and I began to wonder if I was sensitive to gluten too.
These symptoms included:
- Diarrhea
I had had most of these symptoms my entire life, but I figured my stomach was just more sensitive than the average person. As it turns out, I am – sensitive to gluten!
So I talked with my wife about my suspicions that I might be gluten sensitive. When we started to look into it, we found that if you cut gluten for a couple of days and feel better or your symptoms disappear, theres a good chance youve got a gluten sensitivity. From there its fairly simple to bring the concern to your doctor and get tested to verify.
So I went for it and cut gluten out of my diet for a couple of days. And I immediately noticed the difference!
Previously, I ate a ton of gluten-filled foods like bread and pasta and Id almost always be so tired after eating, Id either be falling asleep in classes or needing to take a nap at home! It was awful!
So what is the science behind this gluten-free weight loss?
Even after that first month, I lost 5 more pounds! Resulting in a total of 15 pounds dropped!
