Huuungry

[peasoup]

I'm normally a hungry person anyway, but after I've been hit, especially if it happens a couple of times in a short space of time, when most of the symptoms have gone I get really excessively hungry (I was up until 2am this morning eating because I couldn't sleep I was so hungry) I just feel like I can't fill up, whatever I eat I am never full or satisfied. Is this normal?

[Sophiekins]

Yes, this is normal.

When your body ingests gluten, it reacts (when gluten is an unusual substance) by ignoring the nutritional value of everything you ingested with the gluten, and sometimes everything you ingest for a couple of days. . .just to be safe. This means that everything you eat with a gluten substance is basically a waste of your body's time. . .so your body behaves as if it hasn't eaten for a few days when your system decides to start accepting nutrients again. This in turn persuades your metabolism that food supplies are irregular, and that when you can eat, you should. . .which means you are incredibly hungry for a couple of days until your body realises that there is no shortage of food. Go ahead and eat when you are starving. . .you are doing your body good. Just follow the 20 minute rule (no two snacks should be closer than 20 minutes together) or calorie count to make sure you're not overeating. If you are eating a decent caloric intake and the hunger doesn't dissipate, it might be worth checking with your dr (particularly if you've travelled in South America, Asia or Africa).

[cathzozo]

I'm normally a hungry person anyway, but after I've been hit, especially if it happens a couple of times in a short space of time, when most of the symptoms have gone I get really excessively hungry (I was up until 2am this morning eating because I couldn't sleep I was so hungry) I just feel like I can't fill up, whatever I eat I am never full or satisfied. Is this normal?

It's very normal for me. Before I started eating gluten-free, I ate SO, SO much. I think it was because I was not absorbing all the vital nutrients, although I was obviously still able to absorb basic calories because I was overweight. My body kept feeling hungry because it needed certain nutrients. Once I started eating gluten-free, I realized that my appetite dropped considerably. All of the sudden, I noticed I was saving half of my meal when eating out to take home and have as leftovers. When I get glutened, I get hungry again for a couple days. I up my eating, although I know that's probably not good for my weight, because it's the only way I feel like I will be able to make it through those days. Hopefully, in a few days, you will be back to "normal."

[Carriefaith]

I got episods of more than normal hunger for a few months after starting the gluten-free diet. This got better with time. High protein foods may help. Try eating foods such as chili, gluten-free meat pies, steak, chicken, fish, turkey, ect.

[TestyTommy]

Gluten makes me hungry, too! I get this dry feeling in my mouth, and no matter how much I eat, I feel hungry again in a half hour or so.

I got glutened yesterday (I ate in a restaurant; the meal seemed gluten-free, but that familiar feeling hit soon after) and have been starving ever since! I'd almost forgotten this feeling.

I'm roasting a turkey now. I can't stop the hunger pangs, but at least I'll try to eat something nutritious.