It’s peculiar but instructive: phenomena triggered by re-exposure after being confidently wheat- and grain-free. The re-exposure can be intentional, as in “Just one can’t hurt!” or it can be inadvertent, as in “That gravy looks safe.”
Typically, someone will be wheat/grain-free for at least a week. Re-exposure from, say, salad dressing or seasoning mix then triggers re-exposure fireworks.
The most common re-exposure phenomena to are:
—Gastrointestinal distress, bloating, and diarrhea that can last hours to a couple of days. (People with celiac disease can have problems for months, however.) This response resembles food poisoning.
—Joint pain–characteristically in the fingers and/or wrists
—Upper airway phenomena such as asthma and sinus congestion
—Emotional effects such as anxiety in females, irritability or rage in males, depression, even suicidal thoughts
—Appetite stimulation–What I call the “I ate one cookie and gained 30 pounds” effect. Eating one cookie does not, of course, cause you to gain 30 pounds of weight. But just one exposure can set the appetite-stimulating machinery in motion and days or weeks of increased appetite for junk carbohydrates can result, thanks to the gliadin-derived opiates of wheat.
Symptoms and health conditions that initially went away with your wheat-free adventure can return in all their glory, such as migraine headaches, depression, mental “fog,” sleep disruption, seborrhea, psoriasis, the phenomena of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the joint swelling and pain of rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, plantar fasciitis, sinusitis, etc.
The longer you are wheat-free, the more violent the re-exposure reaction. It is a fitting reminder of just how inappropriate modern wheat is for humans. It reflects our inability to consume the seeds of grasses even though chronic consumption can lead to partial—only partial, never total—tolerance to some of their effects.
On again, off again; on again, off again: Like pushing a button, you can start or stop the process at will. This represents incontrovertible proof of your individual intolerance to Evil Grains.
Anyone want to share their re-exposure story?
Appreciate all the comments – everyone’s experience is different. That helps me to accept that my reactions to wheat/gluten may be different but that I must pay attention!! Thank-you Dr. Davis for all your helpful input!
My adult daughter was diagnosed w/celliac thru a blood test a year ago – tho’ she had NO symptoms! My own blood tests continue to show negative to gluten; but because of symptoms of IBS, etc.,etc. my Dr. suggested going gluten free and keeping a food log. Bought Wheat Belly Cookbook in Jan. 20013 and have changed my eating habits. Have lost 15 lbs. Any small indulgence by chance or feeling deprived causes bowel issues including tremendous bloating and flatulence! And, each time my body reacts worse than before. Can understand others wanting to eat local specialties when traveling. Since I was born is Sweden I have many favorites I miss. Ate one piece of crisp bread last week and five days later I am still bloated, having painful cramps and having bowel issues (staying home near the bathroom) and often carry Immodium in my pocket if I am out. Wondering if taking that is NOT a good idea?? Is it possible that it just slows down the offending grain leaving my body??
Grammie,
Have you tried taking the 50 billion cfu probiotics? These will help to increase the proper flora in your intestines and help them heal faster. Depending on your personal situation and age, it can take months and months for many people to to replace the flora properly and for the gut to heal. Taking the probiotics speeds this up. Dr. Davis recommends this. Also check the other nutritional supplements he recommends (see left hand column of topics) as they all help us in this transition back to health.
Have been taking probiotics for years since I am dairy intolerant! Since reading Dr. Davis’s book – I have upped the amount to 35 billion CFU’s. Thanks for the comment; I will check about other suggested supplements.
Is Immodium safe to take – I wonder?? These IBS urges don’t happen that often any more; but when they do it’s an emergency. So, I carry Immodium in my pocket.
Check the January 2013 Archive for the nutritional supplements Dr. D. recommends. There is a discussion too. Magnesium is very important for your intestinal problem and also for sugar issues. Google it for more
information because it is an integral substance for good health.
The immodium is harsh for your still healing intestines. Obviously it is not working well for you.
By the 2nd month on WB, I purchased these supplements and really noticed the difference in the way I felt overall. My intestines haven’t given me any trouble since. No sugar cravings either. I used to eat a lot of fruit in season. I have cut back significantly for the time being to allow my body to stay in ketosis and my pancreas to normalize
I too have taken the smaller amounts of probiotics for many years. Right now, I just feel better with the increased dosage. I also am lessening the dose since it has been 6 months of trial and error and I think i am OK now. Some people just take the high dose for a month. I needed more.
I’ve been wheat free for only 2 weeks and though I’ve only lost 5 lbs. I am seeing the benefits! The other day we went school shopping and stopped off at Subway…. I researched it and the chicken strips are all chicken no fillers, but I forgot and allowed the counter reason to cut up a patty instead. My hunger returned that afternoon, I woke up to a slight weight gain and was really depressed! We have saved a lot of money by not eating out all the time like we I’d, but next time I will be much more careful!
Yes, fast food makes it near impossible to avoid the Evil Grain!
How do you know that the negative effects of reintroduction can entirely be blamed on wheat being unhealthy? Couldn’t it be that the bad effects are a result of your new diet messing with how capable your body is at digesting these foods?
If it is true that the longer you are off of wheat the more severe the effects of reintroduction, doesn’t that tend to show that this diet is doing something unhealthy to your body’s digestive capabilities?
GoGoJo,
If this diet was doing “something unhealthy” to you, your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels etc. would not go back to normal levels. You would not have more energy, deeper sleep,
less nasal congestion, pain free joints, clearer thinking…..and all the other improvements people have written about. The indigestion and after meal sleepiness caused by wheat and sugars would not disappear either. People from all over the world and all races are saying that they feel better and health conditions are clearing up without grains and sugar in their diet. It stands to reason that these improvements diminish and strong reactions occur when substances your system doesn’t like are consumed.
If our bodies were capable of easily digesting wheat and friends, we would not be here on line, but rather someplace where we would be enjoying our Twinkies.
Very interesting. I have only been wheat-free for 9 days, and have enjoyed the benefit of the weight loss. I lost 7.5 pounds the first week–which was exciting for sure. But then I got on the scale today, day 9, and have gained about 1.5 pounds! That was certainly depressing. I have about 35 pounds to lose (or more) and although I enjoy a net-loss of about 6 pounds, I am worried that this gain might happen again. I am more strict this week than last regarding the starches and carbs, too. Anyone else out there with similar experiences? Is this common? Dr. Davis–any advice or reassurance?
That small shift over a small period of time, Adam, is meaningless. It could be something as trivial as additional salt use.
It’s the long-term experience that counts.