How long to see benefits of gluten free diet? | Allergy

How long to see benefits of gluten free diet?

by Allergy Guy

How long until you see the benefits of a gluten free diet?  This is an important question if you are on an elimination diet to test for a gluten allergy, or if you have been diagnosed with celiac disease and wondering how long it will take for you to feel better.

The length of time varies for each person.  You may see an improvement in a few weeks.  It may take longer, depending on how much gluten damage your body has to heal, and how quickly your body can flush itself of gluten-related toxins.

In the case of a gluten allergy, the main thing the body has to do is flush the gluten and allow your immune system to settle.  You may start seeing an improvement in two to three weeks.  It may take six or eight weeks for a full recovery – possibly longer if this is your first time going on a gluten free diet.

For celiac disease, you may notice improvements in a few days.  The small intestine may heal within three months for some, and up to two years for others, especially older adults.  You will feel better before full healing has taken place.

All of this assumes that once you start your gluten free diet, you stay 100% clean.  If you ‘cheat’ on your diet, or accidentally eat something with gluten in it, healing will take longer. 

Depending you how your body deals with gluten, and how much you have, a slip in your gluten free diet could set you back weeks, or send you back to the beginning.

This is the real challenge with a gluten free diet – eliminating 100% of gluten from your diet.

This may be hard, especially if you have a gluten allergy, and notice no difference at all by eliminating gluten in the first couple of weeks.

The results though, are night and day.  If you have a gluten allergy or celiac disease, it is well worth sticking with a gluten free diet, no matter how hard it is.  Don’t cheat or you’ll be back to square one.

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Renaulta S. Taylor January 15, 2013 at 14:47

I believe that I have some sort of Gluten disorder. I was tested for Celiac Disease last week and the test came back negative. I hope the test was correct because I have Sarcoidosis and I don’t need both. I only started on a Gluten free diet 14 days ago. I guess I expected immediate results. I felt better immediately but the symptons of Gluten have really been bothering me today. My head hurts worst than ever.

I did not know that it might take two months to get the gluten out of my system. I am going to have allergy test next wednesday.

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2 Kay24 June 13, 2011 at 11:40

Hello, I found out I have Coeliac in April I’m really trying to cut gluten out and thought I was doing well but accidentally slipped up and had kebab meat, wish I am buying for now. How long if you slip up will it take to get out your system? Any ideas please?

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3 Allergy Guy June 13, 2011 at 18:49

It will probably take a while, but you should see improvement within a week I would think. It may take several weeks before most of the symptoms subside. This probably varies but I hope that gives you some sort of idea. Others may have a different experience so I hope they add their comments too.

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4 Guest March 30, 2010 at 17:37

Celiac

If your period has dissapeard for 3yrs due to celiac, how long after a gluten free diet will it return?

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