How to Gain Weight With Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition caused by the ingestion of gluten or wheat derivatives, and can result in a wide variety of symptoms (including weight gain and weight loss). Perhaps the most notable of symptoms is malnutrition and the inability to properly absorb vitamins and nutrients from the diet (often resulting in weight loss).
Things You'll Need
- Gluten-free diet high in vitamins and nutrients
- High calorie foods
- Healthy carbohydrates
- Sneaky sources of calories like GF cheeses, nuts, soy yogurts and guacamole
Instructions
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Stop weight loss due to celiac disease by immediately cutting out all traces of gluten in the diet. If a gluten-free diet has already been implemented, then try to keep a patient attitude with the healing process, which can often take months to a year before the lining of the intestine is able to properly absorb nutrients.
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Check your lifestyle for hidden sources of gluten. Wheat and gluten proteins and ingredients can be hidden in makeup, skin care, shampoo and conditioners, sunscreens or bug repellents, and even vitamins. This can result in continued damage to the intestine and the inability to gain weight.
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Place your focus on calories, especially when recovering from a celiac episode. Try to choose foods that are naturally high in calories and contain healthy fats (while still being free of gluten). Create meals using avocados, healthy oils (like olive or peanut), rich soy yogurts, eggs, lean protein, peanut butters and a variety of nuts. For example, try sprinkling walnuts and dried fruit atop morning cereal, or adding peanut butter, chopped fruit and gluten-free cream cheese to a GF wrap for a snack.
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Increase your carbohydrate consumption at each meal. This can seem nearly impossible when bread and pasta aren’t a part of your diet, but adding gluten-free products like spaghetti, rice, bagels or cereal to each meal can help you gain healthy weight.
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Take every chance you can get to sneak nutrients and calories into the diet. Try blending gluten-free yogurt, soy coffee creamer, frozen berries and flaxseed oils into a smoothie (adding raw eggs for additional protein if needed). Simply adding GF cheese, salsa and vegetables to omelets, or making healthy dips with edamame, mayonnaise, tofu and guacamole can sneak additional nutrients into the diet.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure to incorporate a gluten-free multivitamin into the diet for additional nutrients.
Try adding healthy liquid supplements like GF hemp shake powders, kefir, whey protein or gluten-free ice cream to drinks whenever possible (for extra calories and vitamins).
