stomach/gut sensitivity on paleo?

[Anonymous]

For about a year and a half I have followed a paleo/primal diet that includes moderate amounts of fermented dairy. I also do a 16-17 hr intermittent fast 2-3x a week on average. The results have been great---I've lost weight, I have more energy, and some mild autoimmune-related problems (allergies, eczema, stiff joints) have either gone away completely or gotten a lot better.

Over the last few months, though, I have noticed that my stomach and gut have become a lot more sensitive. When I have coffee, especially without eating (e.g. in the morning on a fast day, when I haven't eaten since 8:00 p.m. the evening before), I get an upset stomach that can last for hours. I've also noticed that coffee gives me a gas sometimes. And I have found that excessive quantities of some cruciferous vegetables give me bad gas (brussels sprouts and cabbage - kale is fine).

What's weird is that I never used to be sensitive to caffeine in this way *at all*. I know many people are, but I wasn't. And the thing with brussels sprouts is new, too, although I certainly eat more veggies of all kinds now than I did before I went paleo.

Anyway, anyone else have an experience like this or know what to make of it? It's frustrating because paleo is supposed to make your gut feel better, and for me it did at first. And I don't want to stop eating this way since it's been beneficial overall.

[Anonymous]

The more you restrict your diet, the more restrictive your diet becomes. Anecdotally, many people have found the same thing as you have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more you restrict your diet, the more restrictive your diet becomes. Anecdotally, many people have found the same thing as you have.

OP here - that's interesting. Is this impossible to undo, or could I mitigate the problems I've been having by occasionally eating healthy non-paleo foods like whole grains and legumes?

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why anyone would restrict wholesome grains and legumes. That's the definition of why people shouldn't follow "diets."

[Anonymous]

Supposedly caffeine sensitivity increases with age.

[TwistdMike]

You may be hovering around the ketosis transition, try reducing carb intake to make the final push, then see if the stomach issues resolve.

When I transition back into ketosis, I have a bit of gastro upset, but once through, it goes away.