So, I quit eating (drinking) caffeine and any food made from an animal a week and a half ago.  They want you to go through food withdrawals before doing the fast so fasting goes smoothly.  So, I can only eat veggies, fruit, beans, and grains such as oatmeal or quinoa.  I’ve been having headaches almost every day.  I eat and 10 minutes later, I don’t feel full.  Nothing tastes good.  I’m tired of eating.  I’m distracted and can’t concentrate.  I feel uncomfortably restless most of the day.  My allergies have kicked in so strongly.

I knew that caffeine withdrawals could cause headaches, but I wondered if there is such a thing as cheese, milk or meat withdrawals.  So I looked up caffeine withdrawal symptoms on line.  They can include headaches, sleepiness, irritability, lethargy constipation, depression, muscle pain, lack of concentration, flu like symptoms, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, brain fog, dizziness, and heart rhythm abnormalities.  This could explain a lot of what I’m feeling.  I had no idea that it could cause flu like symptoms.  This could explain the allergies.

Then I looked up cheese withdrawal next – fascinating.  Cheese contains casein which when digested turns into casomorphins which has an opioid-like affect on us.  Add fat to that and no wonder cheese is so good.  No wonder I’m feeling crappy – I just quit morphine cold turkey.  Here is one of the articles I found interesting:

https://yumuniverse.com/addiction-to-cheese-is-real-thanks-to-casomorphins/

Whether it’s the caffeine or cheese withdrawal doesn’t really matter.  I’m glad I’m doing it now and not while doing the fast.  I leave in a couple days to drive down to Sedona for the the fast.  I’m still excited to see what happens.  I’m off to go dream about grilled cheese sandwiches now.

(c) All Rights Reserved Kimberly Fiore