Doctors estimate that about 1% of the population suffers from celiac disease, which is damage to the small intestine caused by an allergic reaction to wheat gluten. Even people who do not suffer from this disease can experience reactions of the intestines and immune system to gluten. Doctors estimate that about 15% of the population are people sensitive to gluten. [1] X Research source There is no medical test for gluten allergy, but you can observe the effects of gluten on your body and embark on a path to a healthier future.
Immediate symptoms
Note how much energy you have after eating gluten-containing foods. Sometimes a person feels tired after such a meal because the body has to work hard to process the food.
Because people who suffer from gluten intolerance have more difficulty digesting, they often feel dull and tired after eating.
Unlike the occasional lethargy caused by a large amount of food, people who suffer from gluten allergies often feel completely exhausted after eating.
Take note of your emotional and mental state after eating gluten-containing foods. Many people who suffer from gluten intolerance complain of irritability after eating.
Irritation can be associated with exhaustion, or it can also occur as a result of an overall bad feeling in the body, as is sometimes the case with the flu.
Some people who suffer from gluten intolerance claim to have a “darkened mind” right after eating. In other words, they more easily lose the thread of thoughts and cannot concentrate.
Make sure you don’t have a headache after eating. These symptoms are not specific and resemble migraines, tension headaches, or other headaches. Gluten allergies do not cause any particular type of headache. The head starts to hurt within 30 minutes to an hour after eating.
Watch for changes in your limbs. People with celiac disease often experience joint pain, numbness in the limbs or itching.
Watch out for signs of unhealthy digestion. People who are sensitive to gluten tend to have more symptoms than people with celiac disease, but they also tend to have problems. They may feel bloated, flatulent, constipated, have diarrhea or abdominal pain after eating.
Long-term symptoms
Notice how your weight changes. People who suffer from gluten sensitivity usually lose weight, but gluten intolerance can also cause unexpected weight gain.
Notice the longer-term changes in mood and mental state. The onset of depression, behavioral changes, and mood swings can be caused by gluten intolerance. Take note of all your symptoms, including their intensity, and keep a record of when they appear.
Keep records of the rashes and eczema you get. If possible, photograph the rash and measure the diameter if the rash is localized. Write down the following:
Describe the appearance and characteristics of the rash. Is it flat, round or swollen? Do you have blisters?
What causes a rash? Is it itching, burning or inflamed?
What makes the rash worse? Does her clothes, hot showers, or moisture bother her?
Monitor your women’s health problems, such as an irregular cycle, premenstrual syndrome, severe menstrual cramps, miscarriage or infertility. Today, some doctors automatically examine patients for gluten intolerance in couples who are unable to conceive.
What to do
Make an appointment with a doctor to rule out celiac disease or gluten allergy. These are the two most serious diseases that can cause longer-term health complications.
Gluten allergies: Symptoms include itching, swelling and irritation around the mouth, rash, stuffy and irritated eyes, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, difficulty breathing and anaphylactic shock.
Gluten allergy is most common in children, who usually grow out of it before the age of five. This allergy can be detected by a blood or skin test.
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition and can be fatal, so if you start to develop it, call an ambulance immediately.
Talk to your doctor and ask for diagnostic tests to determine if you have celiac disease. Celiac disease is an immune response that gradually destroys the villi of the small intestine, which absorb nutrients. Your body does not receive nutrients properly and the small intestine may be permeable and its contents may leak into the abdomen. Celiac disease can be detected by a blood test and intestinal biopsy.
If you have both tests negative and still feel that you are sensitive to gluten, it is possible that you only suffer from gluten intolerance. Although these tests fail to confirm gluten sensitivity, they show the presence of certain features that commonly occur as a result of gluten intolerance.
Talk to your doctor and request diagnostic tests to determine if you have a gluten intolerance. Some of these symptoms are:
Low iron level
Fat in the stool
Bad teeth due to poor nutrition
Insufficient calcium absorption
Slow growth in children
Remove all gluten-containing foods from your diet for 2-4 weeks. Always look for hidden sources of gluten in sauces, dressings and even cosmetics. Vitamins and supplements can also contain gluten. Always read the food and cosmetics packaging carefully.
Keep a symptom diary and write down any changes you notice during this time. Over time, review your records again to see if any symptoms have disappeared or subsided after removing gluten from your diet.
After this time, start eating gluten-containing foods again. Pay attention to how you feel. If you get back symptoms that have disappeared without gluten and you feel worse than if you have not eaten gluten, it is likely that you suffer from gluten intolerance.
If you confirm your intolerance to gluten after re-adding gluten to your diet, you will need to remove gluten-containing foods from your diet.
If you find that you are intolerant to gluten, remove it from your diet for good. To correct the health problems caused by gluten, you will need to eliminate their cause and not just treat the symptoms.
Replace gluten-containing foods such as wheat, oats, rice, semolina or spelled with gluten-free substitutes such as peanut flour, dark rice and soy flour. Try the following tips from the National Institutes of Health to teach you what you can and can’t eat.
Unlike gluten allergy, which can improve over time, the general intolerance to gluten is permanent for most people.
Find out which foods contain gluten. To eliminate gluten from your diet, you need to know which foods contain gluten. Gluten is especially common in a wide variety of Western foods, including the following: https://celiac.org/gluten-free-living/gluten-free-foods/
Breads, crackers, muffins, cakes and other pastries
Pasta and pizza
Many coated and fried products
Beer
Cereals
Some soups and processed meats
Potato chips and fries
Some sauces and dairy products
It can even be used in some types of cosmetics (eg in some lipsticks) and as a filler in medicines.
Find out what foods you can eat. Learning which foods are safe for you when you suffer from gluten intolerance or sensitivity can be a trial and error process. Keep a food diary and record each meal or snack (including drinks). If you have unpleasant symptoms after eating, make a note of them in your diary.
Gluten-free starch sources include potatoes, rice, corn, flax, soy and buckwheat. Buckwheat can be used to make pancakes, porridge, pastries and pasta (such as Japanese soba noodles).
Read food labels carefully to make sure they are not prepared with ingredients that contain gluten protein. For example, some cornflakes contain wheat flour.
