What Is Gluten Intolerance?
Gluten Allergy Symptoms Chart
A huge fact is that most people do not even know they have gluten allergy symptoms. Today, it is estimated that over 15% of the population may have gluten intolerance symptoms and don’t even know it. More than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
You may have been suffering from some of these symptoms and did not relate that gluten as the major cause of your pain and suffering.
Do you know if you are one of the 15% of persons who may have a gluten sensitivity? If you are like most people, you may not know. Now you can find out if you have gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.
Below are some of the symptoms you can look out for and if you should experience any of them, it could be a sign that you may have gluten intolerance and may need to alter your diet of the foods you consume daily.
Gluten allergy symptoms includes the following topics:
- Gluten Sensitivity Video
- Gluten Sensitivity Symptoms Signs
- The Best Way To Test for Gluten Intolerance
- The Cure for Gluten Intolerance
- Cross Contamination Concerns
- Cross-Reaction Foods To Avoid
If any of these topics are of interest to you just click on a topic link. Or, you can scroll down to read them all.
Gluten Sensitivity Video
This is a great short video about gluten sensitivity and what symptoms to look out for.
Gluten Sensitivity Symptoms and Side Effects
Gluten Sensitivity Symptom Signs
- Digestive Issues – This is a huge area where you can notice very quickly. If you should see bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation, this could be a sign.
- Chicken Skin (Keratosis Pilaris) – This is where you notice chicken skin on the back of your arms. It is caused by fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency, caused by gluten damaging the gut. Keratosis pilaris causes numerous small, rough, tan or red little bumps around hair follicles on the upper arms, thighs, buttocks, and cheeks. Keratosis pilaris creates the appearance of gooseflesh, goose bumps, or chicken skin.
- Fatigue – This is common among those with gluten intolerance. You may experience brain fog, or feeling tired after eating a meal that contained gluten.
- Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis – If you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma, or Multiple sclerosis, this could be a sign of gluten intolerance.
- Neurologic Symptoms – This includes dizziness or have a feeling of being off balance which can be a sign of gluten allergies.
- Hormone Imbalance – This includes PMS, PCOS, or any unexplained infertility.
- Migraine Headaches – You experience this after consuming food containing gluten.
- Fibromyalgia or Fatigue – You cannot pinpoint the cause of your fatigue or pain.
- Inflammation – You experience swelling or pain in the joints such as fingers, knees, or hips.
- Mood Changes – You may experience anxiety, depression, ADD, and mood swings after consuming food containing gluten.
- Depression & Anxiety – This can be caused by feelings of depression, hopelessness, lack of interest, low energy, appetite changes, sleep changes, anger and more.
- ADHD – This is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and food allergies have been known to be a cause of this symptom.
- Dental Issues – Cavities, canker sores, broken teeth, and tooth decay can be plagued by individuals consuming gluten.
- Unexplained weight loss or gain – If you are having problems in trying to keep your weight in check gluten could be the main cause. This may also deal with an unhealthy gut. Try removing gluten to see if this makes a difference.
- Skin Problems – Gluten has been known to cause eczema and acne psoriasis and some inflammation under the top layers of skin. You may also experience eruptions of rashes, itching, burning, redness, and blisters.
- Joint and Muscle Aches – Gluten has been known to cause some joint and muscle aches. Joint pain and inflammation are common causes of gluten sensitivity.
If you should experience any of these symptoms, you may have a gluten intolerance or sensitivity and should contact your doctor to test you to ensure you have gluten sensitivity or not.
Just because you may experience any of the above symptoms does not mean you actually have celiac disease or have gluten sensitivity. However, it’s a pretty good indicator that gluten could be a cause.
By eliminating gluten from your diet, may cause your overall health to improve.
Gluten Allergy Symptom Skin Rash
The Best Way To Test For Gluten Intolerance
Before going to the doctor, and you are experiencing some of the symptoms mentioned above, do an elimination diet and take out gluten for a period of two to three weeks. See how your body is reacting and if you experience any improvement with the symptom you have. After three weeks, reintroduce gluten into your diet and determine if you are better off without it or worse when it was reintroduced. If the latter, then you know that gluten should be eliminated from your diet going forward.
As always, check with your doctor if you suspect that you may have gluten sensitivity so you can be tested for it.
The Cure For Gluten Intolerance
The only cure for any type of gluten intolerance is to eliminate gluten completely from your diet 100%. You will need to become familiar with the foods that contain gluten and those that do not. What you have to watch out for is cross contamination. Be aware of hidden gluten in supplements, shampoo’s, licking envelopes, and toothpaste just to name a few items.
Cross Contamination Concerns
Cross contamination occurs when anything with gluten comes in contact with a gluten free food. This is usually done by using utensils, pots, pans that had gluten in them and were not cleaned properly. Drying hands on a gluten towel will also cause cross contamination as well.
Signs Of Gluten Intolerance
As you can see, once you have been diagnosed with a gluten allergy, it will be challenging throughout your lifetime in trying to prevent cross contamination from occurring.
The cross contamination link above provides more information on how to avoid this concern and the steps you can take to prevent it.
Avoid Cross-Reaction Foods
Another area of concern for those individuals who suffer from gluten sensitivity and celiac disease are the cross-reaction foods. These are foods even though they are gluten free, they contain a protein that makes them look like gluten and the antibodies will attack it as gluten and kill it. Definition of cross-reaction in foods: Occurs when the antibodies for gluten which normally stick to gluten kill it and these same antibodies can stick to other things that are not gluten, because they look close enough to gluten to attack it and can cause a gluten system reaction in the auto-immune system.
Below are the six most prominent cross-reaction foods you should eliminate from your diet if you have been diagnosed with gluten sensitivity or have celiac disease. They are listed in order of importance.
- Milk products & casein (all dairy)
- Yeast (brewers & bakers)
- Corn
- Oats
- Millet
- Rice
Even though these foods are classified as gluten free they contain a protein in them that can cause an auto-immune system reaction to them when ingested. It is highly recommended that they should be avoided. Be sure to read the food labels clearly before buying and consuming any of them. If you should find any of these ingredients, avoid purchasing or consuming these products.
Conclusion
We have provided you with some of the symptoms that can be experienced by individuals who may have an allergic reaction to gluten or have celiac disease. Gluten is in wheat, rye and barley grains and most of the processed foods in the grocery store has one of these ingredients in them. It is up to you, as an educated shopper, to know how to distinguish between gluten and non-gluten foods.
It is also important that once you have been diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity, to remain on a gluten free diet for your entire lifetime. With more and more gluten free products being offered in grocery stores, finding them will be easier with affordable prices.
One other thing, get to know and understand how to read the nutrition labels on the products. As you do, you will not experience any gluten attacks by ingesting unknown gluten.
Don’t forget, that some alcoholic drinks also contain gluten. Be sure to drink only those that are not made from grains. Be sure that they are clearly labeled on the bottle as gluten free.
Shop Now Resources
You can shop for resources to help you understand more about gluten sensitivity by clicking on the text link below each image. You will be taken directly to the Amazon product ordering page where you can place the order for the resource you are interested in.
Go back to the Gluten Free Diet With Nutrition home page.