Gluten Allergy Symptoms In Adults

Headaches And Brain Fog

Chronic headaches and the inability to think clearly are also common side effects associated with gluten intolerance. Interestingly, migraines seem to be more common among people with Celiac disease, IBD, and gluten sensitivity than in the control group, according to a 2013 study in the journal Headache.

Celiac Or Wheat Allergy

Celiac disease and wheat allergy both involve the immune system but the reaction within the body is different. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the lining of the intestine. It is a lifelong disorder. Symptoms of wheat allergy can include a skin rash, wheezing, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Wheat allergy is often outgrown.

Hormonal Imbalance And Adrenal Fatigue

Hormone imbalance can manifest itself as irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain or loss, hot flashes, low energy levels, erratic sleep patterns and more. In discussing gluten sensitivity and female hormones, Dr. Daniel Kalish D.C states that a strong relationship has been established in medical literature between gluten sensitivity and the hormones progesterone and estrogen. Additionally, most of my patients with gluten sensitivity have an adrenal hormone imbalance, and this becomes exacerbated for patients during menopause

Dr. Kalish notes that hes observed serious problems often begin to reveal themselves when women with gluten sensitivity reach peri-menopause. As their ovarian output of sex hormones drops, the resulting hormone imbalance is worsened by over consumption of gluten. The adrenal glands respond to the stress of unstable blood sugar and gastrointestinal tract inflammation caused by gluten by increasing cortisol. This causes increased body fat, fatigue and unstable moods.

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There Are Many Symptoms Of Gluten Intolerance And Celiac Disease

Most people wonder if they have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance because of gastrointestinal symptoms like gassiness, diarrhea, constipation or excessive bloating. But other symptoms might not be so obvious. And while gluten intolerance and celiac disease are different, many of the symptoms can be similar. Here are some signs of celiac disease and gluten intolerance you might not be aware of.

• Digestive issues
• Tingling or numbness in hands and/or feet
• Bone and joint pain

Dangers Of Untreated Celiac Disease

Up to 60% of children and 41% of adults with celiac disease do not have symptoms. With a damaged intestinal lining, they may not be absorbing nutrients properly and are at risk of malnutrition. People with celiac disease have a higher chance of developing osteoporosis, infertility, and some neurological problems.

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• Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease where the immune system reacts abnormally to gluten.
• For people with coeliac disease, even small amounts of gluten can damage the lining of the small intestine , which prevents the proper absorption of food nutrients.
• If you have coeliac disease, damage can occur to your small intestine even if you have no symptoms.
• Correct diagnosis of coeliac disease can only be made by gastroscopy.
• There is no cure, but coeliac disease can be managed by a lifelong gluten-free diet.
• A person with coeliac disease can still have a nutritious, balanced and varied diet.

How Is Gluten Intolerance Treated

Theres no cure for gluten intolerance. But most people find relief from symptoms by following a gluten-free diet. You should work with your healthcare provider and a dietitian to plan your diet.

You can also ask your healthcare provider about adding probiotics to your diet. Probiotics help increase the good bacteria in your gut. They may reduce symptoms of bloating, gas or constipation.

Some research suggests that taking certain enzymes may help you digest gluten. But experts are still investigating this treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any enzymes.

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Gluten Intolerance And Celiac Disease Are Different

There are two different types of gluten intolerance: Celiac disease and non-celiac gluten intolerance.

Celiac disease is a genetic, autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 100 people worldwide. People with celiac disease are genetically predisposed to gluten intolerance, and even ingesting a very small amount can lead to severe damage of the small intestine.

The disease can develop at any age and, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems.Most concerning? Many people who have celiac disease dont realize it. In fact, the Celiac Disease Foundation reports that an estimated 2.5 million Americans are undiagnosed, and therefore at risk for major long-term health complications.

But you dont have to have celiac disease to have a gluten intolerance. Non-celiac gluten intolerance can be tough to diagnose because its not an autoimmune disease or a food allergy . Non-celiac gluten intolerance means that your bodys digestive system cant tolerate any form of the protein gluten. If consumed, your body fights against it with inflammation, causing digestive issues like fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea and gassiness. Its estimated that 15 percent of the U.S. population has some sort of non-celiac gluten intolerance.

What Is Gluten Sensitivity

Also known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten sensitivity is not a condition that is currently well-defined within the medical community. It is neither an autoimmune reaction like celiac disease or an allergic reaction in which the immune system produces antibodies. As such, diagnosis of gluten sensitivity is usually made by ruling out other conditions there is no test or biomarker that can be used to identify this condition. If celiac disease and wheat allergy have both been ruled out, switching to a gluten free diet may be warranted and, if that results in a reduction of symptoms, a diagnosis of gluten sensitivity can then be confirmed. At this time, a gluten free diet is the only known treatment for gluten sensitivity.

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Treatment Of Gluten Intolerance And Sensitivity

If your elimination tests suggest that you are gluten intolerant, the best way to avoid experiencing symptoms in future is to stick to a gluten free diet. This means carefully reading the labels on any products you buy, and replacing your normal bread, pasta, breakfast cereal and so on with a gluten free alternative.

Following a gluten intolerance diet may seem daunting at first, but the relief of all those symptoms might just give you a new lease of life. What’s more, there are so many delicious foods you can still enjoy, you won’t look back check out our gluten free recipes page for some fresh ideas.

Can Adults Develop Food Allergies Or A Food Intolerance

Too many adults believe that once they reach adulthood, they have a full understanding of their sensitivities and allergies. It is also possible that youve either ignored or misread your gluten intolerance symptoms or wheat allergy symptoms. Celiac sprue disease is infamously under-diagnosed and diagnosis takes some study and thought. There isnt a simple single test to give you an outright answer and the best and most comprehensive research on the matter has only become widespread in recent years. While sometimes a simple blood test incorporating detection of multiple antibodies , IgA and IgG Antigliadin Antibodies , IgA Endomysial Antibodies , and tgG Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies ) may indicate whether you have celiac disease, if you test negative you may still experience problems with this potent protein composite. When this happens, you may be suffering from a Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity .

Adults experiencing unexplained joint pain, anemia, infertility or osteoporosis should discuss the possibility of gluten intolerance with their primary care physician. I encourage you to explore my in-depth articles on silent celiac disease symptoms and celiac disease symptoms in adults for more on adult-onset gluten intolerance or gluten allergy symptoms in adults.

If youre new to baking without gluten, check out our comprehensive Gluten-Free Pantry or our first collection of Gluten-Free Bread Recipes.

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How Do I Manage It

If youre confident you are intolerant to a particular food, the only way to manage this is to stop eating the food for a while and then reintroduce small quantities while monitoring how much you can eat without causing symptoms.

Check food labels to see which sorts of foods to avoid.

If you think your child may have a food intolerance, check with a GP or dietitian before eliminating foods from their diet, as a restricted diet could affect their growth and development. Cows milk, for example, is an important source of calcium, vitamin D and protein.

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Gluten Allergy Symptoms In Adults

Gluten is actually a type of composite protein that can be found in wheat, rye, and barley. The consumption of gluten-containing foods can produce some gastrointestinal discomforts in individuals who cannot tolerate this protein. Find out the symptoms of gluten allergy or intolerance, and how to manage this condition, through this HealthHearty write-up.

Gluten is actually a type of composite protein that can be found in wheat, rye, and barley. The consumption of gluten-containing foods can produce some gastrointestinal discomforts in individuals who cannot tolerate this protein. Find out the symptoms of gluten allergy or intolerance, and how to manage this condition, through this HealthHearty write-up.

Gluten is a protein, or to be more specific, a composite of two proteins, known as glutenin and gliadin. This composite protein can be mainly found in wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten can adversely affect the intestinal lining of some individuals, who cannot tolerate this composite protein. People can develop gluten intolerance at any age. Individuals who develop gluten intolerance experience several annoying and painful symptoms after consuming gluten-containing foods.

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Could My Symptoms Be Something Else

If you regularly have diarrhoea, bloating, tummy pain or skin rashes but youre not certain of the cause, see a GP.

A GP may be able to diagnose the cause from your symptoms and medical history. If necessary, theyll order tests, such as blood tests.

You can also do some research yourself. It may help to find out about other conditions that cause similar symptoms. For example, find out about:

The bowel is a sensitive organ and its common to have bowel symptoms when you have been ill or feel run down or stressed.

Food Labelling And Gluten

All packaged foods have an ingredient list printed on the label.

The product ingredient label may not list ‘gluten’ as a component. However, under mandatory labelling standards, all ingredients and food additives derived from wheat, rye, barley, triticale or oats must be declared on food labels in Australia. Processing aids must also be declared if they are present in the final product.

There is an Australian Food Standard for foods labelled ‘gluten free’. When these foods are tested, there must be ‘no detectable gluten’. Currently, this test is sensitive to 0.0003 per cent , which is the lowest amount that can be detected .

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Can Coeliac Disease Be Prevented

It is not possible to prevent coeliac disease. Studies have shown that delaying giving gluten to children or how long babies are breastfed doesnt have any affect on whether they will develop coeliac disease when they grow older.

However, it is possible to prevent complications of coeliac disease by being diagnosed early and following a gluten free diet.

Treatment Of Gluten Allergy

The treatment for gluten allergy is focused on diet modification to prevent the intolerance to gluten. Aside from diet modification, other adjunct managements may be tried out to prevent vitamin deficiencies that arise because of diet restriction. These include:

• Vitamin supplements Vitamin supplements are required, especially for vitamin B deficiency. Patients who do not consume gluten containing foods may eventually suffer from vitamin B deficiencies, leading to neuropathies. Gluten sensitivity also leads to malabsoprtion of vitamins in the gut.
• Iron supplements Most of the foods rich in gluten are also rich in iron thereby diet restrictions may also lead to iron deficiency, which may contribute to anemia. It is important to take iron supplements with Vitamin C rich foods to maximize its absorption.
• Calcium supplements When the gut becomes sensitive to gluten, it does not allow for maximum absorption of calcium in the intestines, thereby, calcium supplements must be given.

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You Consistently Have Joint Or Muscle Aches

Chronic joint or muscle pain is a common symptom reported in studies of non-celiac gluten sensitivity .

The pain is said to be like that of Fibromyalgia, a condition which may be improved by going gluten-free, at least anecdotally.

As joint and muscle pain is a broad symptom, only consider it a possible sign if you experience several of the other symptoms.

Delayed Allergy Symptoms To Gluten

Many people have delayed symptoms to gluten. For example, if I eat gluten, I wont feel a thing for about 24 hours. Then I rapidly loose it, and feel like crap for at least three weeks.

If you eat gluten every day, it is hard to connect the food with the experience of feeling sick or off.

Also, if you cut out gluten, you may notice no change at all for days or weeks.

This makes it hard to figure out that gluten is the problem, especially on your own by accident.

Now that you have read this article and realize the problem, you can learn to deal with it.

See the following articles for more information:

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When To Seek Care

Consult your doctor about getting tested for celiac disease if:

• You have diarrhea or digestive discomfort lasting for more than two weeks
• You have a family member with the condition
• You have a risk factor such as type 1 diabetes

Consult your childs doctor if your child:

• Is pale, irritable or failing to grow
• Has a potbelly and bulky, foul-smelling stools

The 14 Most Common Signs Of Gluten Intolerance

Gluten intolerance is a fairly common problem.

It is characterized by adverse reactions to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

Celiac disease is the most severe form of gluten intolerance.

It is an autoimmune disease that affects about 1% of the population and may lead to damage in the digestive system .

However, 0.513% of people may also have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, a milder form of gluten intolerance that can still cause problems .

Both forms of gluten intolerance can cause widespread symptoms, many of which have nothing to do with digestion.

Here are the 14 main signs and symptoms of gluten intolerance.

Take Home Message

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