How To Stop Being Gluten Intolerant

Valuable Tips To Overcome Gluten Sensitivity

Are you tired of being unable to enjoy a meal with friends or family due to fear of the unpleasant series of intestinal pain or joint pain that may occur afterward? If so, you are not alone. You are one of 21 million Americans, including some of the top celebrities such as actresses Mariel Hemingway and Dana Delaney, NFL quarterback Drew Brees, and country music star Josh Turner, who may be suffering from either celiac disease or nonceliac gluten sensitivity . Fortunately, like the celebrities mentioned before, you can overcome the pain that comes from gluten by making a few changes to your lifestyle.

Ten Signs You Must Stop Eating Gluten Right Away:

So how do you know if you are one of the 10%? Well, your doctor can tell you. Before seeing your doctor, however, it might be helpful to go in with a food journal. Keep track of what you are eating and when. Specifically, pay attention to how you feel after eating certain meals. Information is important, and the more you have, the better chance your doctor can help you find out what is going on.

A Gluten Free Diet: Is It Forever

• Focus on How You Feel

Dr. Aviva, I cant believe it. My stomachaches are gone. Im having a normal bowel movement every day! No more gas. And I can think clearly again for the first time in years. Its amazing.

I hear eports like this all the time from my patients. In fact, sometimes the improvements are so stunning, that I have to ask my patients, Really? Or are you just saying that because you think I want to hear it? They all reassure me that the changes are for real. These patients typically have one thing in common: Theyve gone gluten free. Almost invariably, once they start feeling great, which can happen in just a matter of weeks or less, most of them ask me the same question: So, doc, do I have to stay gluten free forever?

Here’s what I tell them

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People With Gluten Sensitivity

Another condition that may prompt someone to cut gluten from their diets is a non-celiac gluten sensitivity, sometimes called gluten intolerance. We dont have a clear definition for gluten intolerance or a clear way to explain it, says Rajagopal. We know that some people eat something that contains gluten and then they dont feel well.

Its important not to assume that gastrointestinal irritation is the result of gluten. If you think you may have a gluten intolerance, Rajagopal recommends working with a physician and a registered dietitian to get to the bottom of your symptoms.

There isnt a test for gluten intolerance, so we might try a process of elimination such as the low FODMAP diet, says Rajagopal. This is a temporary eating plan that eliminates lots of foods that can irritate the gut, including wheat-based products. If gluten is the source of the irritation, you may notice an improvement in symptoms such as:

Could Your Symptoms Be The Result Of A Wheat Allergy

If youve been tested for celiac and the results were negative, theres a chance you simply have an allergy to wheat.

• Nausea and gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea or vomiting

These symptoms may appear after you eat foods with wheat, including bread, cereal, or granola. Because these foods also contain gluten, a wheat allergy is commonly called a gluten allergy, though theres actually no such thing.

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How Long After Going Gluten

Everyones body will respond differently as to how long it takes for symptoms relating to gluten-intolerance go away after you stop eating gluten. For the most part, it seems as though most people begin to feel better within just a few days of switching up their nutrition plan.Improvements with overall concentration, attention span, and short-term memory all tend to improve within a couple of weeks, as do improvements in skin conditions and digestive issues. Some people, especially those who have been sick for a long time, might notice that it takes a while for symptoms to go away. Our bodies sometimes take a while to heal, so give yourself time to rest and recuperate and youll make forward progress and begin to feel better!

Cook More Meals At Home

Restaurants are increasingly offering gluten-free meal options. However, these meals typically come with an added cost, as well as the risk of cross-contamination.

Cooking more meals at home can help you eliminate gluten from your diet, all while benefiting your overall health.

In fact, people who eat home-cooked meals at least 5 times per week eat significantly more fruits and vegetables and are 28% less likely to be overweight than those who eat home-cooked meals less than 3 times per week .

Create a weekly meal plan to stay accountable. Stock your kitchen with gluten-free staples like fresh produce, nuts, seeds, legumes, protein sources like eggs and fish, and various gluten-free grains.

Summary Dining out on a gluten-free diet can be expensive and may increase your risk of cross-contamination. Eating more home-cooked meals is a safe option that also benefits your overall health.

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Who Should Avoid Gluten

As mentioned, people with celiac disease avoid sickness and maintain much better health if they follow a gluten-free diet. For them, a gluten-free diet is nothing short of essential.

And then there are people described as gluten-sensitive. Their tests for celiac disease are negative , yet whenever they eat food containing gluten, they experience symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, or crampy abdominal pain. One cause is wheat allergy, a disorder that can be diagnosed by skin testing. But for many others, the diagnosis remains uncertain. Some have begun calling this non-celiac gluten hypersensitivity, a poorly defined condition about which we have much to learn.

Avoiding gluten makes sense for people with celiac disease, wheat allergy, or those who feel unwell whenever they consume gluten.

Eat Foods That Support Natural Detoxification

Supporting your liver and kidneysyour body’s built-in filtrating systemis important for overall wellness, Cording says. Research on kidney-friendly diets has found that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, legumes, whole grains, and fibers, while cutting down on red meat, sodium, and refined sugar is good for kidney health.

To help support a healthy liver, Medline Plus recommends having a good balance of carbohydrates and protein, limiting your salt intake, and eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.

Also, its a good idea to avoid processed foods. Avoidance of processed foods, especially those with high amounts of sugar and saturated fats, can further support gut health, says Carolyn Newberry, M.D., a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine.

While these foods might help support you after getting glutened, theyll help the most if you consume them on a regular basis, Cording says.

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Tips For Dining Out On A Gluten

The following strategies may help you stick to your gluten-free diet when eating out:

• Choose a restaurant with gluten-free options. This means a place that serves naturally gluten-free foods or has a special gluten-free menu.
• Inform your waiter. Let them know you have celiac disease and may get sick if you eat anything containing gluten, including flour, bread crumbs, or soy sauce. Also ask them to inform the chef or cook. This way, youll have more confidence that nothing on your plate has touched gluten.
• Ask questions. Don’t assume anything is gluten-free. Omelets, for instance, may have pancake batter added to the egg mixture to make them fluffier, and baked potatoes can be coated with flour to make the skins brown and crispy.

Three Reasons Not To Go Gluten Free

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Symptoms Of Gluten Intolerance

Symptoms of gluten intolerance begin to show once a person has partaken of any food product that includes gluten. They include stomach bloating, pain in the stomach, diarrhea, nausea and fatigue. Other less common symptoms include headache, anxiety, numbness, confusion and joint or muscle pain. It must be noted that severe stomach ache is not regarded as a sign of gluten intolerance and must be treated immediately.

How Long Does Gluten Stay In Your System

Essentially, gluten doesnt really stay in your body when you remove gluten, it is eliminated. The timing of this elimination will be slightly different for everyone, as it depends on the time it takes for you to eat and digest food, and then properly expel it from your system. For most people, this can take up to two days for the body to move food through your intestinal system. How long gluten stays in the body can also correlate with your hydration levels and overall health status as well. Your body is an amazing machine and can begin to heal any intestinal damage from the gluten almost immediately once you stop consuming it and it is flushed out your system.

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Studying The Effects Of An

The researchers led by Julia König, Ph.D., postdoctoral research fellow at the School of Medical Sciences at the University of -rebro, Sweden tested the enzyme on 18 patients that were self-reportedly gluten-sensitive.

The participants consumed a portion of porridge with two wheat cookies that contained gluten, and they were then administered either AN-PEP or a placebo. The enzyme was administered in a high dose or a low dose.

König and team monitored the levels of gluten in the stomach and small intestine over 3 hours.

The study found that both the high-dose and low-dose AN-PEP groups had 85 percent less gluten in their stomachs than the placebo group.

In the duodenum the first part of the small intestine the level of gluten was lowered by 81 percent in the high-dose group, and 87 percent in the low-dose group, compared with the placebo group.

Getting A Proper Diagnosis Is Key

Getting a proper diagnosis is the first step toward feeling better and living a healthy life. Diagnosing celiac disease is pretty straight forward. A gastroenterologist will be able to make a diagnosis based on blood tests and a biopsy of the small intestine.

Diagnosing non-celiac gluten intolerance is a little trickier. Your physician will test you for celiac disease, wheat allergy and other things that might be associated with your particular symptoms. If you test negatively for those things, youll start a gluten-free diet. If going gluten-free for a while improves your symptoms, youll probably be diagnosed with non-celiac gluten intolerance.

If you think you might have a gluten intolerance, its important to keep gluten in your diet until you visit your physician. This is the only way the to test properly.

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Could You Have Intolerance To Gluten

Gluten intolerance, also called nonceliac gluten sensitivity , is a possibility if youve tested negative for both celiac disease and a wheat allergy. But unfortunately, there isnt a good test to diagnose this condition.

If your doctor suspects you have gluten intolerance, he or she may suggest a blood test and then a biopsy. If the biopsy is normal, your physician may suspect NCGS.

The main treatment for NCGS is a gluten-free diet, but as with celiac, be sure to work with your healthcare team to make sure youre properly nourishing your body.

Symptoms Of Celiac Disease

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 .

It can cause a wide range of symptoms, including skin problems, gastrointestinal issues, mood changes, and more.

Here are a few of the most common symptoms of celiac disease.

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Several Processed Foods And Other Items

Many processed foods and other popular items may also harbor gluten. These include:

• meat substitutes, such as veggie burgers and hot dogs
• prepared lunch meats
• canned soups and soup mixes
• puddings and instant dessert mixes
• certain ice creams
• french fries and other fried foods

Summary

Foods that contain gluten include breads, pastas, crackers, baked goods, many grains, and several beverages and processed items.

Though it may seem as if most foods are off-limits when youre intolerant to gluten, many delicious and healthy foods are naturally gluten-free. Plus, quality gluten-free breads, pastas, and crackers are available in most grocery stores.

If youre gluten intolerant, you can enjoy the following foods.

Eating Gluten Free At Restaurants

Once you get the hang of following the gluten free diet at home you may feel comfortable enough to go out to eat. Though it is still one of the more misunderstood dietary restrictions, the gluten free diet is becoming more and more commonplace. This means that you can find healthy and satisfying options at most restaurants if you know where to look and what substitutions to make.

The key to eating gluten free at a restaurant is to plan ahead. If you already know where youll be going, check the menu online or call the restaurant to see if they offer any gluten free options. Dont be afraid to ask the restaurant about their gluten free handling procedures to be sure they can address your needs.

Even if the restaurant doesnt offer a dedicated gluten free menu, certain options are likely to be available to you here are a few you can look for:

• Sandwiches or burgers either with a gluten free bun, or no bun at all
• Soups and stews prepared without flour used as a thickener
• Grilled, roasted, or smoked meats and seafood made with gluten free sauce or seasoning
• Steamed, stir-fried, or roasted vegetables and gluten free grains
• Salads with grilled meat, no croutons, and gluten free dressing

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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

Advice On Feeding Your Baby

Do not introduce gluten into your baby’s diet before they’re 6 months old. Breast milk is naturally gluten-free as are all infant milk formulas.

If you have coeliac disease, Coeliac UK recommends foods containing gluten are introduced gradually when a child is 6 months old. This should be carefully monitored.

The Coeliac UK website provides more information about feeding your baby.

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What About Everyone Else

There is no compelling evidence that a gluten-free diet will improve health or prevent disease if you don’t have celiac disease and can eat gluten without trouble. Of course, future research could change this. We may someday learn that at least some people without celiac disease or symptoms of intestinal disease are better off avoiding gluten.

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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