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By Staci Culbreath
By now, just about everyone in the world has heard of the word “gluten.” For those who haven’t heard of gluten, it is a protein in wheat, barley, rye, and all products that come in contact with these grains.
While some people say that avoiding gluten is just a fad diet that has no health benefits, there are plenty of other people who swear that gluten is the cause for some of their health problems. The truth is that gluten is a common food allergen, and many people suffer from the effects of ingesting it. From not-so-serious symptoms such as bloating and gas to very serious symptoms such as chronic inflammation and malnutrition, reactions to gluten should never be ignored. Now whether the people who are affected by gluten have an actual gluten allergy or just a gluten sensitivity is something that only a doctor can determine through a series of blood tests, intestinal biopsies, and by reviewing the results of a gluten-free diet.
What is a gluten allergy?
People who suffer from a gluten allergy are diagnosed with a condition called Celiac disease. It happens when your immune system’s reaction to the gluten protein triggers your white blood cells to attack your small intestinal lining, causing damage known as villous atrophy. Damage such as this decreases the intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients.
What is a gluten sensitivity?
A gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance is similar to a gluten allergy, but it stems from an entirely different immune system reaction and is not known to cause damage to the intestinal lining. With a gluten sensitivity, the body views the gluten protein as a foreign invader and causes inflammation inside and outside of the digestive tract.
Symptoms of a Gluten Allergy/Intolerance
The symptoms of an intolerance or allergy to gluten vary from person to person. Common signs that your body doesn’t like gluten include a lack of energy, chronic fatigue, migraines, headaches, gas, bloating, weight gain, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, skin rashes, Keratosis Pilaris aka “chicken skin”, pain and inflammation throughout the body, swelling or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees or hips, and Fibromyalgia. In addition to these symptoms, those who have an allergy to gluten can experience weight loss and malnutrition from the damage to the intestinal lining. Continual ingestion of gluten can lead to conditions such as thyroid disease, Chrohn’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma and Multiple sclerosis.
My Personal Story With Gluten
About 5 years ago, I started noticing that I was having problems with gluten. After eating it, my joints (especially my fingers) and other parts of my body such as my legs, hips, and upper back would become painful and last for several days. So I went on a gluten-free diet and some of those pains went away. And once I got rid of gluten for awhile, I started noticing that my body was having negative reactions to other foods as well. When I asked my doctor to test me for food allergies, she was hesitant and told me that it is probably all in my head. But when the results came back, she and I were both surprised to find out that I had a laundry list of foods that I was allergic to. Now that I have created a diet that abstains from foods that I’m allergic to, I feel great! And when I cheat on my diet, the pain that I experience for several days after ingesting the offending foods is a reminder of why I must stick to the diet. My point is, that you should never ignore what your body is trying to tell you. Go to the doctor. Get some tests done. And even if it turns out that you’re not allergic to gluten or any other foods, you still may be sensitive to them. Common food allergens include dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, oats, tree nuts, tomatoes, potatoes, peanuts, barley, rye, oats, rice, corn, fish, and shellfish. The only way to find out if foods affect you negatively is to try a food elimination diet to identify the offending foods. Trust me, your body will be grateful.
Staci Culbreath is a nature lover from the Chicagoland area who manages UniquePlantsAndTrees.com, a website that features unique plants and trees that can be shipped through the mail.
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