4 Gluten Sensitivity Symptoms to Watch Out For
72% of gluten-free people are classified as “PWAGs” (people without celiac disease who avoid gluten), and the gluten-free food market is expected to be worth $7.59 billion by 2020.
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Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and other grains, and it causes a variety of health problems in people. Celiac disease, wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, and gluten sensitivity are just a few of the most common problems.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disease in which people with the disease produce antibodies that destroy villi, which are finger-like projections in the small intestine. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloating, iron deficiency anemia, and fatigue.
Wheat Allergy
Wheat allergies are a serious condition that necessitates strict avoidance of wheat-containing foods, with symptoms ranging from anaphylaxis (when your throat swells up and you can’t breathe) to asthma. Doctors diagnose wheat allergies using skin prick tests, which entail pricking wheat extracts into the skin.
Gluten Sensitivity and Gluten Intolerance
There are no tests for non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), which affects the majority of people who avoid gluten and results in symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, brain fog, low energy, and aches and pains.
1. Upper GI Issues
New research suggests that common upper and lower GI gluten sensitivity symptoms could also be linked to a group of poorly digested carbohydrates known as FODMAPs. People with gluten intolerance or sensitivity are often very burpy and bloated, get heartburn, and feel stomach pain or discomfort after eating.
2. Lower GI Issues
Gluten sensitivity can cause diarrhea or constipation, which is similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Healing leaky gut involves avoiding yeast, dairy, sugar, and alcohol, managing stress, and eating a nutrient-dense diet.
3. Mental and Emotional Challenges
Gluten sensitivity can lead to brain fog, depression, anxiety, and general fatigue; however, sensitive individuals who follow a gluten-free diet report feeling more mentally clear, energized, and less anxious or moody.
4. Aches and Pains
Headaches, migraines, joint and muscle pain, and even tingling or numbness in the hands and feet are common symptoms of gluten sensitivity, which should subside after a few days of gluten-free living.
What to do if you have these gluten sensitivity symptoms.
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, try eliminating gluten from your diet for at least three weeks; you should notice a difference within the first week, and you can gradually reintroduce gluten back into your diet after three weeks if you want to test it out longer.
Want to try eliminating gluten but don’t know where to start?
Take advantage of my free 1-day Gluten-Free Meal Plan, which includes 7 recipes, a grocery list, and a simple shopping list.
If you don’t have gluten sensitivity symptoms, should you still avoid it?
You don’t need to avoid gluten unless you’re allergic, sensitive, intolerant, or have celiac disease; instead, focus on whole grains such as millet, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, and teff.
Can wheat make you angry?
Many of them reported experiencing mood swings, depression, anxiety, or mental fogginess within a few hours of eating wheat u2014 symptoms that are much less common among celiac patients.
Can wheat affect your mood?
While most people can tolerate gluten, those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can experience a variety of negative side effects, including digestive distress, headaches, and skin problems. Some people also report that gluten can cause psychological symptoms like anxiety ( 1 ).
Why do I feel bad after eating wheat?
Wheat sensitivity u2013 symptoms such as bloating, cramps, diarrhoea, and sickness appear slowly, usually hours after eating wheat. See your GP for a blood test. Coeliac disease u2013 a condition in which gluten-containing foods such as wheat, barley, oats, and rye can’t absorb and damage the intestine lining.
Can you all of a sudden become wheat intolerant?
Can You Develop Gluten Intolerance Suddenly? Gluten intolerance can develop suddenly, depending on genetic factors; some people experience symptoms early in life, while others don’t experience symptoms until later in life.
Is Dairy bad for anxiety?
People with anxiety say they notice an increase in anxiety symptoms within minutes of eating dairy products, according to research. About 10% of adults are lactose intolerant, and even more have trouble digesting the casein found in cow’s milk.
Is gluten Bad for Brain?
Recent research suggests that gluten, which is most commonly found in wheat, rye, and barley, may have a significant impact on the brain and nervous system in many people, raising the risk of memory loss, dementia symptoms, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Can gluten cause bipolar disorder?
Furthermore, two medical studies suggest that people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity may have slightly higher rates of bipolar disorder than the general population.
Can bread make you depressed?
Yes, if it’s made of white bread. The highly processed white flour it’s made of quickly converts to blood sugar after you eat it, causing energy spikes and crashes that can be detrimental to anxiety and depression.
Can sugar cause anxiety?
Sugar consumption has been linked to a variety of health problems, including obesity, high blood pressure, and tooth decay, as well as depression, mood swings, and anxiety symptoms. The initial energy boost provided by sugar keeps many people craving sugary foods and drinks.
What does celiac poop look like?
Diarrhea. Although diarrhea is commonly associated with watery stools, people with celiac disease may simply have stools that are a little looser – and more frequent – than usual. Diarrhea associated with celiac disease usually occurs after eating.
How does wheat intolerance make you feel?
Wheat intolerance (also known as wheat sensitivity) is a condition in which some people have trouble digesting wheat and experience bloating, wind, diarrhoea, sickness, and stomach pain after eating bread.
Can you test for wheat intolerance?
Skin test: Tiny drops of purified allergen extracts u2014 including extracts for wheat proteins u2014 are pricked onto the surface of your skin, either on your forearm or on your upper back, and your doctor or nurse looks for signs of allergic reactions after 15 minutes.
What triggers celiac disease later in life?
Celiac disease can develop at any age after people begin eating gluten-containing foods or medications, and the later celiac disease is diagnosed, the higher the risk of developing another autoimmune disorder.
At what age does celiac disease appear?
Celiac disease symptoms can appear at any age, from childhood to senior adulthood; the average age of diagnosis is between the fourth and sixth decades of life, with about 20% of cases diagnosed in those over 60.
Can you develop celiac disease in your 60s?
Celiac sprue is a chronic disease that most commonly affects children and young adults, but it can affect anyone at any age, and its prevalence is rising even in the elderly population, where atypical clinical presentation patterns can cause diagnostic delays.