Gluten Intolerance Symptoms- Are Wheat Allergy and Celiac Disease Related?

The symptoms of wheat allergy and gluten intolerance (Celiac disease) may appear same but they are different problems! Let us first examine what is gluten and when it causes problems?

Wheat allergy is simple allergy like any other food allergy and its symptoms are similar to those allergies. Gluten allergy or intolerance is different which will be discussed in details here.

Gluten is found in grains like wheat, barley, rye and spelt etc. It consists of two important nutritional proteins namely Glutenin and Gliadin.

When the proteins in Gluten (glutenin and gliadin) in some cases trigger immune system to overreact with unusual antibodies, Celiac disease occurs. These antibodies wear down lining of the intestine wall called villi. The function of the hair like villi lining is to absorb nutrients.

When the lining gets worn out over a period of time serous health problems begin to appear. The gluten can’t be tolerated any more by the intestine. 15 % of the US and western world population is affected by the Gluten Intolerance Symptoms.

Following symptoms begin to appear when gluten intolerance sets in.

Depression, aching joints, head aches, exhaustions, irritability and behavioral changes and gastro intestinal problems like (bloating, gas, constipation) are the most common symptoms of gluten intolerance.

Other symptoms include infertility, irregular menstrual cycle, miscarriage, cramps, tingling and numbness, weight roller coaster (increasing or decreasing) etc.

Gluten intolerance has been linked to genetic conditions. If your parents have it then you are likely to have it.

The condition is grossly under researched therefore no single test can confirm whether you have gluten intolerance or not. However there may be symptoms suggesting it.

The best way to decide is to start eliminating gluten containing food from your diet and see if the symptoms disappear. If so then you have gluten intolerance.

Gluten intolerance leads to celiac disease. If your gluten intolerance symptoms are due to the consumption of gluten, then you have celiac disease. Check it out with your doctor.

Learn more about allergies in other related articles;

Gluten Intolerance Symptoms- Are Wheat Allergy and Celiac Disease Related?

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