Gluten intolerance, you might have come across this word multiple times in your lifetime; and may have rewarded to be a cunning mistress, since it’s a part of many of our day to day food components like cakes, pasta, noodles, etc. Gluten intolerance is a prevalent issue growing issue, and identifying gluten tolerance is the only solution to gain control over it.
Accordingly, the article is further intended to spread awareness related to gluten intolerance.
Overview
Gluten intolerance has often been mistakenly referred to be as the wheat allergies; however, it is important to understand that wheat allergies come under the umbrella of autoimmune disorders and can be life-threatening as well up to some extent, whereas gluten intolerance is one of the common problems that is being faced due to faulty digestive system. Just like identifying wheat allergies, how to know gluten tolerance level is also a challenging concern that is being raised currently by many of us.
In this regard, it is important to track the most common symptoms, necessary for identifying gluten tolerance.
What is gluten?
Before we move on to understand and know more about the gluten intolerance, it is better to find out what is gluten and how to track the problem associated with the same.
Gluten is a type of protein that is commonly observed in wheat and related products, such as barley, rye, etc. The protein is being developed, while kneading a dough, in order to get the nicer rise to the final product, that is bread, cake etc. Experts are suggesting that the more you keep the dough for fermentation, the more development of gluten may take place in the final product.
In fact, it is further being suggested that this can be one of the reasons, why many people nowadays are suffering from gluten intolerance; and hence, identifying gluten tolerance is really the need of an hour.
Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance
Shortly after consuming gluten and related products, if you experience any of the symptoms depicted herewith; you are advised to seek immediate medical help.
Constipation and Diarrhea
Frequently reported complaints of constipation and diarrhea is one of the most common ways of identifying gluten tolerance. However, occasional manifestations associated with the digestive tract can also be more common, due to certain food allergies, celiac diseases, and infections.
Bloating
Bloating is another commonly reported symptom by people, who are suffering from gluten intolerance. However, it is also a common problem that is being encountered nowadays and hence, cannot be referred to be as the confirmatory test for diagnosing gluten intolerance.
Abdominal Pain
If you are experiencing abdominal pain, immediately after eating diet heavy with gluten; and the issue is being reported frequently without any obvious reason for the same, then you can surely relate it to the possibility of gluten intolerance.
Other than some of the most common symptoms reported herewith, frequent nausea, fatigue, and headaches are also some of the general ways of identifying gluten tolerance.
How is gluten intolerance diagnosed?
Before identifying gluten tolerance, it is very crucial to rule out the possibility of being affected with more severe version of the same, such as celiac diseases, wheat allergies, etc. A simple blood test can be helpful in detecting celiac diseases as well as wheat allergies, which is further analyzed for the presence of increased antibody load.
Once, your practitioner confirms that there are no chances of being affected with any of these two above mentioned diseases, then probably you have to look for the options for identifying gluten tolerance.
Accordingly, one of the most common and sure ways to pinpoint would be to completely avoid gluten from day to day diet; and check for its health benefits.
Which food can be avoided by identifying gluten tolerance?
According to the expert guidelines, people who have been suffering from digestive issues and issues associated with gluten intolerance should avoid food that contains:
- Wheat and derivatives of wheat
- Barley, including malt
- Rye
- Yeast, brewer’s yeast derived from beer.
Accordingly, don’t be disheartened if you have to rule out many food and beverages from your day to day meal, such as:
- Pasta
- Pastries and Bread
- Biscuits
- Beer
- Malt beverages
Why does gluten make people sick?
It would be surprising to identify reasons, why gluten intolerance is commonly prevalent these days.
- Gluten intolerance has been previously identified as the white person’s problem; because wheat was introduced recently to the European diet and their genes are not accustomed still to this new entry.
- Statistics have suggested that roughly around 30% of the people belonging to European descendants are not supported by their genes for consumption of gluten and associated products.
- If a person is already suffering from the leaky gut syndrome, he may also be suffering from gluten intolerance. This is because their bodies are not completely adjusted to gluten protein and the protein that is being generated may sneak out through walls of leaky intestines. Studies have also found gluten proteins to be present in the stool of people suffering from the leaky gut syndrome.
- People, who have been suffering from other autoimmune disorders like celiac diseases may also have a problem of gluten intolerance; since their immune system sense accumulated gluten protein as a foreign invader along with which it may harm other healthy proteins like gladin that may contribute to gluten intolerance.
- People with damaged gut flora due to overconsumption of antibiotic may experience common symptoms of gluten intolerance.
Why is gluten intolerance more common?
The modern wheat that is produced and consumed by almost 99% people over the globe has altered protein structures, due to the increased use of pesticides and synthetic plant food. These alterations reported having a major impact on our digestive system, especially when it comes to digestion of gluten. Studies have also analyzed that gluten has been one of the most common products of processed food. So, it is very important for a person with gluten intolerance to check for its content before buying a processed food.