Gluten Allergy
Many more people are suffering with allergies and intolerances to wheat and/or gluten than ever before.
No one is really sure why there has been such an increase in Gluten allergy numbers.It may be the increased exposure to chemicals in our foods, particularly in the womb.
Whether you have a full allergy to gluten or just a wheat intolerance it can cause symptoms that vary from being fairly mild at one end of the spectrum to life threatening at the other end.
So are you allergic to wheat or are you allergic to gluten?
Far to often the words are used almost interchangeably in ingredient lists and conversations about what is making us so sick. It could be vital for your health that you know there is, in fact, a difference between wheat and gluten.
Wheat is a grain. We all know that. Gluten is the sticky protein that is found in wheat and other grains such as barley, rye, malt, and – to some extent – oats. Wheat and gluten are related – they come together in a package.
Gluten is what binds the dough in breads and baked goods. So if wheat and gluten are not the same thing, but are so closely related, is it possible to have an allergy or intolerance to one and not the other?
Well, if you’re allergic to gluten, you need to stay away from wheat, since wheat contains gluten. And if you’re allergic to wheat, since gluten is part of wheat’s make up, then you probably need to avoid gluten as well. But if you’re allergic only to wheat, you can still enjoy other grains that have gluten in them.
What are signs and symptoms of a wheat or gluten allergy or intolerance? Allergic reactions to wheat and/or gluten can include the following: digestive disturbances such as vomiting, diarrhea, gas, constipation and bloating, chest pain, nausea, hives, eczema, swelling and even anaphylaxis.
Symptoms of wheat and/or gluten intolerance can be: digestive disturbances similar to wheat/gluten allergy, fatigue, irritability, skin irritations, vomiting, heartburn and headaches.
Allergy symptoms will usually come on very quickly after ingestion of even a small amount of wheat or gluten. The symptoms of intolerance may not show up at all, or be delayed.
Sometimes people with intolerances can have small amounts of wheat or gluten with no problem, only having issues when they eat large amounts of the problem ingredient. Gluten intolerance or allergy has also been tied to autism and other behavioral disorders.
Research is currently being conducted, but placing autistic children on a gluten-free diet has shown positive results. Along with autism, gluten allergies seem to cause other symptoms that wheat allergies don’t. They include osteoporosis, weight gain or loss, slow growth in infants and children, and depression.
If you suspect you have a wheat or gluten allergy or intolerance, you should consult with your doctor and a dietician for testing and to find out the best ways to handle your disorder.
While there’s no way to cure an allergy or intolerance for wheat, gluten or any other type of food, you can control the symptoms by avoiding foods and ingredients that cause your discomfort.
Allergic To Gluten
Among the most common food allergies are wheat and gluten. But exactly what is a food allergy? Is it the same as food intolerance? Allergies occur when the body mistakes an ingredient in food as harmful, so it prepares to defend itself against the attacker (the food).
Allergy symptoms develop when the body’s immune system releases antibodies to battle the “harmful” food. Food intolerance is the response of the digestive system to an irritating food, rather than a response of the immune system.
The digestive system can’t properly digest or breakdown the food, creating an intolerance. Wheat allergy symptoms can include skin rashes or hives, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, itchy skin, eczema, joint and muscle aches and pains, shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling of the airways, and anaphylaxis.
Symptoms of wheat intolerance may include stomach pain, nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, headaches, irritability, and an unexplained runny nose or itchy eyes.
Symptoms of gluten allergy include upper repository tract problems, fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome, mouth ulcers, anemia, osteoporosis, weight loss, short stature in children, diarrhea, constipation, bloating and other digestive tract problems, depression, Autism and attention problems, skin problems, and irritability.
Symptoms of gluten intolerance include weight loss or weight gain, nutritional deficiencies, bloating, pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea, aching joints, depression, eczema, headaches, fatigue, irritability and behavioral changes, cramps, tingling and numbness, and slow infant and child growth.
Other than severity of symptoms, the differences between allergies and intolerances are that an allergy can be triggered even when a tiny amount of the offending food is eaten. On the other hand, food intolerance is related to the amount of food consumed. A small amount may not cause any disturbance, but eating a large portion, or eating the food frequently may produce symptoms.
What about Celiac Disease? Celiac disease is similar to gluten intolerance, but the outcome is more severe. With celiac disease, the inner lining of the small intestine has an allergic reaction to the gluten that is present in wheat and other grains such as rye.
This reaction causes the small intestine to become inflamed and reduces absorption of the nutrients that pass through the small intestine from food. One of the main symptoms of Celiac Disease is gastrointestinal problems that include bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea and fatty stools.
Eventual signs of malnourishment will appear as a result of nutrients not being properly absorbed by the small intestine. Some people with Celiac Disease can tolerate small amounts of gluten, but others will experience severe symptoms within just a few minutes of eating an offending food.
Just remember that you are not alone with this, as many as one person in every 133 in America is thought to have this illness. There is even an American celiac association http://americanceliac.org/ who can put you in touch with other sufferers.
Treatment for wheat and gluten allergy or intolerance and Celiac Disease all involve removing wheat and gluten from your diet. Avoidance of wheat, rye, barley and oats is necessary. Foods that contain these ingredients must also be avoided. Avoid processed foods and beer, and be careful with vitamins and supplements that contain gluten as well.