What Is Gluten Intolerance?

Gluten Intolerance

To date, more than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten, the protein found in barley, rye, wheat, and related grains.

 Although an estimated 15 percent of the U. S. population suffers from gluten intolerance, it’s believed that upwards of 99 percent of those suffering gluten intolerance (or celiac disease, a related autoimmune disorder of the small intestine) are never diagnosed.

Could you be one of them?

If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, you too could be gluten intolerant:

• Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma, or even multiple sclerosis.
• Diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. (Such diagnoses may indicate that your physician is unable to pinpoint the exact cause of your fatigue or pain.)
• Digestive issues such as frequent gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. (Constipation is particularly prevalent in children after eating gluten products.)
• Fatigue or so-called “brain fog” after eating a meal containing gluten.
• Frequent migraine headaches (particularly after consuming gluten-laden products).
• Hormone imbalances such as PMS (premenstrual syndrome), PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), or unexplained infertility.
• Inflammation, swelling, or pain in the joints – particularly the fingers, knees, or hips.
• Keratosis pilaris (also known as “chicken skin”) manifesting on the back of the arms, thighs, hands, tops of legs, sides, buttocks. (While the cause of this common genetic follicular condition is not completely understood, many believe it tends to be the result of a fatty acid and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.)
• Mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, or ADD (attention deficit disorder).
• Neurological symptoms such as dizziness or feeling “off balance.”

How to Test for Gluten Intolerance
Most experts suggest an “elimination diet” as the best way to determine if you have an aversion to gluten. This is accomplished by simply eliminating gluten-laden products from your diet for a period of two to three weeks — after which they are reintroduce. (In order to get accurate results, you must elimination 100 percent of the gluten from your diet.)

 Health experts note that because gluten can take several months (even years) to clear from your system, the longer you eliminate it from your diet before reintroducing it, the more conclusive the test. However, it ultimately comes down to self-assessment: whether you feel significantly better with gluten eliminated from your diet – or not.

How to Treat Gluten Intolerance

Once it has been determined that gluten is having a negative impact on your health, the solution is relatively simple: eliminate it completely from your diet. This means eliminating100 percent of it as even trace amounts from cross-contamination, medications or supplements can trigger an autoimmune response from your body.

According to some reports, for those suffering celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, eating gluten even once a month can increase the relative risk of death by 600 percent. (The only known effective treatment for celiac disease is a lifelong, 100 percent gluten-free diet.)

Still unsure if you suffer gluten intolerance? Consult an integrative practitioner or functional medicine physician to help guide you and address your questions.