I am sitting in the airport, writing this article. My husband just returned with a plate of fruit and cheese for us to nibble on while we wait for our next flight. I haven’t eaten all day and I have to say, I’m pretty hungry. As I scan the plate, I notice that it has wheat crackers on the side. At first, I consider this ironic because of the topic I am writing on which is wheat, but then wheat is such a huge part of the American diet.
Lately I have noticed numerous food items in the super markets with “Gluten Free” on the label, and not only have I noticed it there, but I am also seeing “gluten free” foods on restaurant menus. So what is gluten and why is it so important?
The word gluten is Latin meaning glue. Gluten is a protein found in the grains of wheat, rye, oats and barley. Gluten sensitivity, gluten allergies, and Celiac Disease, occurs in people who cannot digest this protein. The undigested protein triggers the immune system to attack the lining of the small intestine. This can cause diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain. Not everyone who has gluten allergies have Celiac Disease, however, those with Celiac Disease have gluten allergies.
An estimated 1 out of 100 people suffer from some type of gluten disorder, which is inherited, despite the fact that most of the time people do not know they have it.
Although symptoms vary from one individual to another, there is always some degree of abdominal pain and/or bloating. In most cases, the onset of the discomfort occurs immediately after ingesting gluten, and the pain ranges from moderate to severe.
Oftentimes people confuse a gluten disorder with an upset stomach, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or “24-hour bug” and so they never bother to investigate further.
Additional symptoms include low energy and exhaustion, constipation or diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea and gas cramps.
There is much confusion surrounding gluten allergy, wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, and Celiac Disease. The differences in the disorders are important to know. A food allergy is the immune system attacking what it perceives an alien intruder, and a food intolerance is where the digestive system attacks what it thinks is a alien food. An allergic reaction can cause rashes, anaphylactic episodes, or swelling, such as the symptoms with any typical allergic reaction.
With the digestive system, gas, bloating, upset stomach, nausea –symptoms associated to the digestive track occur. Most times, nothing more than mild discomfort is experienced with a food intolerance.
Some people who experience discomfort after eating gluten self-diagnose themselves with gluten allergy when they have nothing more than an intolerance. A gluten allergy can be confirmed by a a blood test, however, there is no test for gluten intolerance, since the discomfort could be due to several things.
A gluten allergy is an allergic reaction to gluten. The body reacts by causing the immune system to attack the invading food. The attack typically takes place in the gut, and most symptoms occur in the digestive system. This allergic reaction can also cause inflammation and severe nervous system problems. If left untreated, it can even effect the brain and destroy the gut. Gluten allergies can also lead to Celiac Disease.
Sufferers of gluten allergies can have a wide range of symptoms that are merely uncomfortable for a few hours to those that cause extreme pain. Milder symptoms can be sinus problems, headaches, mouth ulcers, diarrhea, and gas pains. One of the more difficult problems can be depression, which occurs when the nervous system is involved.
If you want to experiment with your diet to see if you have a gluten allergy or intolerance, simply remove gluten from your diet. This is not as difficult as it seems since you just need to avoid most grains: wheat, barley, oats and rye products. Read the labels on processed foods, and read menus. Familiarize yourself with foods that don’t contain gluten. Being gluten free can make a dramatic difference if you have one of the above problems; however, this isn’t a quick fix. It could take anywhere from three months to two years to diagnosis.