Symptoms of gluten or intolerance to gluten is said to affect up to 15% of the population.
Do you know if your symptoms put you in that category? Mild stomach ache or flatulence can be symptoms worth checking out more thoroughly.
At this stage we need to identify if you have Celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Celiac disease can be a fast immune reaction or an allergic reaction to a protein in wheat, barley, rye and oats called gluten.
Celiac disease can also lead to malabsorbtion, meaning nutrients essential to good health are not absorbed by the body, leading to malnutrition.
Whilst gluten intolerance symptoms are triggered by similar, if not the same food's, the affect can have a much slower onset making diagnosis hard to pin point.
Symptoms may include: o Depression o Exhaustion o Stomach cramps o Weight loss o Weight gain o Eczema o Aching joints o Head aches o Gastro-intestinal complaints such as (gas, diarrhoea and bloating etc) There are many more symptom's than listed here but these are common one's shared by celiac and gluten intolerant people.
Symptoms vary for each individual for many reasons but stress is a major player in people's diagnosis.
Everyone agrees that less stress is better for the sufferer.
A complete diagnosis from a doctor is the only way to know for sure, this sometimes requires a small intestinal biopsy that will reveal damage to the Villi if you have celiac disease.
Before testing you will need to continue eating your normal diet, including bread and foods that contain gluten.