How to Determine If You Have a Gluten Allergy

How can you determine if you have gluten sensitivity? What are the gluten allergy symptoms that you are to look out for? How is this related to wheat allergy? What is gluten in the first place?

Gluten is a sticky protein found in bread that gives it its spongy characteristics. Gluten is a glue-like substance and is used in many other foods besides bread. It is also found in other products such as candy and ketchup and even in ranch dressing. Gluten allergy is when a person's body negatively reacts to an intake of gluten into their body or, simply put, gluten intolerance.

Someone with gluten allergy may feel the following gluten allergy symptoms- extreme fatigue, develop hives, asthma, skin problems, autism, diarrhea and abdominal pains. The most important symptoms to look out for are diarrhea, constipation, losing and gaining weight. Upon experiencing these symptoms though, do not immediately assume the person has Celiac disease as it may be simply gluten allergy. Either way, it is just proper to avoid foods that contain gluten and take a gluten free diet. Besides gluten free foods, there are non-gluten breads and cakes for the gluten allergic and this is highly suggested for those with the allergy for them not to miss the other nutrients found in bread and wheat. This may also bring them to avoid regular cereal and consume alternative cereals like those made of rice flour.

Gluten allergy does not specifically mean a person is wheat allergic or yeast allergic. A wheat allergic person may be able to consume some types of barley and rye but there still numerous other wheat products that the allergic person must avoid. A physician's list of consumables is always the best to follow as he or she will be able to determine what consumables are fit for the patient. This is where a diet consisting of gluten free foods best comes in.

It must be noted that gluten allergy is different from gluten sensitivity or the Celiac disease. Celiac is a disease where the body fails to identify the gluten in the body as a neutral particle and attacks the small intestine, damaging the villi in the process. Gluten allergy is merely a negative reaction that the body exhibits when gluten enters the body system. Those with gluten allergy do, however, usually have a tendency to develop the Celiac disease as their body is already weak to the substance and resists it from continuing into the system.

Another thing to note is that those with a strong gluten allergy or have already developed gluten intolerance may also develop lactose intolerance. This is caused by the poor bowel control that weakens the intestines therefore leading to a body intolerant to products rich in casein like milk and cheese.