The gluten is actually called a silent killer due to the fact that it can cause some chronic damage throughout the body. Often the patient isn’t even aware of the consequences of gluten consumption. Therefore, it is actually better to check if your body has a gluten intolerance.
Problems with the gastrointestinal tract
The symptoms of this are mainly associated with the intestines: nausea, some bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and even constipation. Many times people associate these symptoms with other diseases and the patients are mistakenly diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Some studies confirm that 10-15% of the world population suffers from IBS. But this kind of diagnosis may lead to people with gluten sensitivity who do not receive proper treatment so the symptoms don’t disappear.
Unexplained weight changes
The intolerance of gluten can lead to both weight loss and to weight
gain for no apparent reason and this happens because of inflammatory
processes at the cellular level and metabolic disorders. Some sudden
change in weight may accompany other unpleasant diseases but it might
be related to gluten intolerance if it’s accompanied by other symptoms
of malabsorption.
Hormonal Imbalance
There exists some direct relationship between gluten intolerance and
hormonal disorders which can occur as an irregular menstrual cycle,
sudden weight fluctuations, PMS, and sleep disorders as well. The
hormonal failures caused by gluten intolerance can be amplified many
times during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Bear in mind that these
symptoms are mainly recognized among women.
Problems with the central nervous system
Gluten boosts inflammation and permeability of the intestine and as a
result of this, the symptoms of gluten sensitivity can include problems
with concentration, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue as well.
Some of the people with gluten intolerance experience irritability and
feelings that they easily lose their train of thought and have poor
concentration.
According to some info that was gathered from a study, the people with gluten intolerance are more prone to migraines than other people. The reasons of headaches can be quite different. A man that is allergic to gluten can experience a headache 30-60 minutes after eating.
Skin and nails problems
Hair keratosis and also herpetiform dermatitis are two skin conditions
directly related to gluten intolerance. The symptoms of these include
itchiness and rashes that can appear on your hands, face, buttocks,
torso, elbows, and hairline. Yet another symptom is weakened and brittle
nails. There are some skin irritations like mimic eczema that can
signal gluten-induced blockage.
ADHD
Yet another disorder that may be associated with gluten intolerance is
the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. ADHD might manifest in
both children and adults. People who have this disorder have a short
attention span and problems with self-control. Some gluten-free diet can
help reduce the symptoms of ADHD.
Poor condition of the teeth
In the case of some gluten intolerance, absorption of the necessary
elements and minerals in the intestine is being impaired. This as well
applies to calcium. The result can indicate some problems with the teeth
and oral cavity: some hypersensitivity of the enamel, cavities, tooth
decay, and ulcers of the mucous cavity. If you are taking good care of
your teeth, but still notice some issues, the reason may be caused by
your gluten consumption.
Iron deficiency anemia
Many times, the Celiac disease is diagnosed because of iron deficiency
anemia. The symptoms of this include reduced blood volume, shortness of
breath, fatigue, headaches, pallor of the skin, mucous membranes, and
even arthritis. Iron is badly digestible since, with gluten intolerance,
there’s an impairment of iron absorption in the intestine.
Autoimmune diseases
Many humas with some autoimmune diseases have asome history of gluten
intolerance. The celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which the
immune system attacks its own intestine cells after gluten enters it and
the problem is aggravated by the fact that this autoimmune disease
increases the risk of developing other autoimmune diseases, as for
example autoimmune thyroiditis, Crohn’s disease, autoimmune liver
disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, vitiligo, and multiple
sclerosis.
How to treat gluten sensitivity?
First get tested.The doctor will take a blood sample and check it for antibodies that are usually present in the blood of people with Celiac disease. Just before the examination, you will need to include some gluten in your diet as this will help to avoid inaccurate results.
Eliminate gluten from your diet.It is contained in:
- Bulgur;
- Wheat;
- Semolina;
- Rye;
- Flour;
- And in a number of other foods.
Please always check the composition of the product. Give some preference to products which contain the label “gluten-free.”