If it seems like everywhere you look you see gluten-free labels and foods, it’s because the somewhat easy to dismiss symptoms of gluten allergy and intolerance are no longer being ignored. If you don’t know what to look for, you might be surprised to learn that you are gluten intolerant.
Gluten Allergy Symptoms
Everyone’s allergy symptoms are a bit different, and the symptoms are general enough that the cause could be many culprits. Gluten causes inflammation throughout the body that results in any combination of:
- abdominal bloating and gas
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- pale, foul-smelling stool
- stomach pain
- nausea and vomiting
- fatigue
- anemia
- depression and anxiety
- osteoporosis
- joint pain
- headaches
- missed menstrual periods
- tingling in the hands and feet
Eliminate Gluten For At Least 30 Days
If you regularly have more than 3 of the symptoms above, it’s worth doing an easy test. Eliminate gluten for at least 30 days, to see if your symptoms improve. While it can take 3 to 4 months to experience full relief, if you have an allergy you will feel the difference in 2 weeks—and major changes in the first 30 days.
Slowly Reintroduce
After 30 days, slowly reintroduce gluten to see if your symptoms return. Also, test sprouted breads and products—or switch to Europe flour, which you may not be allergic to.
Last but not least, don’t forget that gluten is found in more than breads, pasta, cereal, and crackers. If you eat out, be sure to ask if what you order has gluten too.
No Comments