Recognize The Signs Of Gluten Sensitivity And Ways To Deal With It!
Have you heard about gluten or gluten-free-diet, and about many people going gluten-free. You may be wondering what it is all about. A gluten-free diet is a diet free from wheat, barley, and rye. Some people after having wheat, barley or rye in food may feel unwell. This could be due to gluten insensitivity or celiac disease. It is important to differentiate between the two. Gluten sensitivity is a food allergy whereas Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease.
Celiac disease is an extremely severe form of gluten sensitivity. There are no tests to check whether you are sensitive to gluten or not, you can only observe the symptoms closely in order to ascertain the problem. Let's give a read to recognize and understand some surprising signs of gluten sensitivity.
9 surprising signs of gluten sensitivity that you must know
If you are gluten-sensitive and happen to eat a gluten-containing meal by any chance, then you may face a number of symptoms, such as:
Upset stomach
If you are sensitive to gluten, you could have bloating, pain in the abdomen, constipation, or diarrhea. The symptoms may get severe if you continue taking gluten foods. You may face diarrhea more commonly than constipation if you are gluten sensitive.
Itchy rash
An intake of Gluten food may affect your skin if you cannot tolerate gluten. You may have burning, redness, rashes, and itchy skin.
Fatigue and tiredness
If you are constantly feeling tired then you should try and find out the reason for the same. If you are gluten-intolerant you are more prone to fatigue and tiredness.
Headache
Gluten may be the culprit for that excruciating headache you had after having your meal which can be unbearable. It also puts you at risk of getting a migraine headache.
Sudden weight loss or gain
Your gut lining is responsible for the absorption of all nutrients. Gluten sometimes damages your gut lining or makes it more porous. Due to this, the nutrients in food are not absorbed well and your weight changes.
Dental problem
Gluten puts you at risk of mouth ulcers and canker sores if you cannot tolerate gluten. Also, you may have low calcium due to its less absorption. So, your teeth may become less healthy.
Memory loss or foggy brain
If you are feeling confused, exhausted or facing memory loss issues after a meal, you may be gluten intolerant. It is very common if you are sensitive to gluten.
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The best way to manage your gluten issues is to eliminate the culprit from your diet. For this you should:
1. Read food labels carefully and avoid every edible that contains gluten
- Gluten is not only found in wheat, rather rye or barely made foods like pasta and bread also contain gluten, so if you are sensitive to gluten better avoid such foods.
- DO NOT consume foods labeled as ‘FREE from wheat’ or ‘DO NOT contain wheat’, since it may still contain rye or barley and thus, would not be ‘gluten-free’.
- Read food labels carefully and avoid foods with dextrin, emulsifiers, stabilizers, corn starch, malt, and modified wheat starch.
- Check all seasonings, thickeners, and marinades for gluten-containing additives. Consult your doctor before making dietary changes.
2. Prefer eating fresh and organic food over preserved items
- Organic fruits and veggies are healthy options to choose
- Whole grains like brown rice, millet buckwheat, beans, seeds, and nuts are safe and healthy foods for gluten intolerant people.
- Fresh meats, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products are better protein sources.
- Ginger ale is good for the digestive issues of gluten sensitive people.
Switching to a gluten-free diet may be difficult initially as there seems to be a long list of foods to avoid. But there are now many gluten-free alternatives such as soya, buckwheat, and kelp noodles in place of wheat noodles and many more such options. To know more about the gluten-free diet ask a Dietician online.
If ever you get a doubt on the gluten-free status of a product, drug, over-the-counter medicine, lipstick or food, better avoid it and consult a specialist immediately to get a clear understanding. Keep in mind that taking a chance now could result in paying the price later. It is your body, so choose wisely.
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