Among the most common food allergies are wheat and gluten. But exactly what is a food allergy? Is it the same as food intolerance? Allergies occur when the body mistakes an ingredient in food as harmful, so it prepares to defend itself against the attacker (the food).
Allergy symptoms develop when the body’s immune system releases antibodies to battle the harmful food. Food intolerance is the response of the digestive system to an irritating food, rather than a response of the immune system.
The digestive system can’t properly digest or breakdown the food, creating an intolerance. Wheat allergy symptoms can include skin rashes or hives, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, itchy skin, eczema, joint and muscle aches and pains, shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling of the airways, and anaphylaxis.
Symptoms of wheat intolerance may include stomach pain, nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, headaches, irritability, and an unexplained runny nose or itchy eyes.
Symptoms of gluten allergy include upper repository tract problems, fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome, mouth ulcers, anemia, osteoporosis, weight loss, short stature in children, diarrhea, constipation, bloating and other digestive tract problems, depression, Autism and attention problems, skin problems, and irritability.
Symptoms of gluten intolerance include weight loss or weight gain, nutritional deficiencies, bloating, pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea, aching joints, depression, eczema, headaches, fatigue, irritability and behavioral changes, cramps, tingling and numbness, and slow infant and child growth.
Other than severity of symptoms, the differences between allergies and intolerances are that an allergy can be triggered even when a tiny amount of the offending food is eaten. On the other hand, food intolerance is related to the amount of food consumed. A small amount may not cause any disturbance, but eating a large portion, or eating the food frequently may produce symptoms.
What about Celiac Disease? Celiac disease is similar to gluten intolerance, but the outcome is more severe. With celiac disease, the inner lining of the small intestine has an allergic reaction to the gluten that is present in wheat and other grains such as rye.
This reaction causes the small intestine to become inflamed and reduces absorption of the nutrients that pass through the small intestine from food. One of the main symptoms of Celiac Disease is gastrointestinal problems that include bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea and fatty stools.
Eventual signs of malnourishment will appear as a result of nutrients not being properly absorbed by the small intestine. Some people with Celiac Disease can tolerate small amounts of gluten, but others will experience severe symptoms within just a few minutes of eating an offending food.
Treatment for wheat and gluten allergy or intolerance and Celiac Disease all involve removing wheat and gluten from your diet. Avoidance of wheat, rye, barley and oats is necessary. Foods that contain these ingredients must also be avoided. Avoid processed foods and beer, and be careful with vitamins and supplements that contain gluten as well.
Milk is alargetic drink for me. whenevery i use to drink milk than i feel that my skin have started boalted.
Here i got the perfect answer of my disease.
Personally I am lactose intolerant, I get sick to my stomach when I drink milk or eat ice cream so I stay away from that. From reading the information above I never realized that vitamins and some supplements contain gluten. Seems odd to me that people could actually be allergic to things like vitamins, just goes to show all of us that anyone can be allergic to just about anything.
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Thankfully, wheat-free, gluten-free flour is available, so that one who is intolerant to these foods can still eat bread and some baked goods.
I have a terrible gluten intolerance, eating gluten-free has been so great for me!
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I’ve been eating gluten-free for quite a few months now. I really believe that it has just about relieved me of my chronic fatigue symptoms. I just wish I had known about this 5 years ago. I enjoy my new diet, and I think many more people would benefit by going gluten-free. Thanks for all the info you have here.
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Gluten Intolerance is one of the leading contributors to brain fog. Many people find that they can think so much clearer when they eliminate wheat and gluten containing products from their diet. And as you mention, unfortunately many are totally unaware that there’s a problem since they may have become so habituated to it!
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I was suffering from Gluten allergy a few months back and I started using gluten free diet which has helped me to recover a lot but still after reading your post, I am afraid that few of the gluten allergy symptoms still exist in my body. I am quite often caught by skin problems and my weight is also losing for the last few months.
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Its really difficult when we have an allergy with some foods. My partner is allergic with some leafy vegetable, really its pitiful to look at her when she’s being attacked by her allergy. I guess the best remedy for this is to avoid eating the allergens or whatever that may trigger the allergy.
I really appreciate your article, you explained everything well and its very informative. Worth reading article.
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Thanks that I don’t have an allergy in any foods. Its like a punishment having an allergy with foods. The only way to get rid of it is to avoid eating them.
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I do not have alergy to wheat, but I usually have alergy to nuts
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Indeed allergies are a dangerous thing. Sometimes, not only does a person get rashes etc. in some cases, they have difficulty breathing and get swellings. Because of these allergies people have come up with different diet plans – wheat and dairy free diet, gluten free diet and the list goes on.
Gluten allergy is just like a curse, you cannot eat some of the best foods in the world. But thanks God, there are great foods for people allergic to gluten.
Many eczema sufferers respond to taking gluten out of there diet as it triggers flare-ups. Also can’t remember where I read it, but a study was done showing beer drinking regular beer over light beer increased eczema flare-ups in women. Gluten was the difference.
I think that trying a gluten-free diet is always a good thing to try for people who have chronic headaches or other chronic symptoms. Most people are amazed by how much better they feel after eliminating gluten. And the great thing is that there are so many more gluten-free foods available these days in the grocery store and restaurants. Gluten-free doesn’t have to be boring.