Do You Have A Wheat Allergy?

One of the most frequent food allergies are wheat and gluten. But just what is a food allergy? Is it similiar to food intolerance? Allergies are when your immune system marks an part in something you eat as harmful, and so it begins to defend itself against the attacker (the food).

Evidence of allergies appear when the body's immune functions lets out antibodies to fight the "harmful" food. Food intolerance is the reaction of the digestive functions to an irritant, not a reaction of your immune system.

When your digestive tract can't adequately digest the food, it may create an negative response. Often times continued exposure to foods can grow into an allergy. Wheat allergy symptoms may consist of skin rashes or hives, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, itchy skin, eczema, joint and muscle aches and pains and in serious cases can develop into shortness of breath, pain in the chest, swelling of the air passages, and anaphylaxis.

Signs of wheat intolerance can consist of stomach cramps, upset stomach, cramping, bloating, gas, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, headaches, irritability, and an unexplained runny nose or itchy eyes.

Signs of gluten allergy consist of upper repository tract issues, tiredness and CFS, sores in the mouth, anemia, bone loss, loss of weight, smal stature in children, diarrhea, constipation, bloating and other digestive tract issues, depression, Autism and attention disorders, skin problems, and irritability.

Symptoms of gluten intolerance can include loss of weight or increase in weight, nutritional deficiencies, retaining water, pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea, aching joints, unexplained sadness, eczema, migranes, fatigue, moodiness and changes in behavior, cramps, tingling and numbness, and failure to thrive in infants and youth.

Beyond the severity of symptoms, the differences between allergies and intolerances are that an allergy can be triggered even when a minute amount of the offending substance is eaten. However, food intolerance is generally related to the measure of food ingested. A minute measure might not cause any issue, but ingesting a large portion, or ingesting the food frequently may create symptoms.

What about Celiac Disease? Celiac disease is like gluten intolerance, but the result is more severe. With celiac disease, the inner lining of the small intestine has an allergic response to the gluten that is present in wheat and other grains such as rye.

This reaction causes the small intestine to become inflamed and decreases absorption of the minerals that pass through the small intestine from food. One of the main symptoms of Celiac Disease is gastrointestinal discomfort that may consist of bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea and fatty stools.

Eventual signs of malnourishment will appear as a result of nutrients not being properly processed by the small intestine. Many those who suffer from Celiac Disease can handle minute meaures of gluten, while others may have serious reactions within several minutes of ingesting an offending food.

Treatment for wheat and gluten allergy or intolerance and Celiac Disease all involve removing wheat and gluten out of your foods. Elimination of wheat, rye, barley and oats is necessary. Substances that contain these substances should also be avoided. Avoid processed foods and beer, and be careful with vitamins and supplements that may include gluten too.

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