Contrary to the general belief, gluten intolerance is not a food allergy. Rather, it is a sort of a genetic disorder, which primarily deals with sensitivity to the protein named gluten. This protein is commonly found in all types of grains, particularly wheat, barley, oats and rye. The condition arises when the immune system of the body fails to recognize the gluten protein and deems it as foreign. This leads to inflammation and damage in the lower digestive tract (the intestines). Thus, people prone to gluten intolerance can damage their small intestines, even on the consumption of a small amount of it.
Signs and Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance
The symptoms of gluten intolerance are of varied types, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, joint pain, etc. The situation can even weaken the system, disabling it to absorb nutrients from dietary items. Medical conditions such as malnutrition, anemia, weight loss and osteoporosis can also occur due to this. The peculiarity of the diseases is that different people experience different symptoms, while some of them might not encounter even a single one. This makes the diagnosis difficult and delayed. The analysis usually involves blood test or biopsy of the small intestine. As a precaution, such people should remove all types of gluten from their diet. Given below are some probable symptoms of gluten intolerance.
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain
- Nutritional deficiencies due to mal-absorption, leading to low iron levels
- Gastro-intestinal problems (bloating, pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea)
- Fat in the stools (due to poor digestion)
- Aching joints
- Depression
- Eczema
- Head aches
- Exhaustion
- Irritability and behavioral changes
- Infertility, irregular menstrual cycle and miscarriage
- Cramps, tingling and numbness
- Slow infant and child growth
- Decline in dental health
